The buzz around Miami football isn’t just local anymore - it’s gone national. With the 2026 season still months away, CBS Sports has already placed the Hurricanes atop its Way-Too-Early 12-team College Football Playoff projection, slotting them at No. 1 in the country. That’s not just a nod to what Miami accomplished last year - it’s a full-on endorsement of what Mario Cristobal is building in Coral Gables.
The centerpiece of that optimism? Quarterback Darian Mensah.
Mensah, the electric transfer from Duke, has quickly become one of the most talked-about players in the country this offseason - and for good reason. He’s stepping into an offense that’s already been one of the most dynamic in college football over the past two years under offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. Now, with Mensah at the controls, expectations are soaring.
And it’s not just about Mensah’s raw talent - though he brings plenty of that. It’s about the weapons around him and the familiarity he brings. Wide receiver Malachi Toney is back and looking every bit like a future first-rounder, and Mensah won’t have to build chemistry from scratch with everyone - his former Duke teammate Cooper Barkate, a 1,000-yard receiver in his own right, made the move to Miami with him.
That trio - Mensah, Toney, and Barkate - gives the Hurricanes one of the most dangerous passing attacks in the country, and it’s all orchestrated by Dawson, who’s turned Miami into a vertical threat that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
And while the offense is stealing headlines, there’s growing confidence in the defense, too. Outgoing pass rusher Rueben Bain recently made waves when he said Miami’s defensive line “might be better” without him.
That’s not a slight - it’s a statement about the depth and talent Cristobal and his staff have stockpiled in the trenches. If that group takes another step forward, Miami won’t just be explosive - they’ll be balanced.
CBS Sports’ early bracket projects Miami as the No. 1 seed, earning a first-round bye as the ACC champion. That’s a bold call in February, but it speaks volumes. This isn’t just about hype - it’s about belief in a program that’s been steadily climbing back toward national relevance and now seems poised to break through.
Here’s how CBS sees the full 12-team CFP bracket shaking out:
First-Round Byes
- No.
1 Miami (ACC Champion)
- No.
2 Notre Dame
- No.
3 Texas (SEC Champion)
- No.
4 Indiana (Big Ten Champion)
First-Round Matchups
- No.
9 LSU at No. 8 Ohio State
- No. 12 Michigan at No.
5 Texas Tech (Big 12 Champion)
- No.
11 Memphis at No. 6 Georgia
- No. 10 Texas A&M at No.
7 Oregon
It’s still early - way early - but when a national outlet puts you at the top of the mountain before spring ball even kicks off, that says something. The Hurricanes have gone from rebuilding to reloading, and with Mensah under center, the rest of the country is officially on notice.
The hype train has left the station. And right now, it’s wearing orange and green.