The 2025 season was a turning point for Miami Hurricanes football - not just a flash of promise, but a full-on statement. After years of trying to claw their way back into college football’s elite, the Hurricanes finally broke through, racking up double-digit wins in the regular season for the first time since the early 2000s and earning their first-ever trip to the College Football Playoff.
Now, the question shifts from can Miami get there to can they stay there. And in 2026, Mario Cristobal and his staff are tasked with proving that this isn’t a one-year wonder - it’s the start of something sustainable.
Yes, the Hurricanes are losing some serious firepower - especially in the trenches - but the cupboard is far from bare. And if the national projections are any indication, expectations are sky-high once again in Coral Gables.
Let’s dive into how some of the top national outlets are sizing up Miami’s 2026 outlook in their “way-too-early” rankings:
CBS Sports: No. 13
CBS sees Miami hanging inside the top 15, largely thanks to one major potential addition: Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah. If the Hurricanes seal that deal, it’s a game-changer.
Sure, the offensive line is taking a hit - possibly losing up to four starters - and the defense will be without elite edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. But Cristobal has built his reputation on dominating the trenches, and there’s confidence that the next wave of veterans will step up.
ESPN: No. 8
ESPN has Miami cracking the top 10, even with the roster turnover. The key?
Again, Darian Mensah. The former Duke quarterback threw for nearly 4,000 yards with 34 touchdowns and just six picks last season.
Plug him into Shannon Dawson’s offense, and you’re looking at a potential Heisman contender. Returning weapons like Mark Fletcher Jr. at running back and rising star receiver Malachi Toney only sweeten the deal.
The defensive line takes a hit with Bain and Mesidor likely heading to the NFL, but the Hurricanes still have talent on that side of the ball.
The Athletic: No. 4
The Athletic is all-in on the Hurricanes, slotting them inside the top five. Their confidence hinges on the expected arrival of Mensah, who was named second-team All-ACC last season.
Fletcher’s return gives the offense stability, and while the defensive front loses two stars, it’s not a rebuild - it’s a reload. Sophomores Justin Scott, Armondo Blount, and Marquise Lightfoot all flashed serious upside during Miami’s run to the national title game.
Add in a strong secondary, and Miami looks ready to contend again.
Pro Football Focus: No. 8
PFF reminds us how close Miami came to not even making the playoff - then nearly won it all. Even with heavy losses, they still see Miami as the team to beat in the ACC.
Mensah, who led the Power Four in passing yards last season, is expected to be the guy under center. Malachi Toney is already being talked about as one of the best receivers in the country, and Fletcher brings back a 1,000-yard presence in the backfield.
FOX Sports: No. 7
FOX keeps it simple: Miami just had its best season in over two decades, and the pieces are in place to make another run. The big variable is quarterback play. If the Hurricanes get consistent production at that spot - especially with Toney entering his sophomore year - this could be the year they finally bring home an ACC title.
Yahoo! Sports: No. 10
Yahoo! is also banking on Mensah landing in Coral Gables.
If that happens, expectations remain high. Miami’s secondary, already young and talented, should only get better in 2026.
And Toney? He’s already drawing early sleeper buzz for the Heisman.
Sporting News: No. 8
Sporting News highlights the big-picture breakthrough: a trip to the CFP title game. Now comes the roster shuffle.
Miami is losing key veterans, including quarterback Carson Beck, but they’ve already made a splash by poaching Mensah from Duke. Malachi Toney and defensive tackle Justin Scott returning gives the 'Canes a strong foundation, but there are still decisions to be made as the roster settles post-championship.
Sports Illustrated: No. 7
SI points to the timing - it took most of the portal window, but Miami found its quarterback. With Mensah expected to take over, the Hurricanes raise their floor considerably.
The 2026 schedule includes tough road trips to Notre Dame and Clemson, but outside of that, it’s manageable. Another year of development for Toney could make this offense even more dangerous.
Despite defensive losses, Cristobal’s group is still the ACC’s top CFP threat.
Athlon: No. 8
Athlon credits Cristobal’s recruiting and portal work for keeping Miami near the top. The Hurricanes still haven’t won an ACC title, but they’ll be favored to change that in 2026.
The offense will be led by a new quarterback - likely Mensah - with elite weapons in Toney and Fletcher. The offensive line needs to be rebuilt, and the defense will miss Bain and Mesidor, but with Corey Hetherman calling the shots, the unit should stay sharp.
On3/Rivals: No. 9
The trajectory is clear: 5 wins, then 7, then 10, then 13 and a trip to the national championship. Miami is trending up - fast.
The addition of Mensah is a big reason why, and the Hurricanes have also bolstered the defense by landing Ohio State transfer Jarquez Carter, one of the top defensive linemen in the portal. That move helps offset some of the losses up front.
USA Today: No. 10
USA Today notes that Miami hasn’t finalized its quarterback situation just yet, but all signs point to Mensah joining the fold. The Hurricanes have already added key defensive pieces in Carter and Boston College safety Omar Thornton.
The big challenge? Rebuilding the offensive and defensive lines after losing stars like Francis Mauigoa, Mesidor, and Bain.
But if anyone’s equipped to handle that, it’s Cristobal.
Final Takeaway
The consensus is clear: Miami isn’t going anywhere.
Even with a wave of talent heading to the NFL, the Hurricanes are viewed as a top-10 - and in some cases, top-5 - team heading into 2026. The expected arrival of Darian Mensah has national analysts buzzing, and with playmakers like Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr. returning, there’s plenty of firepower on offense. The defensive front will look different, but the young talent waiting in the wings has already proven it can rise to the occasion.
Cristobal’s vision is starting to take shape - not just a team that can make noise, but one that can do it year after year.
The U is officially back in the national conversation. Now, it’s about staying there.