Heading into the new season, head coach Mario Cristobal must focus on ending the streak of losing games the Hurricanes' are projected to win.

For the last two seasons, there have been games in the regular season that caused trouble for the Miami Hurricanes. Last season, the team fell short against Louisville and SMU--two teams the Hurricanes were projected to defeat. In 2024, they also suffered two defeats to Georgia Tech and Syracuse, resulting in missing out on the College Football Playoff.

The majority of the opponents on Miami's schedule will make sure they will bring their A-Game, as the Hurricanes just recently competed in the national championship this past season. The Hurricanes will probably be the favorite in 11 of their 12 games this season, so it is simple: get it done and have no slip-ups.

Here on CanesInSight, we're taking a look at two opponents on the Miami Hurricanes' 2026-27 football schedule that a lot of 'Canes fans do not have circled, but which could potentially shape up to be a good game. One of those opponents is Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Last season, the Hokies finished with a record of 3-9, which led to the firing of Brent Pry. Virginia Tech dug into the Big Ten and came out with, James Franklin, who was fired at Penn State after a disappointing season with the Nittany Lions.

The Hokies return 14 starters from this past season and also have a new signal-caller, Ethan Grunkemeyer, who threw 1,339 passing yards, eight touchdowns, while throwing four interceptions.

Six defensive players return for the Hokies with key portal additions: Eric Mensah, Curtis Jones Jr., Mylachi Williams, Kenny Woseley Jr., and Cortez Harris, among others.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Another team the Hurricanes must not overlook heading into the season is North Carolina. On paper, the Hurricanes seem to have a heavy advantage. While that may be true, it is a trap game, because just a week after the Hurricanes will travel to South Bend to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Tar Heels have not yet named a signal-caller starter for the season; however, the game is in Chapel Hill, where Miami has not won at since 2017.

Overlook

Mario Cristobal will have to make sure his team is ready and prepared each and every week for these types of matchups that the Hurricanes are heavily favored in and ensuring that they're no slip-ups in these games. Just straight business. 1-0 every week. Get the job done.

 

CLICHÉ!

 

Heading into the new season, head coach Mario Cristobal must focus on ending the streak of losing games the Hurricanes' are projected to win.

For the last two seasons, there have been games in the regular season that caused trouble for the Miami Hurricanes. Last season, the team fell short against Louisville and SMU--two teams the Hurricanes were projected to defeat. In 2024, they also suffered two defeats to Georgia Tech and Syracuse, resulting in missing out on the College Football Playoff.

The majority of the opponents on Miami's schedule will make sure they will bring their A-Game, as the Hurricanes just recently competed in the national championship this past season. The Hurricanes will probably be the favorite in 11 of their 12 games this season, so it is simple: get it done and have no slip-ups.

Here on CanesInSight, we're taking a look at two opponents on the Miami Hurricanes' 2026-27 football schedule that a lot of 'Canes fans do not have circled, but which could potentially shape up to be a good game. One of those opponents is Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Last season, the Hokies finished with a record of 3-9, which led to the firing of Brent Pry. Virginia Tech dug into the Big Ten and came out with, James Franklin, who was fired at Penn State after a disappointing season with the Nittany Lions.

The Hokies return 14 starters from this past season and also have a new signal-caller, Ethan Grunkemeyer, who threw 1,339 passing yards, eight touchdowns, while throwing four interceptions.

Six defensive players return for the Hokies with key portal additions: Eric Mensah, Curtis Jones Jr., Mylachi Williams, Kenny Woseley Jr., and Cortez Harris, among others.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Another team the Hurricanes must not overlook heading into the season is North Carolina. On paper, the Hurricanes seem to have a heavy advantage. While that may be true, it is a trap game, because just a week after the Hurricanes will travel to South Bend to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Tar Heels have not yet named a signal-caller starter for the season; however, the game is in Chapel Hill, where Miami has not won at since 2017.

Overlook

Mario Cristobal will have to make sure his team is ready and prepared each and every week for these types of matchups that the Hurricanes are heavily favored in and ensuring that they're no slip-ups in these games. Just straight business. 1-0 every week. Get the job done.

Boston college on Thanksgiving weekend gives me Flutie PTSD flashbacks

 

Miami not over looking VT, thats an old big east rival. It’s Clemson and NC. Clemson has a strong front 7 and will test our Oline, NC is circled only because it’s the game before ND.

Also, it’s Halloween weekend I believe. The student section will probably be nuts for that

 

We'll be fine against UNC (although we haven't beaten them since 2018)

I hope we beat UNC 1million to 0

 

At 10-2, we either have beaten ND which would get us in or would have only 1 ACC loss (and an ND loss) and will be in Charlotte. Win ACC or lose 2 and beat a top 10 (maybe number 1) ND…Either way, we are in.

That’s why it’s a hypothetical. If we were to lose to ND and an ACC team, and we somehow missed Charlotte, we aren’t getting in. We’d have zero quality of wins

 

Id put FSU right there w them. Its still a rivalry game at the end of the day. Yeah theyre cheeks, but crazy things happen in those contests.

 

@Genghis Cane

 

@Genghis Cane

Mannnnnn, I’m already getting crucified in the other thread. Let’s not make it two. Lol

 

Wake Forest on a Friday night and Va Tech late in year will be trickier to me than UNC. I know Mario will have us dialed in for FSU game and he will want to embarass Pitt/Narduzzi for all his offseason comments. Clemson + ND are the circled games on schedule so we know the deal for those.

Clemson and Wake Forest are the ones for me.

People sleep on Jake ****ert. Pound for pound think he’s in the upper echelon as far as ACC coaches. Not a high bar but if that offense clicks, it could be a frustrating game for us.

 

That’s why it’s a hypothetical. If we were to lose to ND and an ACC team, and we somehow missed Charlotte, we aren’t getting in. We’d have zero quality of wins

True. Just can’t see us losing one league game and not getting in. Hopefully we can run the table but don’t trust that… ptsd I guess.

 

Clemson and Wake Forest are the ones for me.

People sleep on Jake ****ert. Pound for pound think he’s in the upper echelon as far as ACC coaches. Not a high bar but if that offense clicks, it could be a frustrating game for us.

Yep. But as someone mentioned earlier, they lost a lot off an 9-3 team and just can't make up for talent loss with the way they recruit. I could see a game where its 17-10 at half then we pull away late.

 

Clemson opens at LSU. Louisville opens at Ole Miss. The ACC kinda needs to at least split those game.

If Clemson loses to LSU, in my opinion that adds pressure for the Canes to win the game at Clemson.

 

Whatever the scenario is it can’t include hoping the committee puts us in.

ACC and Big 12 teams will not get the benefit of the doubt. You either win the conference and get an automatic bid, or you’re pushing your luck.

 

I've always believed that having an easy Week Zero game gives a team a big advantage in Week one.

Stanford plays at home against Hawaii in week zero. I just realized this. I'm now much more concerned about the Stanford game.

 

With this schedule, going 10-2 likely keeps us out of the playoffs (assuming we aren’t in Charlotte). The room for error is a lot smaller this year

I’m not sure I really agree with that this year.

You have two options of going 10 and 2.

You lose two conference games but beat Notre Dame on the road late in the season. That victory probably gets you in the playoffs in a similar situation to last year

Or you lose one conference game and lose to Notre Dame, but get into the ACC championship game and win it.

10-2 does the very little margin. It’s why I believe the Clemson game may be the most important game of the season. There are just so many unknowns with them and it’s our first real test. (but also don’t sleep on Wake Forest on a Friday night.)

 

Also, it’s Halloween weekend I believe. The student section will probably be nuts for that

They are going to be one 1-7 or 2-6 by Halloween. No one will be there.

 

That’s why it’s a hypothetical. If we were to lose to ND and an ACC team, and we somehow missed Charlotte, we aren’t getting in. We’d have zero quality of wins

Now that if we ended the ACC season with only one loss, it would be almost impossible for us to miss the title game. That’s why they put in all those new tiebreakers.

 

Cristobal needs to shake this, and hopefully has taken that steps

He has lost a ridiculous amount of games outright as a 7+ and 10+ fav…Almost always in in conference. And it usually can be either home or away.

He has evolved into an excellent big game coach, the problem has been he is not a great small, semi-competitive game coach. Hopefully that changes starting this year.

 

Miami not over looking VT, thats a old big east rival. It’s Clemson and NC. Clemson has a strong front 7 and will test our Oline, NC is circled only because it’s the game before ND.

Miami has historically under performed vs. VT.

 

Miami has historically under performed vs. VT.

Not really but I get what you’re saying, they always play is tough, but that’s just not the game I see the team sleep walking in