The Miami football team entered 2018 after its best season in 2017 since 2003. The 2017 team won ten games for the first time since 2003 and appeared in a major bowl game for the first time since then. The Orange Bowl loss to Wisconsin and the three-game losing streak to end 2017 did little to dampen the 2018 outlook.
Miami is one of three college football programs that was ranked in the top ten in the preseason polls that have had disappointing 2018 seasons. The other two, including Miami’s Pinstripe Bowl Opponent Wisconsin, and Auburn, won their bowl games.