Thursday, it was reported that former Georgia starting quarterback Carson Beck intends to put his name in the transfer portal despite previously declaring for the NFL Draft. This news sent waves throughout the college football world and, if reports are correct, it could have an impact on Dabo Swinney and his Clemson Tigers in 2025.
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, who spoke on this issue on Thursday's edition of the Pat McAfee Show, Beck is potentially eyeing Miami as a landing spot.
"My quick brush on making some calls on this today," he said, "is that Miami would loom as the favorite for Carson Beck. They right now don't have an incumbent starter at quarterback. Mario Cristobal has shown an affinity from the success that Cam Ward has had to have an established guy come in."
Last offseason, Miami pulled a similar move by landing former Washington State QB Cam Ward who, like Beck this year, originally stated that he was going to go to the NFL only to reverse course and put his name into the transfer portal. This season, Ward was terrific throwing for 4,313 yards and 39 TDs with only seven interceptions. Those numbers were good enough for Ward to be named a Heisman Trophy finalist.
"Miami would loom as the favorite right now for Carson Beck" ~ @PeteThamel #PMSLive https://t.co/hFj9Frt5bk pic.twitter.com/8tOk5CnBzY
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 9, 2025
Of course, this season also saw Miami come up one game short of playing for the ACC title. Their loss at Syracuse on the last Saturday of the regular season allowed Clemson to get into the conference championship game instead and the Tigers took advantage by beating SMU to earn a College Football Playoff bid.
So even with a likely first-round NFL QB running the show this year, Miami didn't quite have what it took to become a playoff team in 2024. But could they get over the hump next season with Beck as their starter?
That is possible. In fact, many people are already high on the Hurricanes' playoff chances for next season. For instance, even without knowing who will play QB for Cristobal's team, Brad Crawford of 247Sports.com projects Miami to be in next year's playoff field.
According to Crawford, Miami is just a quarterback away from being a legitimate title contender. Adding Beck to their roster would almost certainly make them a playoff favorite.
Currently, though, Clemson is the trendy pick to win the ACC and claim the conference's automatic bid. That's in large part because of the return of quarterback Cade Klubnik who right now stands to be the best QB in the ACC next season.
If Beck does wind up playing for Miami, then the Tigers will have a more difficult road to the playoff. While Clemson and Miami don't meet in the 2025 regular season, they could square off in the ACC Championship Game with a trip to the playoff on the line. Thus, Beck could throw a wrench in Clemson's plans for ACC domination.
The reports about Beck's future also indicate that Ohio State and Texas Tech could make a move for his services as well. However, Miami is being labeled the frontrunner in this recruiting race and that is not what Clemson fans want to hear.