Miami’s run last season still feels a little unreal.
The Hurricanes pasted through the College Football Playoff, beating teams like Texas A&M in the opening round, taking down No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, then heading west to beat Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl. The ride ended with a loss to Indiana in the national title game, but the Hurricanes seem to be back at the top.
And ESPN doesn’t think that was a one-year thing.
In its early look at the 2026 College Football Playoff field, ESPN has Miami coming in as the No. 8 seed, actually two spots higher than where the Hurricanes entered this past postseason.
Here’s how ESPN’s projected CFP field shakes out:
1. Indiana
2. Georgia
3. Texas Tech
4. Notre Dame
5. USC
6. Texas A&M
7. Ohio State
8. Miami
9. Oregon
10. Texas
11. Oklahoma State
12. Hawai‘i
That sets up a first-round matchup of No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 Miami, with the winner getting top-seeded Indiana. Yes, that’s another Mario Cristobal storyline waiting to happen, with a potential CFP rematch looming right behind it.
ESPN ultimately predicts Oregon to beat Miami in the opening round, but just getting the Hurricanes comfortably into the field again says plenty about where this program is viewed nationally.
There’s more good news.
ESPN also has Miami winning the ACC. Even with some key losses, the Hurricanes bring back running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and wide receiver Malachi Toney, with Duke transfer Darian Mensah expected to step in at quarterback.
The ACC has been unpredictable lately, SMU made the CFP and Duke won the conference this past season, but ESPN sees Miami as the team to beat heading into 2026.
The Hurricanes are right back where they believe they belong: in the playoff mix with bigger goals ahead.
The Hurricanes pasted through the College Football Playoff, beating teams like Texas A&M in the opening round, taking down No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, then heading west to beat Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl. The ride ended with a loss to Indiana in the national title game, but the Hurricanes seem to be back at the top.
And ESPN doesn’t think that was a one-year thing.
In its early look at the 2026 College Football Playoff field, ESPN has Miami coming in as the No. 8 seed, actually two spots higher than where the Hurricanes entered this past postseason.
Here’s how ESPN’s projected CFP field shakes out:
1. Indiana
2. Georgia
3. Texas Tech
4. Notre Dame
5. USC
6. Texas A&M
7. Ohio State
8. Miami
9. Oregon
10. Texas
11. Oklahoma State
12. Hawai‘i
That sets up a first-round matchup of No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 Miami, with the winner getting top-seeded Indiana. Yes, that’s another Mario Cristobal storyline waiting to happen, with a potential CFP rematch looming right behind it.
ESPN ultimately predicts Oregon to beat Miami in the opening round, but just getting the Hurricanes comfortably into the field again says plenty about where this program is viewed nationally.
There’s more good news.
ESPN also has Miami winning the ACC. Even with some key losses, the Hurricanes bring back running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and wide receiver Malachi Toney, with Duke transfer Darian Mensah expected to step in at quarterback.
The ACC has been unpredictable lately, SMU made the CFP and Duke won the conference this past season, but ESPN sees Miami as the team to beat heading into 2026.
The Hurricanes are right back where they believe they belong: in the playoff mix with bigger goals ahead.
