Nick Saban has put his stamp on Miami again, and this time he took it all the way to a title.
During Saturday’s College Gameday final segment, each analyst was asked to make a national championship pick. Saban landed on Miami vs.
Texas in the title game, with the Hurricanes winning the whole thing and claiming title No. 6.
That’s a strong vote of confidence from a coach who has built a résumé that carries real weight. Saban won a title at LSU and six more at Alabama, so when he sees championship traits, people tend to listen.
His belief in Miami isn’t exactly new, either. Last year, during the Notre Dame vs.
Miami fight for the final College Football Playoff spot in December, Saban went to bat for the Hurricanes on TV. The committee ultimately gave Miami the bid.
Saban said then that the committee should re-watch the Miami-Notre Dame game and see how much the Hurricanes dominated physically. He also said he saw Miami with a chance to make a run in the playoff if they got in, and that is exactly what happened.
Miami gave another glimpse of that ceiling Friday night with a 45-6 rout of Stanford. Malachi Toney set a record with 234 receiving yards, while Darian Mensah threw for 401 yards. Both players were finished by the third quarter.
Whether Miami can turn Saban’s pick into something real will play out over the coming months, but Mario Cristobal’s team has opened with plenty to like.
In Other News...
Miamis Rebuilt Offensive Line Just Gave Fans Real Early Hope
Miamis rebuilt offensive line gave the Hurricanes a reassuring first look in the season opener against Stanford, holding the pocket together well enough for a clean sheet in the most basic category that matters up front. Miami allowed no sacks and avoided penalties entirely, a useful sign for a unit that entered the year with questions about continuity and depth, and one that had to blend veterans with a mix of freshmen and new additions right away.
Samson Okunlola, Ryan Rodriguez and Matthew McCoy were part of the starting group and each had a solid opening-night showing, while several younger players also got chances as the staff sorted through the rotation. Pro Football Focus graded the newcomers unevenly, which is hardly surprising this early, but the larger takeaway for Miami is simple enough: the line looked organized, competitive and, for one night, much further along than many expected. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Freshmen Are Forcing Their Way Into Real Roles Already
Miami wasted no time leaning on youth in its season opener against Stanford, and the freshman class was not just along for the ride. Thirteen true freshmen saw the field on offense and defense, a sign that this roster is already asking first-year players to do more than simply learn on the sideline. Jackson Cantwell led that group with 34 snaps and even helped on a touchdown, while JJ Dunnigan was right behind him with 33 snaps as he rotated through multiple defensive roles.
The larger takeaway for the Hurricanes is less about one deep September rotation and more about how quickly these newcomers are working into real plans on both sides of the ball. Javian Mallory, Gavin Mueller and Vance Spafford all logged playing time too, giving Miami a broader freshman footprint than most teams would dare to trust this early. For a program trying to build depth and keep its best athletes on the field, that kind of immediate contribution is the sort of development that can change the shape of a season. [Read more 🡒]
Darian Mensah Just Entered A Bigger Miami Conversation
Darian Mensahs early-season surge has already pushed him into the center of a much larger Miami conversation. After a dazzling opener that featured 400 passing yards and five touchdowns, his Heisman stock has climbed fast enough to make him the current favorite at FanDuel, and that kind of national traction tends to follow a quarterback straight into every bigger debate about where he stands among the sports top names.
Malachi Toneys breakout has only added to the buzz around the Hurricanes offense. His own odds have risen after he set a Miami single-game receiving yards record, giving the team another player whose start is forcing people to pay attention beyond just the final score. For Miami, the early question is no longer whether the offense can make noise, but how far this kind of start can carry it once the schedule gets real. [Read more 🡒]