The Miami Hurricanes came into this season with sky-high expectations and a roster stacked with talent across the board. But as any college football fan knows, talent alone doesn’t guarantee wins-especially in a sport where execution, depth, and timing mean everything.
And for Miami, two losses-one to Louisville and another to SMU-proved to be more than just setbacks. They were season-defining.
Those defeats didn’t just sting-they shut the door on Miami’s College Football Playoff hopes and gave both the ACC and the playoff committee all the justification they needed to leave the Hurricanes out of the picture. That’s the harsh reality of the playoff chase: one or two missteps, and even an elite roster can find itself on the outside looking in.
Still, there’s no shortage of optimism in Coral Gables. The Hurricanes may have fallen short this season, but the foundation they’re building is as strong as ever. And if the early signs from the 2026 recruiting class are any indication, Miami isn’t going anywhere-they’re reloading, not rebuilding.
Let’s start with the trenches, because that’s where Miami is making its biggest moves. Head coach Mario Cristobal, a former offensive lineman himself, understands better than most that games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage.
That’s why landing Jackson Cantwell-the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country out of Nixa, Missouri-is such a massive win. With the Hurricanes likely to lose multiple starting linemen after this season, including three-year starter Francis Mauigoa (a former five-star who could declare for the NFL Draft) and senior tackle Markel Bell (who’s eligible to return but hasn’t made a decision yet), Cantwell’s commitment couldn’t have come at a better time.
Depth on the offensive line isn’t just a luxury-it’s a necessity, especially when postseason football rolls around. Injuries happen, rotations tighten, and teams that can plug in quality linemen without missing a beat are the ones that keep moving forward. Miami’s coaching staff knows that, and they’ve been aggressive about stacking talent in the trenches.
Another key name in that effort is Seuseu Alofaituli, a former four-star interior lineman who adds more muscle to the middle of that offensive front. The Hurricanes aren’t just collecting stars-they’re building a unit that can control games from the inside out.
And it’s not just about the big men up front. ESPN still has Miami’s 2026 recruiting class ranked No. 9 in the country, with 13 players from the SC Next Top 300 already committed. That’s the kind of recruiting momentum that keeps a program in the national conversation, even after a disappointing finish to the regular season.
So yes, the missed playoff berth hurts. Yes, those two losses will linger.
But this is a program that’s clearly trending in the right direction. The Hurricanes are building something sustainable-something that doesn’t just rely on one good season or one standout player.
With elite prospects continuing to sign on and a coaching staff that’s doubling down on the fundamentals, the future in Miami still looks as bright as ever.