Miami’s slip in the latest AP Top 25 was small on paper, but the way it happened told the bigger story.
The Hurricanes dropped from No. 5 to No. 6 in the new Associated Press poll after a second-half fade against Wake Forest, while Ole Miss climbed into the No. 4 spot following its 32-24 win over LSU. The Tigers, who entered that matchup at No. 7, are now No. 10.
Miami had control early, but the back half turned messy fast. The Hurricanes managed only 75 yards of offense after halftime and added just one touchdown, while Wake Forest answered with two straight touchdowns and piled up 246 total yards. The defense did get two timely stops that kept the damage from getting worse, with Damon Wilson II forcing a safety and Ethan O’Connor picking off a pass.
The teams sitting ahead of Miami also strengthened their hold. Texas stayed No.
1, Georgia remained No. 2, Notre Dame held at No. 3 and Indiana moved to No. 5 after more convincing victories.
Those four combined to win by an average margin of 25.8 points, which made Miami’s uneven finish stand out even more.
Still, the Hurricanes are in good shape overall at 3-0, including a 2-0 mark in ACC play. They and Mississippi State are the only teams with two road wins against Power Four opponents. Miami has already looked sharp in wins over Stanford and Florida A&M, but Wake Forest offered a reminder that the road ahead won’t be that clean every week - especially in conference play and when the trip to South Bend, Indiana, arrives in early November.
In Other News...
Miami AD Search Is Taking A Turn Hurricanes Fans Didn't Expect
Miamis search for a new athletic director appears to be moving into a more serious phase, and the name surfacing near the top is one few Hurricanes fans probably expected to hear. Brian Herbst, a respected figure in NASCAR, has emerged as a finalist candidate as the University of Miami weighs its next move, adding an unusual twist to a process that has been closely watched across the athletic department.
Herbsts rise comes as the broader college sports landscape keeps shifting around the Hurricanes, with the Protect College Sports Act and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips both part of the conversation on conference realignment and athlete compensation. Nothing has been finalized yet, and the situation remains fluid, but Miamis decision now carries added weight because the next athletic director will be stepping into one of the most unsettled stretches in the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Fans Can Finally Exhale Over Jatori Williams
A little recruiting anxiety is never far from Miami, especially when a committed prospect takes another trip elsewhere, but Jatori Williams is giving Hurricanes fans a reason to settle down heading into the opener at Hard Rock Stadium. The four-star offensive lineman is expected to be in attendance for Miamis first Saturday game of the season, a useful sign for a program trying to keep its 2027 class on track and protect one of the more important pieces in that group.
Williams drew some attention after recently visiting Auburn to watch a game, which naturally led to questions about whether the trip might mean more than it seemed. For now, though, he has publicly maintained that he remains locked in with Miami, and his return to campus this weekend should only reinforce that message while the Hurricanes look to keep their highly ranked class intact. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Fans Are About To Relive One Of The Programs Best Looks
Miami fans are getting a dose of nostalgia at the right time. Adidas is rolling out throwback uniforms for the University of Miami football team that recreate the look of the 2001 national championship squad, a reminder of one of the programs most iconic eras as the Hurricanes keep rolling through a 3-0 start to the 2026 season.
The timing only adds to the intrigue, especially with Miami set to move to Nike apparel beginning in 2027. The only detail still missing is when the Hurricanes will actually break out the throwback set, leaving fans to wonder which game will get the full old-school treatment. [Read more 🡒]