Let's dive into the buzz surrounding the Miami Hurricanes as they gear up for the 2026 college football season. There's a strong case to be made that Miami should kick off the season as the preseason No. 1 team in the AP Top 25.
Their performance last year was nothing short of spectacular, falling just one win shy of a national championship. They boast two of the sport's elite skill players and have brought in a top-tier quarterback transfer to fill the void left by their departing star.
However, there's a good chance that when the AP poll is released, Miami might not find themselves at the top. Why? Well, let's break it down.
Miami's playoff run last season was a wake-up call to the college football world. Yet, there's understandable caution as we look ahead to 2026.
The Hurricanes lost some key players on both sides of the line, including standout edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. And then there's head coach Mario Cristobal, whose game management decisions still leave some fans scratching their heads.
These factors might sway AP voters towards more traditional powerhouses like Texas, Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, or even Indiana, who all have a shot at claiming that top spot.
Reflecting on last season, Miami ended with an impressive 13-3 record. They took down Texas A&M in the first round, knocked out Ohio State in the quarterfinals, and triumphed over Ole Miss in the semifinals. Although they fell to Indiana in the national championship game, the Hurricanes proved they could handle the heat, staying competitive until the final moments.
Offensively, Miami is stacked. With Darian Mensah at the helm, they have a quarterback who's not just talented but also experienced in leading a team to victory.
Mensah, a second-team All-ACC selection last year, guided the Blue Devils to an ACC championship. Now, he steps into a Miami offense that features Malachi Toney, who shattered Miami's single-season record with 109 receptions as a freshman, and Mark Fletcher Jr., who powered through defenses for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Defensively, Miami is well-equipped to handle the loss of some key players. Ahmad Moten Sr. and Justin Scott are back, and Marquise Lightfoot is ready to take on a bigger role.
The addition of Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II brings SEC experience to their pass rush. The secondary is seasoned, with returning starters like Bryce Fitzgerald and Zechariah Poyser leading the charge.
Last year, Miami's defense topped the ACC in total defense, rushing defense, scoring defense, and sacks. Replicating those numbers won't be easy, but with their returning talent, it's within reach.
This season, Miami will be under the microscope, tasked with proving that their playoff run was just the beginning of a new era. Despite the doubt that might keep them from the preseason No. 1 spot, the Hurricanes are poised to make a strong case on the field. Keep an eye on Miami-they're ready to make waves once again.
In Other News...
Miami Just Lost A Chaminade-Madonna Playmaker To A Bitter Rival
A familiar South Florida recruiting name came off the board with a choice that will sting plenty of people around Coral Gables. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Armani Strong, a four-star prospect in the 2028 class, is headed to Florida after drawing serious attention from Miami, USC, Notre Dame and Michigan, giving the Gators an early win in a battle that had plenty of local significance for the Hurricanes.
For Miami, the miss is especially notable because Strong has long been part of the South Florida talent stream the program works so hard to keep home. He enters the cycle as one of the more highly regarded receivers in the country and in Florida, while Floridas new staff under Jon Sumrall gets its first commitment of the 2028 class. Even this early, the recruiting board is already starting to show which battles the Hurricanes can afford to lose and which ones they probably cannot. [Read more 🡒]
EA Sports Just Sent Miami Fans A Clear Message About This Roster
EA Sports latest College Football 27 ratings offer a pretty clear snapshot of where Miami sits in the national conversation heading into the games July 9 launch. The Hurricanes come in at 88 overall, tied with LSU and Ole Miss and trailing a group that includes Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, Notre Dame and Texas, which is the kind of placement that suggests respect without quite reaching the sports top shelf.
The bigger takeaway for Miami fans is how much talent the roster carries beneath that team number. The Hurricanes have 15 players rated 85 or better, with the group split across both sides of the ball, a sign that this is not just a team built around a few headline names. Early access opens July 6 for eligible players, so plenty of fans will be getting their first close look at how the roster is stacked and where the game thinks Miamis strengths really lie. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Lost Ground In A Key 2027 Recruiting Battle
Miamis push for one of the countrys top 2027 tight ends hit a setback this week when Anthony Cartwright III came off the board after a recruiting process that had included a look at Coral Gables. The Detroit Country Day standout had taken official visits to Miami and Oregon in June, and his profile as a Rivals four-star prospect made him a priority name for a Hurricanes staff trying to build early momentum in the class.
Cartwrights decision matters for Miami because he had been one of the marquee targets on the board at his position, and the Hurricanes had spent June trying to make a strong impression on him. His final group also included Michigan, LSU and Michigan State, so the interest was broad and the competition was real, but Miami now has to turn the page and keep working a tight end board that was already starting to take shape. [Read more 🡒]