Miami’s nonconference slate picked up another heavyweight, with the Hurricanes set to meet Texas on Dec. 12 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
The game time and TV information still haven’t been announced, but the matchup already carries plenty of built-in intrigue. It will be the fifth meeting between Miami and Texas, and the series is dead even at 2-2. The teams last saw each other in the 2023 Elite Eight, when Miami won 88-81 to reach its only Final Four.
This one also brings a personal angle for Hurricanes head coach Jai Lucas. It will be his first game against his alma mater. Lucas played two seasons for Texas from 2009-11, appearing in 58 games, and he grew up in Houston, where he starred at Bellaire.
Texas arrives with a strong résumé from last season, going 21-15 and making an Elite Eight run as an 11-seed before losing to Purdue. That same Purdue team had ended Miami’s season in the previous round, as the Hurricanes finished 26-9.
The Longhorns have also added serious talent to the roster. Marcus Spears Jr., who was the No. 1-ranked recruit in the 2027 class before reclassifying to 2026, joined as the No. 8 overall player.
Texas also has Austin Goosby, the No. 19 overall player, back in the mix. On top of that, the Longhorns return Matas Vokietaitis and added transfers Isaiah Johnson from Colorado, Elyjah Freeman from Auburn and David Punch from TCU.
The Texas game is part of a challenging early schedule for Miami that also includes Nov. 2 against Florida, Nov. 24 against TCU at the Players Era 16 Championship, Nov. 26 against either Michigan or Creighton at the same event, Nov. 27/28 in a TBD game at the Players Era 16 Championship, and Dec. 2 against Alabama.
In Other News...
Bryce Fitzgerald May Be At Center Of Miami's Next Secondary Shift
Bryce Fitzgerald has spent the offseason reshaping his body and his role, and Miami is taking notice. The Hurricanes defensive back added 20 pounds of muscle while continuing to show the kind of versatility that has made him useful across the secondary, a trait that matters even more now as the staff works through changes at nickelback.
With Keionte Scott out of that spot, Miami has been sorting through options and Fitzgerald is part of that conversation because he is comfortable moving around and brings a sturdier frame than he did a year ago. Boston College transfer Omar Thornton was projected there in spring practice, but Fitzgeralds development gives the Hurricanes another intriguing path as they look to settle a key piece of the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Has A New Florida Recruiting Battle To Watch
JC Wessels path into the recruiting spotlight has been a little different than most. He started his high school career at Frederica Academy in Georgia, then moved to Bolles High School in Florida to get more exposure and a higher level of weekly competition, a switch that has already paid off in a big way for the rising tight end.
After a strong showing at the Navy All-American Combine, Wessels profile took off, and programs that barely had him on the radar before are now paying close attention. He entered 2026 with just three offers, but that number has since climbed past 25, setting up a new Florida recruiting battle that could matter to Miami and the rest of the states big programs as they try to keep a talented newcomer close to home. [Read more 🡒]
Why Miami Fans Should Be Wary Of Belichick's UNC In 2026
Bill Belichicks first year at North Carolina did not bring the kind of immediate lift Tar Heel fans imagined, and the buildup to 2026 already looks like a tougher test. UNC finished 4-8, sits just 27th in recruiting and 33rd when the portal is folded in, and now has to navigate a schedule that should tell a lot about where the program really stands under a coach whose name still carries enormous weight.
The bigger concern for Miami fans is how quickly that pressure could turn into urgency in Chapel Hill. UNC brings back only 44% of its production, has a new athletic director in place, and faces the kind of expensive contract situation that can make patience harder to find if the results do not improve. With a new quarterback battle looming and a daunting slate ahead, the Tar Heels could be dangerous in 2026, but they could also be one bad season away from a much louder conversation. [Read more 🡒]