Miami’s path back to the College Football Playoff in 2026 looks a lot cleaner than the one it took to get there the first time.
That’s the big takeaway after a 2025 season that turned into a full-on statement for Mario Cristobal’s program. The Hurricanes didn’t just return to national relevance under their head coach - they forced their way into the sport’s biggest conversation. And after going 13-3 and making the playoff for the first time in school history, Miami ripped through a run that made it clear it wasn’t satisfied with simply showing up.
The Hurricanes knocked off the Texas A&M Aggies, the defending-champion Ohio State Buckeyes and the Ole Miss Rebels before falling 27-21 to the Indiana Hoosiers in the championship game. It was a run that proved Miami belonged on that stage, even if the title game came up just short.
Cristobal’s climb to that point wasn’t immediate. He arrived ahead of the 2022 season with the job of restoring Miami to national relevance, and the early results were rough.
From 2004 to 2021, the Hurricanes had only one double-digit-win season. Cristobal went 12-13 over his first two years in Coral Gables.
Since then, though, Miami has gone 23-6.
Now the question is whether the Hurricanes can do it again - and finish it.
Miami brings back some important pieces from last season, including running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and wide receiver Malachi Toney. But the roster also took some major hits. Quarterback Carson Beck is gone to the NFL, along with EDGE Rueben Bain and EDGE Akheem Mesidor, both first-round picks.
The Hurricanes did not sit still. They went into the transfer portal and came out with quarterback Darian Mensah and EDGE Damon Wilson II, two additions that give this roster a different kind of punch.
Mensah arrives after throwing for 3,973 yards, 34 touchdowns and six interceptions while leading the Duke Blue Devils to an ACC championship last season. Wilson brings production of his own, posting nine tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks for the Missouri Tigers.
That blend of returning talent and portal firepower is why Brooks Austin is so high on Miami heading into 2026.
"I think Miami should be a lock to make the College Football Playoff," Austin said. "I'm going to put them in there. I've got them as a lock."
The schedule only adds to that optimism. Miami faces just one team expected to be ranked in the preseason, and that game comes on the road against Notre Dame.
The Hurricanes beat Notre Dame last season. Beyond that, the only other notable matchups are Clemson and Florida State.
Miami has already proven it can reach the sport’s highest level under Cristobal. The next test is whether it can stay there and close the deal. With a manageable schedule and a roster built around proven returners and high-end transfer additions, the Hurricanes have a clear lane back to the playoff.
This time, the expectation in Coral Gables goes beyond contending. It is about winning the whole thing.
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Israel Abrams Could Be Mario Cristobals Defining Miami Recruiting Win
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Miami has already seen the payoff ripple outward, with Abrams pledge helping create momentum for other high-profile targets and adding to a broader quarterback plan that stretches into future classes. The Hurricanes have been building a case that their recruiting pitch is resonating at the highest level, and Abrams decision may end up being the one they point to as the moment the strategy truly took hold. [Read more 🡒]