Miami Football Schedule 2011: What to Know for Each Game

The unranked Miami Hurricanes took center stage in Coral Gables on Saturday as the fall practice finally got underway.

Although there will be several question marks that will finally be answered, there is one that already has—this years schedule.

One of the reasons why Miami has been ranked so low to start the season is because many coaches believe the Hurricanes have a very tough schedule.

Here is a breakdown of what you need to know about each team every week.

Maryland Terrapins, Sept. 5, 8 p.m.

Record against Opponent: 8-8

Last Game: November 6th, 2010  Miami won 26-20

Opponents record last year: 9-4 (5-3 ACC)

What to know: The Terrapins return seven players on both offense and defense including stud sophomore quarterback, Danny O'Brien. 

O'Brien was a true freshman last year and had a great season passing for 2,438 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. Against North Carolina State, he threw for 417 yards and four touchdowns.

They also got a new head coach in Randy Edsall, who turned a subpar Connecticut team to Big East contenders.

Maryland did lose all starting wide receivers this year, including one of the best in the ACC, Torrey Smith, who got drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.

Ohio State Buckeyes, Sept. 17, 7:30/8:00 p.m.

Record against Opponent: 1-3

Last Game: September 11th, 2010  OSU won 36-24

Opponents record last year: 0-1 (12 wins vacated) (0-1 in Big 10)

What to know:  Last year the Buckeyes had a terrific season, as they ended the season ranked number five in the country.

This year they were to contend for the national championship, but due to the allegations of players selling memorabilia to a local tattoo parlor, the early celebration has been put on hold.

They even ended up vacating all their wins from last year, including their Sugar Bowl victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Going into 2010, everyone already knew that the Buckeyes were going to be missing coach Jim Tressel, Terrelle Pryor, Devier Posey, Boom Herron, Solomon Thomas, and Mike Adams for the first five games.

Then the news came that Tressel was going to retire due to allegations that he knew what the players were doing and never turned them in.

It only got worse from there as Pryor decided to forgo his senior season due to more allegations against him.

Now there are huge holes on the Buckeyes team, especially in the first five games, and when they come to Miami, they will be missing their starting coach, their best quarterback, their best running back and their best wide receiver.

Kansas State Wildcats, Sept. 24

Record against Opponent: None

Last Game: Never

Opponents record last year: 7-6 (3-5 Big 12)

What to know: Last year was the tale of two different teams for the Wildcats. They started the season 4-0, but that came to sudden halt when they lost to No. 7 Nebraska, 48-13.

The problem wasn't the offense, as they averaged over 33 points per game, ranking the 22nd in the country.

The problem was defense, as they allowed over 29 points per game (78th in country) and gave up over 40 points in four games last year.

It will not get any easier this year for the Wildcats, as they lost their best player to the Miami Dolphins, running back Daniel Thomas, who ran for over 1,500 yards last year.

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, Oct. 1

Record against Opponent: None

Last Game: Never

Opponents record last year: 10-2 (7-1 MEAC)

What to know: Last year the Wildcats (FCS team) ended the season in a three-way tie for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The 15th ranked Wildcats lost in the second round of the FCS playoffs, 45-20, to the New Hampshire Wildcats.

This year, Lindy's magazine has the Wildcats ranked the 18th best FCS school in the country.

This is the first meeting ever between the Hurricanes and the Wildcats even though Bethune-Cookman is in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Virginia Tech Hokies, Oct. 8

Record against Opponent: 17-11

Last Game: Novermber 20, 2010 Virginia Tech won 31-17

Opponents record last year: 11-3 (8-0 ACC)

What to know: After losing their first two games last year, including one against FCS team James Madison in the second game of the year, the Hokies won 11 of their last 12 games.

Virgina Tech beat the Florida State Seminoles last year in the ACC championship, 44-33.

They return five players on defense and seven on offense.

Although the Hokies always have dominate starting quarterbacks, this year will be much different, as Tyrod Taylor graduated last year.

Last year, Taylor passed for over 2,500 yards and ran for another 637 yards in leading his team to a BCS bowl game against the Standford Cardinals.

North Carolina Tar Heels, Oct. 15

Record against Opponent: 6-8

Last Game: October 23, 2010 Miami won 33-10

Opponents record last year: 8-5 (4-4 ACC)

What to know: Although the Tar Heels played without 13 plus players a game due to NCAA infractions, they still ended the season 8-5.

They had the most players drafted in the NFL draft this year with nine overall.

They return seven more on defense this year and another five on offense but are missing their entire backfield including four-year starter, T.J. Yates.

The defense will be strong again, but the offense will be questionable.

They also will be without their head coach, Butch Davis, as he was released by the school last month.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Oct. 22

Record against Opponent: 6-10

Last Game: November 13, 2010 Miami won 35-10

Opponents record last year: 6-7 (4-4 ACC)

What to know: Although the Yellow Jackets led the country in rushing yards last year with 323 yards per game, the rest of the offense sputtered, as they only averaged 26 points per game (71st in the country).

It didn't help that in the ninth game against Virginia Tech, starting quarterback Joshua Nesbitt got hurt and never came back for the rest of the year.

Backup quarterback Tevin Washington came in and ended the season 1-3 as the starter.

They have six returning starters on offense and five on defense, but without Nesbitt or their leading rusher, Anthony Allen, it may be another long year for the Yellow Jackets.

Virginia Cavaliers, Oct. 27, 8:00 p.m.

Record against Opponent: 5-4

Last Game: October 30, 2010 Virginia won 24-19

Opponents record last year: 4-8 (1-7 ACC)

What to know: The Cavaliers won one game last year in the ACC and it came against the Miami Hurricanes.

They return seven players on offense and defense and could very easily turn it around this year.

They also return their top two running backs and top two wide receivers from just a year ago.

The Cavaliers did take a big hit though, losing Marc Verica to the Washington Redskins.

The quarterback competition will turn to two sophomores and will have to rely on the defense and run game if they want to improve from last year.

Duke Blue Devils, Nov. 5

Record against Opponent: 7-1

Last Game: October 16, 2010 Miami won 28-13

Opponents record last year: 3-9 (1-7 ACC)

What to know: Duke has seven returners on offense coming back and six more on defense. Granted, they didn't have the best season ever, they showed signs of improvement throughout the season.

Duke lost three games by five points or less and could have easily been 3-5 in the ACC.

Junior quarterback, Sean Renfree had a terrific sophomore campaign as he threw for 3,131 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Florida State Seminoles, Nov. 12

Record against Opponent: 31-24

Last Game: October 9, 2010 FSU won 45-17

Opponents record last year: 10-4 (6-2 ACC)

What to know: Florida State has emerged as the front runner of the 2011 season, being ranked No. 4 in the newest USA Today Coaches Poll.

They return eight players on both sides of the ball, as backup quarterback E.J. Manuel will take over the helm for Christian Ponder.

FSU has only a couple question marks, and that is two offensive linemen and two linebackers. Other than that, they are loaded.

South Florida Bulls, Nov. 19

Record against Opponent: 2-2

Last Game: November 27, 2010 South Florida won 23-20 in OT

Opponents record last year: 8-5 (3-5 Big East)

What to know: South Florida is bringing back five offensive starters and six defensive starters from last years team.

Although the Bulls were 8-5, they struggled offensively all season long, as they only were able to score 24 points a game (85th in the country).

The defense was able to keep them in almost every game, as they only gave up 20 points per game.

They were definitely more of a running team last year, but will take a serious hit as leading rusher, Moise Plancher graduated last year.

He led the team in rushing with almost 800 yards last year.

Boston College Eagles, Nov. 25, 3:30 p.m.

Record against Opponent: 23-4

Last Game: November 24, 2007 Boston College won 28-14

Opponents record last year: 7-6 (4-4 ACC)

What to know: Boston College returns eight players on offense and seven on defense and looks to improve from their 7-6 record last year.

Problem with the Eagles is their offense was almost non-existant as they only score 18 points per game last year.

The good news, though, is they return leading rusher Montel Harris who had over 1,200 yards rushing and scored eight touchdowns.

Harris in his career has 3,600 yards rushing and is only 125 yards of breaking Derrick Knight's career rushing mark.