The Miami Hurricanes will open the 2026 season at No. 7 in the Associated Press preseason poll, a ranking that keeps them in the national conversation even after a trip to the title game. The AP released the poll Monday afternoon, and Miami collected 1,379 votes.
Six teams sit ahead of the Hurricanes: Ohio State at No. 1, Oregon at No.
2, Georgia at No. 3, Notre Dame at No.
4, Texas at No. 5 and Indiana at No. 6.
Miami’s placement still stands out for another reason. The Hurricanes had been showing up outside the top five on plenty of preseason lists, and being the national championship runner-up wasn’t enough to push them higher here.
It also marks their first AP preseason top-10 appearance since 2018, when they were No. 8.
The ACC did not flood the poll. Miami was one of only three league teams in the Top 25, joined by SMU at No. 19 and Louisville at No. 24.
The roster comes with plenty of upside, but there are still a few major questions, beginning up front. Miami has to replace four starters on the offensive line, including All-American right tackle Francis Mauigoa. That’s no small job, though the program is banking on the talent it has already developed.
Quarterback is another major storyline, and for the third straight year, the Hurricanes will lean on a transfer to handle the offense. Darian Mensah arrives after a huge season at Duke, where he led the ACC with 3,973 passing yards and 34 touchdowns. His play helped the Blue Devils win their first conference football title since 1989.
Mensah won’t be short on help. Miami’s receiving group is loaded, headlined by college football star Malachi Toney.
The 17-year-old reclassified freshman led the nation with 109 catches last season and brings a rare mix of receiving, running and throwing ability. He’ll be joined by Duke transfer Cooper Barkate, who played with Mensah, and South Carolina transfer Vandrevius Jacobs.
Joshua Moore and Daylyn Upshaw, both returning sophomores, are also expected to see bigger roles.
The backfield is in good shape, too. Miami brought back the core of its running back support from last season, including local standout Mark Fletcher Jr.
On defense, the Hurricanes aren’t sounding alarms despite some serious departures at edge rusher. Akheem Mesidor and All-American Rueben Bain Jr. are gone, but coach Jason Taylor is preparing the next wave, with Marquise Lightfoot and Armondo Blount among the names expected to step in.
Miami’s argument for climbing higher in the rankings is simple: production on the field will do the talking. The Hurricanes held a live scrimmage Friday at Hard Rock Stadium.
In Other News...
Mario Cristobal Takes Miami's Game Night Frustration Straight To The ACC
Mario Cristobals latest gripe with the ACC has less to do with travel or television windows than with something deeply rooted in South Florida football culture. During an interview with ESPNs Rece Davis, the Miami coach made clear he would rather keep high school football on Friday nights, pushing back on the leagues recent habit of putting early-season Hurricanes games on Fridays and Thursdays.
For Cristobal, the issue is bigger than a scheduling inconvenience. Those weekday college games create a direct conflict with the high school matchups that help define Miami-Dade County, and they also keep the Hurricanes staff from getting out to see local prospects and community programs in person. His point was simple enough: he wants a balance that lets both levels of football matter, without college scheduling crowding out one of the regions most important nights. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Freshmen Face A Huge Second Scrimmage For Bigger Roles
Fall camp has given Miamis true freshmen a chance to make the kind of early impression that can speed up a depth chart, and a few of them have already put themselves in that conversation. Javian Mallory, Somourian Wingo, Ben Congdon, Jackson Cantwell and JJ Dunnigan have all flashed enough physical tools and promise to suggest the staff will keep finding ways to test them before the season starts, especially with roles open at several spots.
Wingos path is especially interesting because the receiver room has room for movement, while Congdon is still fighting to earn a place in the offensive line mix. Miami has seen freshmen before step in and matter right away, and this group has the same kind of chance if it keeps stacking strong days in camp and carries that momentum into the next scrimmage. [Read more 🡒]
Francis Mauigoa Is Giving Miami Fans Another Reason To Brag
Francis Mauigoa is already starting to look like the kind of pro Miami fans love to claim as one of their own. The former Hurricanes offensive lineman, taken 10th overall by the New York Giants in the 2026 NFL Draft, has made a smooth early transition from college tackle to left guard, and it has shown up in preseason work that has drawn attention for all the right reasons.
What stands out most is how quickly Mauigoa has earned respect on both sides of the line. His athleticism has been a talking point, and Giants defensive tackle DJ Reader has singled out the rookies energy and the way he has affected the team, a strong early sign that Miami may have sent New York a player ready to make noise right away. [Read more 🡒]