The Miami Hurricanes are set to kick off their 2026 season with a trip out west, taking on Stanford on Friday, September 4. It’s a rare opener for the Canes-not just because it’s on the road against a non-conference opponent, but because it marks the first time in over a decade that Miami will start its season against an ACC foe.
The last time that happened? Back in 2014, when Miami opened at Louisville and took a 31-13 loss in what was also the debut of then-freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya.
Fast forward to now, and the Hurricanes are stepping into a season that front-loads the conference play in a way fans haven’t seen in years. After Stanford, Miami heads to Wake Forest in Week 3-another early ACC matchup that breaks from recent scheduling trends. In fact, this will be the first time since 2009 that Miami plays two ACC games within the first three weeks of the season.
That kind of early-season conference gauntlet is something the Hurricanes haven’t had to navigate in a while. In 2020, during the COVID-shortened season, Miami saw a similarly front-loaded ACC slate, including a dominant 52-10 win over Florida State in Week 3. But that year was an anomaly, with most teams sticking to conference-heavy schedules due to pandemic restrictions.
Looking back at more traditional seasons, Miami’s early schedules have usually leaned on non-conference matchups to ease into the grind. In 2024, for instance, the Canes didn’t face an ACC opponent until Week 5, after cruising through four non-conference games. You’d have to go back to 2020 to find the last time they faced an ACC team in the first five weeks-and even then, it was Week 2 at Louisville.
The 2026 schedule shifts that rhythm. Not only does Miami open with a Power Five opponent in Stanford, but they also dive into ACC play right away.
And while Stanford and Wake Forest are both road games, the Hurricanes are expected to be favored in both matchups. That said, early stumbles could spell trouble in a conference that won’t wait for anyone to find their footing.
It’s also worth noting that Miami hasn’t had a true early-season non-conference test outside of the COVID era since 2019. That year, they opened with a narrow 24-20 loss to Florida in Orlando during Week 0, then dropped a close one at North Carolina the following week. That 0-2 start was the program’s worst season-opening stretch since 1978-and a reminder of how quickly momentum can slip away if the early schedule isn’t handled with precision.
This time around, the Hurricanes will look to avoid that kind of misstep. The spotlight may be on the Stanford opener, but the real tone-setter could be that Week 3 showdown at Wake Forest. Two road games, two conference matchups, and a chance to establish themselves early in the ACC race.
Make no mistake-Miami won’t win the conference in September. But they can lose their grip on the season if they don’t come out strong. The biggest test may still lie ahead on November 7 at Notre Dame, but if the Canes want that game to mean something in the national picture, they’ll need to take care of business in these early weeks.
The 2026 schedule is out, and it’s clear: Miami’s margin for error is slim, and the path to relevance starts fast.