College Football Rankings 2011 Week 4: Can Lamar Miller Carry Miami into Top 25?

Debating the Top 25 always begins on Sunday. We get to go back to the action on Saturday and debate what teams should be in and what teams should be on the outside looking in.

One of those teams is Miami, who are fresh off a pounding of then-No. 18 Ohio State Saturday night.

The Canes probably should have beaten Maryland during the opening week of the season and had they, there would be no debate on if they should crack the rankings or not.

They didn't get in this week, but I can make the case for them getting in next week with two words. Lamar Miller.

Miller was fantastic Saturday night against the Buckeyes and set the tone right from the game's first play.

Miami was the more physical team on both sides of the ball and played with a chip on their shoulder. It did help that the Ohio State offense was very bad but give some credit to the Miami defense for shutting them down.

Offensively, any success the Canes will have in the upcoming weeks begins and ends with Miller. Like it or not, the Hurricanes are a running team and have the talent to be one of the better ground teams in the nation.

Miami fans should be holding their breath any time quarterback Jacory Harris attempts a pass over ten yards, but they don't have to do that when the offense revolves around Miller and backup Mike James.

Miller can carry the Hurricanes into the Top 25 next week with a solid game at home against Kansas State. Beating the Wildcats would be a nice win for Miami. Kansas State is off to a 2-0 start and were a bowl team a season ago.

It should be a simple game plan for Miami coach Al Golden. Keep feeding Miller the rock and play outstanding defense.

If they are successful doing that, Miller should be able to carry the Hurricanes back into next week's Top 25. There simply aren't 25 other teams with better talent level than Miami currently has.