The Miami Hurricanes are already drawing national attention before the 2026-27 season even begins.
In the NCAA’s Power 44 rankings, Miami checks in at No. 12, and the opener will be a real measuring stick: a matchup with Florida in Tampa in less than a month. After a 26-9 turnaround season, Jai Lucas has put the Hurricanes in position to be taken seriously right away.
Lucas’ roster looks nothing like a year ago. He brought in eight transfers, two freshmen, and three returners, with All-ACC fifth-year forward Malik Reneau anchoring the group. Miami landed as the No. 2 team among Atlantic Coast Conference programs in the rankings, behind only Duke at No. 2 overall.
The first-time head coach already showed he could get the most out of this group. Miami outperformed expectations in the regular season and made it back to March Madness, even if the run stopped short of a Sweet 16 appearance. Still, it was enough to signal the start of something new in Coral Gables.
Lucas also held onto two important pieces in Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson, both freshmen starters last season. Both are expected to shoulder more of the load this time around, and Henderson, in particular, looks like the one with the highest ceiling. He put up 13.8 points per game on 56.7 percent shooting, along with 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals across 35 games, all starts.
One of Miami’s biggest issues last season was getting enough reliable production from beyond the arc. Lucas identified three transfers as part of the answer: DeSean Goode from Robert Morris, Nick Dorn from Indiana and Brent Bland from Saint Peter’s.
The talent level is there for Miami to compete with top-tier opponents. After laying down a new foundation and standard, Lucas now has a chance to push the program even further. The Hurricanes head into 2026-27 positioned as one of the ACC’s top contenders, with the possibility of emerging as a dark horse for the national title.
In Other News...
Miami Bye Week Becomes Crucial Push To Protect Loaded Commit Class
The bye week has turned into a full-court recruiting push for Miami, with the staff using the down time to get back on the road and reinforce a commit class the program wants to keep intact. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, running backs coach Favian Upshaw, wide receivers coach Kevin Beard, defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, defensive line coach Damione Lewis, defensive ends coach Jason Taylor, safeties coach Will Harris and cornerbacks coach Terry Jefferson are all scheduled to visit committed players at their high schools.
For a class that already has plenty of attention on it, these in-school visits matter because they let Miami's coaches make one more personal pitch before the season moves back into full speed. The Hurricanes are treating the bye as an opportunity to stay visible with the prospects they have already secured, and to remind them why they chose Miami in the first place, even as the rest of the sport keeps trying to pry committed talent loose. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Bye Week Could Shape The Next Big Recruiting Push
The bye week has given Miamis staff a chance to keep its attention on more than just the field, with coaches spending time on the road to evaluate top prospects around the country. The Hurricanes are still firmly in the mix for several high-profile targets, including five-star names Brysen Wright and Asher Ghioto, while also staying connected to other recruits such as DJ Jacobs and Za'Kari Johnson.
For a program trying to build out the 2027 and 2028 classes, these in-season trips matter because they help Miami sharpen its board before the next wave of visits and game-day evaluations. The staff is expected to keep showing up at games and on campuses, and the next few weeks could go a long way toward defining which relationships turn into real momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Took A Brutal O-Line Hit After Clemson
Miamis offensive line took a significant blow coming out of the Clemson game, with starting right guard Max Buchanan now headed for surgery on Wednesday after suffering a left knee injury in the contest. Buchanan had left the game briefly before returning to finish it, a sequence that drew praise from Mario Cristobal for his toughness, but the longer-term outlook quickly turned into a concern for a unit that has already had to hold up under heavy pressure this season.
The timing makes it especially tricky for Miami, since Buchanan is expected to miss well past the bye week and leave a hole in the interior of the line for the stretch ahead. For a team trying to keep its offense on schedule, losing a starter who battled through the injury only adds another layer of urgency to a position group that cannot afford many more setbacks. [Read more 🡒]