The Miami Hurricanes learned their full 2021 football schedule Thursday morning. Some quick highlights:
The previously announced opener remains the headliner, against reigning national champion Alabama in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Crimson Tide — spoiler alert — should again be a College Football Playoff contender, making this contest an enormous test to start Manny Diaz’s third season.
The next two non-conference games are interesting, too. Appalachian State is consistently one of the best teams in the Group of Five, and Michigan State is a big-name opponent, albeit one with a head coach (Mel Tucker) who didn’t get much of a Year 1 last season.
A Thursday night game against Virginia on Sept. 30 leads to an odd wrinkle; the ’Canes won’t play again until traveling to Coastal Division contender North Carolina on Oct. 16. It’s an extra long off week because of an open date.
Miami will look for its fifth consecutive win over Florida State in a Nov. 13 game in Tallahassee. The Hurricanes follow that with a pair of division games against embattled coaches — Virginia Tech’s Justin Fuente and Duke’s David Cutcliffe.
Miami 2021 football schedule
Sept. 4: vs. Alabama (in Atlanta)
Sept. 11: vs. Appalachian State
Sept. 18: vs. Michigan State
Sept. 25: vs. Central Connecticut
Sept. 30: Virginia
Oct. 16: at North Carolina
Oct. 23: vs. North Carolina State
Oct. 30: at Pitt
Nov. 6: vs. Georgia Tech
Nov. 13: at Florida State
Nov. 20: vs. Virginia Tech
Nov. 27: at Duke
Kickoff times and TV information will be announced later.