The Miami Hurricanes now have their roadmap for another potential College Football Playoff run, as the ACC unveiled the full 2026 schedule Monday evening. And after a thrilling 2025 campaign that saw the Canes surge all the way to the National Championship Game, the expectations-and the spotlight-are only getting bigger.
Coming off a 13-3 season, Miami enters 2026 with momentum and a target on its back. The Hurricanes earned the final at-large bid into the 12-team playoff as the No. 10 seed last year, then went on a postseason tear-taking down No.
7 Texas A&M on the road before knocking off No. 2 Ohio State and No.
6 Ole Miss at neutral sites. It was the kind of run that cements a program’s national relevance.
Now, the challenge for Mario Cristobal and his staff is clear: turn that breakthrough into a foundation.
Let’s dive into the 2026 slate and what it means for Miami’s chances of doing just that.
September: Starting Fast, Traveling Far
Sept. 4 (Friday) - at Stanford
The season opener takes Miami across the country to face Stanford on Labor Day weekend. The Canes dominated the Cardinal 42-7 last season in South Florida, but this will be Miami’s first-ever trip to Stanford Stadium.
The last time UM played in the Bay Area? A wild 39-38 win in 2024.
Opening on the road in a Power Five environment is never easy, but it’s a chance to set the tone early.
**Sept. 10 (Thursday) - vs.
Florida A&M**
A short week follows with an FCS matchup against Florida A&M.
These two last met in 2024, when Miami cruised to a 56-9 win. Expect this to be a tune-up game before the ACC grind begins.
Sept. 18 (Friday) - at Wake Forest
Week 3 brings another Friday night road trip, this time to Winston-Salem. Miami is a perfect 6-0 against Wake Forest since joining the ACC in 2004, but it’s been a while since the Canes visited-2009 to be exact.
That game? A nail-biting 28-27 win on Halloween.
UM handled Wake comfortably in 2024, but road ACC games under the lights always carry a bit of unpredictability.
**Sept. 26 (Saturday) - vs.
Central Michigan**
The Chippewas come to Hard Rock Stadium in Week 4.
Central Michigan is coming off a 7-6 season and hasn’t beaten a Power Five team since their 2021 Sun Bowl upset of Washington State. The last time these two met was in 2019, when Miami had to grind out a 17-12 win.
This one should be more comfortable, but it’s also the final non-conference tune-up before the meat of the schedule arrives.
October: Rivalries, Road Tests, and a Crucial Bye
Oct. 3 (Saturday) - at Clemson
Circle this one. Clemson may not be the powerhouse it once was, but Death Valley is still one of the toughest environments in college football.
Miami won the last meeting between the two in 2023, 28-20 at home. But the Canes haven’t won in Clemson since 2010.
This game could be a defining moment early in the ACC title race.
Oct. 10 - BYE WEEK
Perfectly placed. After a physical road test at Clemson and before a rivalry showdown with Florida State, this bye week gives Miami a chance to regroup and reset.
**Oct. 17 (Saturday) - vs.
Florida State**
The rivalry that needs no introduction.
Miami leads the all-time series 37-33 and has won the last two meetings. These games tend to come in streaks, and right now, the momentum is on the Canes’ side.
With both programs trending upward, this could be one of the biggest FSU-Miami matchups in recent memory.
**Oct. 24 (Saturday) - vs.
Pittsburgh**
Pitt returns to Miami looking for revenge after a 38-7 beatdown in the final week of the 2025 regular season.
The Panthers are always a tough, physical team, but Miami’s recent dominance in this matchup gives them the edge heading in.
Oct. 31 (Saturday) - at North Carolina
A Halloween trip to Chapel Hill brings a chance to exorcise some demons. Miami has lost five straight to UNC, and this one looms large as a potential trap game sandwiched between emotional matchups.
If the Canes want to prove they’re a different team in 2026, this is a game they have to flip.
November: A Brutal Start, a Favorable Finish
Nov. 7 (Saturday) - at Notre Dame
This one might be the toughest game on the schedule. Notre Dame will be out for revenge after Miami’s 27-24 win to open the 2025 season-a victory that helped the Canes leapfrog the Irish for the final playoff spot.
And here’s the stat that matters: Miami hasn’t won in South Bend since 1984. If they can pull this one off, it’ll speak volumes about their playoff credentials.
**Nov. 14 (Saturday) - vs.
Duke**
A return to Hard Rock and a chance to reset after the Notre Dame gauntlet.
Miami should be heavily favored here, but Duke has played spoiler before. The Canes will need to stay focused with two more games still to come.
**Nov. 20 (Friday) - vs.
Virginia Tech**
A rare Friday night home game against a Hokies team that’s always a tough out.
These two have a long-standing rivalry in the ACC, and late-season games like this often have postseason implications. Expect a physical, grind-it-out battle.
**Nov. 28 (Saturday) - vs.
Boston College**
For the first time since joining the ACC in 2004, Miami will close the regular season with three straight home games.
That’s a major scheduling break. They wrap up with Boston College, a team that’s had its ups and downs but always plays hard.
If the Canes are in the playoff hunt, this could be their final statement to the selection committee.
The Big Picture
This is the first year of the ACC’s new nine-game conference schedule, and Miami’s path is no cakewalk. Road trips to Clemson, North Carolina, and Notre Dame are all significant hurdles. But the backloaded home stretch-with three straight at Hard Rock Stadium-gives the Hurricanes a real shot to finish strong.
The ACC and Notre Dame combined to go 61-64 last season, with four bowl teams among them. That’s a sign the conference is still looking for a dominant identity. Miami has the chance to seize that mantle.
After the magic of 2025, the pressure is on. But with a balanced schedule, a proven quarterback-coach duo, and a locker room full of playoff-tested talent, the Hurricanes are built for the long haul. Now it’s about consistency, execution, and proving that last year wasn’t a one-off-it was the start of something bigger.