ESPN Analyst Eric Mac Lain Sees Miami as a National Title Contender With Darian Mensah at Quarterback
2 min read
Miami fans aren’t the only ones buying into the Hurricanes heading into 2026.
ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain recently made it clear that he believes Miami has what it takes to compete for a national championship this season, pointing to the combination of talent on the roster and the arrival of quarterback Darian Mensah.
“I think Miami is a team that can win the national championship,” Mac Lain said.
The Hurricanes addressed the most important position on the field by landing Mensah, a quarterback many viewed as one of the top players available in the transfer portal. Replacing a player like Carson Beck was never going to be easy, but Miami found a quarterback with the talent to keep the offense operating at a high level, this season should be a fun one.
What stands out about Mensah is his ability to make plays without forcing the issue. He’s comfortable pushing the ball downfield, but he also shows patience when taking what’s available. That balance is one of the reasons Miami’s coaching staff was so aggressive in pursuing him.
Of course, Mensah isn’t the only reason expectations are soaring in Coral Gables. Mario Cristobal has spent the last several recruiting cycles building one of the most talented rosters in the country. Miami has added depth through recruiting, attacked the transfer portal aggressively, and continued to invest in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
A year ago, many around the country viewed Miami as a team capable of making some noise in the ACC. Now the conversation is different, now it is competing for a playoff spot, and some analysts believe the ceiling is even higher than that
There’s still a lot of football to be played before anyone starts talking about January, but national analysts are beginning to view Miami the same way many Hurricanes fans already do, as a legitimate contender.
Whether Miami ultimately reaches that level will be decided in September, but the pieces are certainly in place. And if Darian Mensah quickly settles into his role as the face of the offense, don’t be surprised if the Hurricanes find themselves right in the middle of the national championship conversation all season long.
ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain recently made it clear that he believes Miami has what it takes to compete for a national championship this season, pointing to the combination of talent on the roster and the arrival of quarterback Darian Mensah.
“I think Miami is a team that can win the national championship,” Mac Lain said.
The Hurricanes addressed the most important position on the field by landing Mensah, a quarterback many viewed as one of the top players available in the transfer portal. Replacing a player like Carson Beck was never going to be easy, but Miami found a quarterback with the talent to keep the offense operating at a high level, this season should be a fun one.
What stands out about Mensah is his ability to make plays without forcing the issue. He’s comfortable pushing the ball downfield, but he also shows patience when taking what’s available. That balance is one of the reasons Miami’s coaching staff was so aggressive in pursuing him.
Of course, Mensah isn’t the only reason expectations are soaring in Coral Gables. Mario Cristobal has spent the last several recruiting cycles building one of the most talented rosters in the country. Miami has added depth through recruiting, attacked the transfer portal aggressively, and continued to invest in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
A year ago, many around the country viewed Miami as a team capable of making some noise in the ACC. Now the conversation is different, now it is competing for a playoff spot, and some analysts believe the ceiling is even higher than that
There’s still a lot of football to be played before anyone starts talking about January, but national analysts are beginning to view Miami the same way many Hurricanes fans already do, as a legitimate contender.
Whether Miami ultimately reaches that level will be decided in September, but the pieces are certainly in place. And if Darian Mensah quickly settles into his role as the face of the offense, don’t be surprised if the Hurricanes find themselves right in the middle of the national championship conversation all season long.
