Miami’s late-season push now has another layer of recognition attached to it. Darian Mensah was named Tuesday to the Davey O’Brien Quarterback Class of 2026, putting the Hurricanes’ transfer star among the 30 quarterbacks in the running for the award that honors the nation’s top passer.
The timing fits the moment. Miami heads into Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference matchup with Duke still carrying Mensah’s production, and the 21-year-old has spent the season piling up numbers that put him squarely in the national conversation.
Through nine games, he has completed 212 of 276 passes for a 76.8 completion percentage, which ranks No. 1 in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He has also thrown for 2,694 yards, 28 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Mensah arrived in Coral Gables after Miami was still searching for a starting quarterback before the portal window closed. The San Luis Obispo, California, native stepped into the job and has delivered the kind of season that has the Hurricanes thinking big. The source notes he followed the same path as Cam Ward and Carson Beck, and that his current pace would put him ahead of both.
The Hurricanes were 8-0 before last Saturday’s 31-24 loss to Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Miami fell behind 24-3 early in the third quarter, then Mensah helped spark the comeback with consecutive touchdown drives. The rally stalled after he threw an interception on the next possession, and the Hurricanes came up one Elija Lofton-completed touchdown short of a chance to send the game to overtime.
That defeat also came with a hit in the rankings. Miami dropped from No. 1 to No. 7 in the latest College Football Playoff standings, which were released Tuesday night.
Even with that setback, Mensah remains on track for a possible trip to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Miami’s remaining schedule gives it a chance to finish strong, starting with Boston College on Nov. 28.
The Davey O’Brien process will narrow the 30-player class to semifinalists on Nov. 17, with three finalists announced Nov. 24.
The winner will be revealed Dec. 11 during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN. Fans can also support Mensah’s candidacy by liking a graphic of him on the Davey O’Brien Award social media accounts.
In Other News...
Miami Defense Suddenly Has A New Secondary Concern Before Duke
Miamis defense may have to make a late adjustment in the secondary this week, with safety Zechariah Poyser listed as questionable for the home game against Duke after picking up an upper-body injury last week. Head coach Mario Cristobal said Poyser is doing well, but the Hurricanes still have to treat his availability as uncertain as they get closer to kickoff.
If Poyser cant go, Miami does have backup options lined up to handle the safety spot, which at least gives the staff some flexibility. Still, any uncertainty in the back end is worth watching closely against a Duke offense that will test communication and depth, making Poysers status one of the more important items on the pregame checklist. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Gets An Early Test Of How Real This Start Is
No. 17 Miami gets a chance to keep building early momentum Friday when North Alabama comes to town for a 5 p.m. ET matchup at home. Both teams enter at 2-1, which gives this one a little more substance than the usual November tune-up, especially for a Hurricanes group coming off a win over North Florida and looking to show its start is more than just a fast opening stretch.
North Alabama arrives after a loss to Oklahoma, so the Lions will have their own motivation to steady things against a ranked opponent on the road. The game will air on ACC Network with Mike Corey and Tom Crean on the call, giving Miami another early-season stage to answer the first real question of the year: how much of this start can hold up once the schedule starts to ask more of it? [Read more 🡒]
Jai Lucas Is Still Pushing Miami To Fix Two Things Fast
Miamis 89-51 win over North Florida gave Jai Lucas plenty to like, especially the way his team controlled the glass and dictated the game inside. The Hurricanes were able to lean on their rebounding and paint presence to separate early, but Lucas still came away focused on two areas he wants cleaned up quickly: a tighter rotation and better spacing.
Lewis, the sophomore Lucas has leaned on as a floor general, was part of that conversation even with only two points in the box score. Miami now turns to North Alabama for the first meeting between the programs, and the next step for the Hurricanes will be showing that the same physical edge can come with a sharper, more connected offense. [Read more 🡒]