Jimbo Fisher may be looking for another shot on the sideline, but Miami is in a very different place than it was when he used to raid South Florida for talent.
Fisher has spent the past few weeks making it clear he wants back in. He’s entering his third season on the ACC Network as part of its pregame coverage team, but he’s also openly inquired about openings, including the Auburn job that eventually went to Alex Golesh. Fisher will turn 61 in October, and the sense here is that if he’s going to land another head coaching job, the window is short - maybe the next 12 months.
If that comeback happens, the likeliest path would be somewhere in or near Florida, where he could recruit the region again. But the old rules don’t apply anymore.
Mario Cristobal has turned Miami into a program that can push back.
That matters because Fisher’s Florida State years came with a real advantage in South Florida. Back then, he and his staff - including Mark Stoops, Eddie Gran and James Coley - pulled in players from the tri-county area and built some major hauls.
Names like Lamarcus Joiner, Nick O'Leary, Rashad Greene, Devonta Freeman and Dalvin Cook were part of that run. Miami, at the time, didn’t have the kind of force behind it to stop the bleeding.
That version of the Hurricanes is gone.
Cristobal, according to the reporting, is not someone who lets rivals stroll into his backyard and take whatever they want. Miami no longer carries the baggage of Nevin Shapiro, and it’s not operating with the same passive approach that defined the Randy Shannon and Al Golden years. The message is simple: if Fisher shows up expecting the same easy pickings, he’ll find resistance.
There are a few jobs that could plausibly put Fisher back in the mix. North Carolina could become one if the Belichick experiment doesn’t work out.
Maryland is another possible landing spot. UCF could also have interest if Scott Frost can’t do better than what he’s doing there now.
None of those situations is supposed to shake Miami.
UCF doesn’t carry the same pull that Florida State did. North Carolina has had some issues with Miami since the Hurricanes joined the ACC, but the Tar Heels have never really had a major footprint in South Florida. Maryland wouldn’t be in direct ACC competition, though Fisher taking that job would likely mean the Terrapins get more aggressive in the area.
A return to Florida State? The source doesn’t see it happening. There’s too much bad blood and too much distrust on both sides.
So Fisher may coach again. That part is still on the table.
But if he does, Miami under Cristobal isn’t the vulnerable target it used to be. The Hurricanes are the power now, and they’re not going to sit back while someone else tries to pick apart their recruiting ground.
In Other News...
Miami Tight End Situation Just Took Another Turn Before The Opener
With Miamis opener approaching, Alex Bauman has become the latest player to push the boundaries of college football eligibility. The Hurricanes tight end is filing for a temporary restraining order against the NCAA as he looks to pursue a fifth season, arguing for that extra year through an age-based eligibility theory after spending three seasons at Tulane and one in Miami.
Bauman is also planning to enter the transfer portal, adding another layer to a situation that could ripple beyond one roster spot. For Miami, it is another reminder that the tight end room is still unsettled in the final stretch before the season begins, and the legal fight around Baumans future is now part of the backdrop. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Could Suddenly Have A Familiar Tight End Decision To Make
Former Miami tight end Alex Bauman is back in the spotlight after filing for a temporary restraining order in an effort to enter the transfer portal and pursue another season of college football eligibility. Bauman spent one year with the Hurricanes after transferring from Tulane, and his presence gave Miami a useful combination of blocking toughness and receiving ability at a position that often asks for both.
The timing is what makes this situation feel especially familiar and potentially complicated for Miami. The Hurricanes are past the drop/add deadline, which makes an immediate return to the roster unlikely even if the legal side of Baumans request moves forward, leaving the program to monitor a decision that could affect its tight end depth in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Opens Season With An Early Depth Concern Fans Will Notice
Miami enters its season opener already carrying a depth concern that will be easy for fans to spot. The Hurricanes official injury report lists defensive back JaBoree Antoine and tight end Luka Gilbert, with Gilbert already confirmed out for the season because of injury, leaving Miami to sort through its early roster availability before the first kickoff.
Mario Cristobal addressed the teams health status as the opener approached, and the report also included the injury designations for Stanford players ahead of the Sept. 4 game. For Miami, the immediate focus is less on the opponents list and more on how the Hurricanes absorb an early hit to the depth chart at a pair of spots that can matter quickly once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]