Remember when the Miami Hurricanes had the incredible College Football Playoff run before falling to the Indiana Hoosiers in the national championship game? This upcoming team has the potential to be even better.
Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes just came off a remarkable 2025-26 season, getting back to the national championship game for the first time since 2002, and finishing with an overall record of 13-3. Even though the Hurricanes lost, it still shows that the program is heading in the right direction under Cristobal.
The expectations surrounding this year's team stand very high. According to College Football analyst Greg McElroy he believes that this upcoming Hurricanes team could be even better than last year's team:
“Can this team be better? Yes, because the ACC behind them collectively has taken a step back," he added. "I think they have a chance to be more explosive offensively, which might lead to more wins as well."
After losing primialy eight starters, head coach Mario Cristobal has done it again in the transfer portal. According to the 247Sports Team Transfer Portal Rankings, Cristobal brought in the No. 5 ranked portal class in the country.
Cristobal added one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Darian Mensah from Duke, and brought in his best friend, Cooper Barkate. Meanwhile, the squad retained its entire running back room: Mark Fletcher, Marty Brown, Jordan Lyle, Girard Pringle. Slot wide receiver Malachi Toney also returns for his second season under Cristobal.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Hurricanes were hit hard in the trenches, losing two of the best edge rushers in all of college football, Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain. However, with Jason Taylor's help, the Hurricanes dug into the SEC and grabbed one of the best pass-rushing edge rushers in Damon Wilson.
"Here's why I like them a lot. Last year they were the last team in. They were the 10 seed. They got hot in the playoff, and everyone remembers the performance that we saw in the final three or four games against A&M, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and then, Indiana. This year, they're not sneaking in. Vegas thinks they're winning ten and a half. You look at the portal class. You look at Malachi Toney, superstar freshman wide receiver, had 109 catches last year. The schedule also sets up for them pretty well. They do have to go to Notre Dame. That's really the only ranked team they might see before the playoff," stated McElroy.
Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes just came off a remarkable 2025-26 season, getting back to the national championship game for the first time since 2002, and finishing with an overall record of 13-3. Even though the Hurricanes lost, it still shows that the program is heading in the right direction under Cristobal.
The expectations surrounding this year's team stand very high. According to College Football analyst Greg McElroy he believes that this upcoming Hurricanes team could be even better than last year's team:
“Can this team be better? Yes, because the ACC behind them collectively has taken a step back," he added. "I think they have a chance to be more explosive offensively, which might lead to more wins as well."
After losing primialy eight starters, head coach Mario Cristobal has done it again in the transfer portal. According to the 247Sports Team Transfer Portal Rankings, Cristobal brought in the No. 5 ranked portal class in the country.
Cristobal added one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Darian Mensah from Duke, and brought in his best friend, Cooper Barkate. Meanwhile, the squad retained its entire running back room: Mark Fletcher, Marty Brown, Jordan Lyle, Girard Pringle. Slot wide receiver Malachi Toney also returns for his second season under Cristobal.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Hurricanes were hit hard in the trenches, losing two of the best edge rushers in all of college football, Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain. However, with Jason Taylor's help, the Hurricanes dug into the SEC and grabbed one of the best pass-rushing edge rushers in Damon Wilson.
"Here's why I like them a lot. Last year they were the last team in. They were the 10 seed. They got hot in the playoff, and everyone remembers the performance that we saw in the final three or four games against A&M, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and then, Indiana. This year, they're not sneaking in. Vegas thinks they're winning ten and a half. You look at the portal class. You look at Malachi Toney, superstar freshman wide receiver, had 109 catches last year. The schedule also sets up for them pretty well. They do have to go to Notre Dame. That's really the only ranked team they might see before the playoff," stated McElroy.
