Miami: Schedule Breakdown

The Miami Hurricanes open with two road games against teams that beat them at home last year and have a brutal five-game stretch in the middle of the season. There are few soft spots on their schedule this year.

By Shawn Krest

Aug 3, 2012 at 1:01 pm ET • 2 min read

For the second straight year, Miami opens its season with an ACC conference game. For the second straight game, the Hurricanes will play Boston College.

In a scheduling quirk, Miami opens against the team that ended its 2011 season with a 24-17 upset win over the Hurricanes. The Miami players don’t think that was an accident.

"Coach Golden wanted to make a statement,” RB Mike James said. “Last year, we lost to them at home. It was a hurtful loss, and we didn’t have a chance to go to a bowl game. We want to play them again."

Here's a look at key matchups for the Hurricanes in 2012.

Must-see matchup: Oct. 6 at Notre Dame

Head coach Al Golden needs a program-defining win. A trip north to play the Irish will give him the first of several opportunities to get one. It’s the Hurricanes’ only road game in a six-week stretch. With home games against conference favorites Florida State and Virginia Tech on the horizon, a win over the Golden Domers would help boost the team’s confidence heading into the meat of its schedule.

Upset alert: Nov. 10 at Virginia

Miami takes a road trip after high profile home games against the Seminoles and Hokies. There’s a good chance the team will be warn down mentally and physically after a rough stretch of the schedule, which will make the Cavaliers’ running game even harder to stop.

It's a breeze (easiest stretch): Sept. 1 through Sept. 15 – at Boston College, atKansas State , Bethune Cookman.

Here’s how tough the Hurricanes’ 2012 schedule is: Their easiest stretch includes two road games against teams that beat them at home last season. Kansas State was a 10-win team last year and returns 14 starters, but Miami should be favored in the Boston College and Bethune Cookman games.

Brutal stretch: Sept. 29 through Nov. 1 – NC State, at Notre Dame, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia Tech

Four of the five games will be at home, which is about all the Hurricanes have going for them. There are no light spots on the Miami schedule this season — this five-game stretch is preceded by a trip to Georgia Tech and followed by one to Virginia.

Complete Schedule:

Sept. 1 at Boston College

Sept. 8 at Kansas State

Sept. 15 Bethune Cookman

Sept. 22 at Georgia Tech

Sept. 29 N.C. State

Oct. 6 at Notre Dame

Oct. 13 North Carolina

Oct. 20 Florida State

Oct. 27 OPEN

Nov. 1 Virginia Tech

Nov. 10 at Virginia