The Miami Hurricanes are heading into the 2026 ACC Tipoff with a familiar face at the center of the conversation: head coach Jai Lucas, joined by sophomores Shelton Henderson and Villinova transfer Acaden Lewis as the afternoon session opens on the final day of media day.
That backdrop comes with a full season slate now on the books, and Miami’s path looks anything but soft. The Hurricanes are set to run through one of the deeper opponent lists in the country, with at least three SEC teams on the schedule before conference play even begins. They’ll also be part of the Players Era 16 Tournament in Las Vegas, where a matchup with the national champions, Michigan, is possible if they get past TCU.
There’s another notable storyline waiting later, too: Lucas going back to Duke and trying to beat the program he used to be part of.
Here’s the full TV schedule and tipoff times for Miami’s 2026-27 season:
Nov. 9 - North Florida, Coral Gables, Fla. - 7 p.m. - ACCN
Nov. 13 - North Alabama, Coral Gables, Fla. - 5 p.m. - ACCN
Nov. 26 - vs. Michigan/Creighton^, Las Vegas, Nev. - TBD - TBD
Nov. 28 - Players Era (if nec.)^, Las Vegas, Nev. - TBD - TBD
Dec. 16 - Alcorn State, Coral Gables, Fla. - 7 p.m. - ACCNX
Dec. 21 - USC Upstate, Coral Gables, Fla. - 1 p.m. - ACCNX
Jan. 19 - at Louisville*, Louisville, Ky. - 7 p.m. - ESPN/2/U
Jan. 23 - at Virginia Tech*, Blacksburg, Va. - 6 p.m. - ESPN/2/U
Jan. 30 - Wake Forest*, Coral Gables, Fla. - 12 p.m. - The CW
Feb. 6 - Florida State*, Coral Gables, Fla. - 2 p.m. - ESPN/2
Feb. 10 - at Stanford*, Palo Alto, Calif. - 9 p.m. - ESPN2/U
Feb. 20 - Notre Dame*, Coral Gables, Fla. - 4:30 p.m. - ACCN
Feb. 22 - at North Carolina*, Chapel Hill, N.C. - 7 p.m. - ESPN
Feb. 27 - Pitt*, Coral Gables, Fla. - 6 or 6:30 p.m. - ESPN/2
March 2 - SMU*, Coral Gables, Fla. - 7 p.m. - ESPN/2/U/ACCN
March 6 - at Florida State*, Tallahassee, Fla. - 2 p.m. - ESPN/U
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 Basketball Just Got The Kind Of Respect Fans Wanted
Jai Lucas is already getting the sort of preseason respect Miami fans have been waiting for, with the Hurricanes landing at No. 12 in the NCAAs Power 44 rankings ahead of the 2026-27 season. After a 26-9 turnaround, the program heads into Lucas next year with a roster that mixes proven returners, freshmen and a transfer class built to give the offense more balance, especially from the perimeter.
Malik Reneau, Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson give Miami a familiar core, while the newcomers are expected to help solve one of the bigger offseason needs by improving outside shooting. There is still plenty of work before the opener against Florida, but the ranking suggests the Hurricanes are no longer being treated like a feel-good surprise - they are being viewed as a team with a chance to back up last years rise. [Read more 🡒]