As the college football regular season draws closer to its end, Miami Hurricanes fans are anticipating the postseason and the bowl game matchup that awaits their beloved team. With various projections and speculations swirling around, there’s a great deal of curiosity about which opponent the Hurricanes could face in their upcoming bowl game.
It would be the first time the Hurricanes play in a bowl game since the 2020 season when they lost 37-34 to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Miami was one of five teams to withdraw from a bowl game during the 2021 season due to a lack of available players because of COVID-19 protocols. Miami missed the mark of becoming bowl eligible during the 2022 season with a 5-7 record during Mario Cristobal’s first season as the head coach of the Hurricanes. Let’s take a closer look at the potential matchups projected by different sources.
Military Bowl | Miami vs. Navy
When: Wednesday, December 27th, at 2:00 p.m. ET
Where: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland
247Sports has suggested that the Miami Hurricanes could take their postseason trip to the Military Bowl, where they might face the Navy Midshipmen. This matchup could bring a unique blend of styles to the field, pitting Miami’s stout defense against Navy’s storied triple-option attack.
Wasabi Fenway Bowl | Miami vs. SMU
When: Thursday, December 28th, at 11:00 a.m. ET
Where: Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts
According to ESPN, the Hurricanes might find themselves competing in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl against the SMU Mustangs on December 28th. What makes this projection particularly intriguing is the possibility of a reunion much earlier than expected with former Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, who now finds himself on the opposite sideline as the head coach of the Mustangs. SMU will be joining the Atlantic Coast Conference next season, further adding to the anticipation. Additionally, some former Hurricanes players who transferred out of the Miami program during the offseason will be representing SMU, including Jaylan Knighton, Romello Brinson, Elijah Roberts, Jordan Miller, Key’Shawn Smith, and Jakai Clark, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this matchup.
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl | Miami vs. Nebraska
When: Thursday, December 28th, at 2:15 p.m. ET
Where: Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York
Another ESPN projection places Miami in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, scheduled for December 28th. This time, the Hurricanes could renew their storied rivalry with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. A matchup with the Cornhuskers would undoubtedly ignite quite the nostalgia and some excitement among fans, as both teams have a rich football history and are looking to recapture former glory.
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl | Miami vs. Oregon State or Utah
When: Friday, December 29th, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. ET
Where: Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas
CBS has suggested the Sun Bowl as a potential destination for Miami, where they could face off against the Utah Utes on December 29th. This matchup holds a personal connection for head coach Mario Cristobal, who is very familiar with the Utes from his time in the Pac-12 as the head coach of the Oregon Ducks. A meeting with Utah promises to be a competitive, physical, and hard-fought game with the philosophies of both teams.
According to Action Network, the Miami Hurricanes could find themselves in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, squaring off against the Oregon State Beavers instead. This matchup could provide yet another unique cross-conference challenge and test Miami’s skills against another familiar Pac-12 opponent for Mario Cristobal.
DIRECTV Holiday Bowl | Miami vs. Oregon State or Utah
When: Wednesday, December 27th at 8:00 PM ET
Where: Petco Park in San Diego, California
Athlon Sports and Sporting News have also both projected the Hurricanes to play in the Holiday Bowl, with potential matchups against the aforementioned Oregon State Beavers or the Utah Utes.
Pop-Tarts Bowl | Miami vs. Kansas or Oklahoma
When: Thursday, December 28th at 5:45 PM ET
Where: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida
College Football News and Saturday Blitz have proposed Miami’s participation in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, formerly known as the Cheez-It Bowl. In one projection, they could face the Kansas Jayhawks, while in the other, it’s the Oklahoma Sooners. Both matchups would provide the Hurricanes with a chance to prove themselves against quality opponents from the Big 12 Conference in 2023.
In the world of college football, bowl game projections are as exciting as they are unpredictable. While Canes fans await the official announcements, these projections offer a glimpse into the potential matchups that could unfold in the coming weeks.
