Carson Beck’s final throw in a Hurricanes uniform was one he’d like to forget - a game-ending interception in the national championship. But as Beck heads to the NFL as a projected middle-round pick, Miami isn’t hitting the panic button. In fact, the Hurricanes might be better positioned at quarterback than they were a year ago.
Enter Darien Mensah, the Duke transfer who led the Power Four with 3,951 passing yards last season. He’s now set to take the reins of a Miami offense that’s already loaded with talent. And according to PFF College, the Hurricanes remain a strong bet to return to the College Football Playoff in 2026 - even without Beck.
That’s not just optimism. It’s a reflection of how well Miami has rebuilt and reloaded.
Mensah isn’t walking into a bare cupboard. He’ll be throwing to Malachi Tony and Cooper Barcate, two wideouts who can stretch the field and win one-on-one battles.
In the backfield, he’ll have Mark Fletcher Jr., a bruising runner who brings balance and physicality to the offense. The pieces are there - and if Mensah can replicate his Duke production in Coral Gables, Miami’s offense might not skip a beat.
Head coach Mario Cristobal certainly isn’t lowering expectations.
“I think players and parents realize that not only is our program… we’re not satisfied,” Cristobal told On3’s J.D. PicKell. “We were a participant in the national championship, we didn’t win it.”
That mindset is part of what’s made Miami a consistent force under Cristobal. In four seasons at the helm, he’s guided the Hurricanes to a 35-19 record, including back-to-back double-digit-win campaigns. And while the offense will have to replace three starters on the line, the defense - particularly the front - returns stacked and ready to dominate.
Then there’s the ACC factor. With the new College Football Playoff format granting an automatic bid to the conference champion, Miami’s path is as clear as any in the country.
The ACC remains the weakest of the Power Four conferences, and no other league team cracked PFF’s way-too-early top 15. Translation: the Hurricanes are the team to beat.
And they’re not just winning on the field - they’re dominating the recruiting trail, too.
Cristobal just landed the No. 8 overall class in the 2026 Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings - tops in both the ACC and the state of Florida. That’s ahead of the Gators at No. 14 and Florida State at No.
- The crown jewel?
Five-Star Plus+ offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 overall prospect in the nation. He anchors a class that features 20 blue-chip signees, with half of them coming from in-state.
“In recruiting, you always want to win your state,” Cristobal said. “We provide very tangible proof of the direction of our program and what we’re doing.”
And right now, that direction is up. Miami signed four more in-state four-stars than Florida and five more than Florida State - a clear sign of separation between the Hurricanes and their in-state rivals.
The numbers back it up. Florida State has gone just 7-15 over the past two seasons under Mike Norvell.
Florida, meanwhile, parted ways with Billy Napier midseason after a 23-27 run over four years. Both programs are selling vision.
Cristobal is selling results - and recruits are buying in.
The Hurricanes fell short of a title in 2025, but they’ve reloaded with purpose. With Mensah under center, a deep roster, and a clear path through the ACC, Miami looks like a team that’s not just hungry to get back - but ready to finish the job.