With the College Football Playoff National Championship right around the corner, all eyes are on the field - but down in Coral Gables, the Miami Hurricanes are locked in a high-stakes battle off it. And right now, the quarterback situation in South Florida is looking more uncertain by the day.
Miami has swung big in the transfer portal this offseason, trying to replace Carson Beck with a proven, high-level starter. One of the most eye-catching moves reportedly involved a $6.5 million offer to Alabama’s Ty Simpson to forgo the NFL Draft and head to Miami instead. That pursuit didn’t pan out, and now the Hurricanes are turning their attention to another standout: Duke’s Darian Mensah.
Mensah has quickly become one of the hottest names in college football. After transferring from Tulane last offseason, he inked a two-year, $8 million deal with Duke and proceeded to light up the ACC.
He threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns, leading the Blue Devils to a conference title and putting the rest of the country on notice. He was electric, efficient, and in complete command of the offense - the kind of quarterback who changes the ceiling of a program.
Heading into the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against Arizona State, signs pointed to Mensah running it back with Duke in 2026. He had flirted with the NFL Draft, sure, but the expectation was that he’d return and lead a loaded offense featuring running back Nate Sheppard and wideout Cooper Barkate. That trio combined for over 6,200 yards this season and looked poised to do even more damage next year.
But now, things are murky again.
Multiple unconfirmed reports suggest Miami is making a late push, willing to shell out $7 million to lure Mensah into the portal before the December 16 deadline. That kind of offer - especially this late in the game - has thrown Duke’s offseason plans into disarray.
The Blue Devils had been operating under the assumption that Mensah was locked in for 2026. As a result, they hadn’t pursued any quarterbacks in the portal. That’s a risky position to be in, especially with backup Henry Belin IV entering the portal himself and committing to Missouri State after attempting just five passes last season.
If Mensah does decide to make a move, Duke’s quarterback room could go from a position of strength to a full-blown crisis overnight. And with the portal deadline looming, there’s not much time left to pivot.
For Miami, it’s a clear sign of how aggressive the program is willing to be in pursuit of a game-changing quarterback. The Hurricanes know they need a star under center to compete at the highest level, and Mensah fits that bill. He’s proven, he’s dynamic, and he’s still got eligibility left - a rare combination in today’s college football landscape.
For Duke, the clock is ticking. If they want to keep their offensive nucleus intact and build on this season’s success, they may need to dig deeper into their pockets to fend off Miami’s late push.
One thing’s for sure: the transfer portal era doesn’t just reshape rosters - it reshapes entire programs. And right now, both Miami and Duke are feeling the pressure.