Miami Hurricanes focus on Pitt after returning to No. 1 in AP poll

The Miami Hurricanes returned to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 this week for the first time since 2002, but coach Mario Cristobal and his players say their immediate focus is Saturday’s home game against Pitt. The Associated Press reported the team’s response from Coral Gables, Florida, after Miami’s win over Florida State last weekend.

Miami is 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, according to the AP. The Hurricanes moved up from No. 3 after then-No. 1 Georgia and then-No. 2 Notre Dame both lost. Some Miami fans stayed at Hard Rock Stadium after the Florida State game to watch the end of Notre Dame’s game against BYU; BYU’s win prompted chants of ‘No. 1’ from the crowd, the AP reported.

Cristobal’s message before Miami plays Pitt

Center Ryan Rodriguez described an even shorter horizon after a morning practice: ‘Don’t even look to tomorrow. Just be 1-0 in the next task you have to do.’ He said those tasks included mobility work, film and lunch. Miami’s official roster lists Rodriguez as a sixth-year redshirt senior offensive lineman wearing No. 76.

Quarterback Darian Mensah also played down the attention. ‘I’m really just blocking out all the noise,’ he said, according to the AP. Linebacker Mohamed Toure said the players would keep the same approach regardless of whether Miami was ranked first or far lower: play each week with a ‘1-0 mentality.’

Why the final ranking matters to Miami

The Hurricanes finished No. 2 last season after losing the College Football Playoff national championship game, the AP reported. That result gives Cristobal’s comments about the final poll a clear context: Miami reached the title game, but did not finish on top. For now, the next scheduled test is Pitt at home on Saturday.