Head coach Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes are 44 days away from kicking off the 2026-27 college football season in Stanford, California. They will face multiple top quarterbacks in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as the highly anticipated Hurricanes defense will get tested this season.

Here today on CanesInSight, we are taking a look at the top-three quarterbacks Miami will face this season.

CJ Carr | Notre Dame

Notre Dame starting sophomore quarterback CJ Carr is expected to be one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy this season. Last off-season, he won the quarterback battle against Kenny Minchey--who is now the starting quarterback for the Kentucky Wildcats. Carr's first college game came against Miami last season, falling short, 27-24.

During the 2025-26 season, he recorded a total of 2,741 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions. The two teams will clash during Week 10 in South Bend, Indiana.



Mason Heintschel | Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Heintschel is another rising sophomore the Hurricanes will face. During ACC Media Days, head coach Pat Narduzzi stated there were rumors that Miami head coach Mario Cristobal had tampered with Heintschel to get him to join Miami. Who knows if that is true.

Heintschel will see Miami in Week 8. During the 2025-26 season, he faced the Hurricanes when they were proving to the College Football Playoff that they deserved to be in the field. Miami dominated Heintschel and the Panthers offense only holding them to seven points.

During his lone season with the Panthers, he led them to an overall record of 8-5. He recorded a total of 2,354 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.



Ethan Grunkemeyer | Virginia Tech

New Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin takes over the job after having an unsuccessful season at Penn State. He brings over his starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer to lead the Hokies out on the field.

Grunkemeyer stepped up and took over the starting spot at Penn State after Drew Allar performed poorly. He played in 10 games, recording a total of 1,339 passing yards, eight touchdowns, while throwing four interceptions. The Hokies and the Hurricanes will clash during Week 12.

 

Show us what ya got Heintschel ...

@CoachDuzzPittFB

 

I would add Gio Lopez to that list.

Mainly due to his potential threat as a runner.

 

What about philo? Aren’t they pretty much a shoe in to meet us for the natty?

 

Jesus, our schedule really is easy lol

 

Jesus, our schedule really is easy lol

Related: Dook is the defending ACC champion

 

None of these guys scare me

 

All raging glory hole attendees...on the kneeling side of the stall.

 

All raging glory hole attendees...on the kneeling side of the stall.

I like the way you think

 

Heintschel is a better QB that Carr. Carr will be not be able to be a checkdown merchant and beat us Nov 7th. That offense does not scare me.

 

If Carr's last name was Farr and he went to Illinois, no one would be giving him any pub.

Also, if my aunt had balls she would be my uncle, but given today's societal climate, I think it would be more likely that my uncle would cut off his balls and go by the name Caitlyn Jenner, but I digress....

Phucc, can this season start already? I feel like a crack fiend the day before my plug comes home from vacation, er jail.

 

Jesus, our schedule really is easy lol

If buddies serious that a QB from pedo st who averaged 130 yards & threw a pick for every 2 tds is top 3 than it's either a sign of how ****** our schedule is or how clueless buddy who wrote the article is... Not gonna comment beyond that.

 

Overrated af. Heint got some game tho imo.

 

If buddies serious that a QB from pedo st who averaged 130 yards & threw a pick for every 2 tds is top 3 than it's either a sign of how ****** our schedule is or how clueless buddy who wrote the article is... Not gonna comment beyond that.

It's this

 

Heintschel is a better QB that Carr. Carr will be not be able to be a checkdown merchant and beat us Nov 7th. That offense does not scare me.

Depends how they run the offense. If they have him throw the ball more often (which I'm sure they will) they have a VERY GOOD wr & the room as well. Carr is a good QB and it's important to remember the kid was a freshman last year. Not every kid comes out the womb the same. To me him and Mason are the only QBs that have my attention and he's on a far better team.

 

It's this

This was my first thought. However, when I looked at the schedule again, I'm not 100% sure that there truly is a QB better Grunkemeyer at the moment. Maybe you can put Lopez ahead of him solely based on experience, but he's pretty garbage

 

None of these guys scare me

I'd think that any of these three could hold a spot on our practice team -

And last I heard - each team has 11 players on the field at one time - not just one.

 

lmao

 

wait does ND have a 1st round RB that's also gonna run all over us???

 

The ND game was close because Cristobal ****ed around after a lead. He scored on a broken play towards the end of the game. He played against one other top team and lost.