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Miami a preseason Top 25 team? Call it the Mark Richt effect

There was a surprise addition to Mark Schlabach's latest way-too-early preseason Top 25: Miami.

Let's just call this the Mark Richt effect.

If Al Golden had returned to lead a team that finished 8-5 a season ago, would Miami have made the preseason Top 25? I think we all know the answer to that.

Now, Richt is an upgrade at the head coach position. He has won at a much higher level than Golden ever did. His addition has clearly given the Hurricanes the benefit of the doubt in this updated Top 25 -- even though their recent history proves they don't deserve that quite yet.