Miami Hurricanes fans have no shortage of things to be thankful for this fall. Between a breakout season from a freshman wide receiver, new energy on the hardwood, and a 2026 recruiting class that already sits among the nation's best, the present and future in Coral Gables look as bright as they have in years.
1. Freshman WR Malachi Toney (and other impact freshman)
Toney has gone from an intriguing freshman to the centerpiece of Miami's offense. Through the regular-season finale at Pittsburgh, the true freshman leads the Hurricanes with 71 catches for 844 yards and six touchdowns, putting him just 90 yards shy of Ahmmon Richards' program freshman receiving record of 934 set in 2016.
His impact has come in big moments. In the season-opening win over Notre Dame, Toney caught six passes for 82 yards and a 28-yard touchdown. He later torched Florida State for 107 yards and two scores. In November, he posted season highs with 12 receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown in a 34-17 win at Virginia Tech.
Toney is also part of a broader wave of impact freshmen. Injuries forced Mario Cristobal to lean on youth late this season, with Miami starting four true freshmen in one recent game: Toney, wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw, defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald and running back Girard Pringle Jr. Pringle has emerged as a dynamic option out of the backfield, giving Miami another young playmaker to build around. That kind of early contribution from a freshman core is a reason for genuine optimism.
2. Jai Lucas bringing Canes basketball into a new era
On the basketball side, Jai Lucas' arrival has signaled a new era. Miami named him its 14th head men's basketball coach on March 6, 2025, after a run as Duke's associate head coach in which he helped secure the nation’s top recruiting classes in both 2024 and 2025 and built one of college basketball's best defenses.
Early returns have been positive so far. Five games into the 2025-26 season, Miami is 4-1, with blowout wins over Jacksonville, Bethune-Cookman, Stetson and Delaware State. The Canes also had a competitive 82-68 loss to No. 10 Florida.
Indiana transfer Malik Reneau has emerged as the main guy, averaging 21.5 points per game. The backcourt of Tre Donaldson and Tru Washington are combining for nearly 30 points and 4.5 steals per game while spearheading a defense allowing just 68.2 points and 27.7% shooting from three.
3. Miami Hurricanes 2026 recruiting class
The 2026 football recruiting class is going to give Miami a chance to take another step on the gridiron. The Hurricanes currently hold 30 commitments in the 2026 cycle and sit No. 10 nationally in the 247Sports Composite team rankings. The Class is led by five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell.
Cantwell, a 6-foot-7 tackle with a 0.99 rating, headlines a group that includes blue-chip wideouts Somourian Wingo and Milan Parris, cornerback Jaelen Waters and safety JJ Dunnigan. Cristobal has already put together top classes in the past years, and the 2026 haul suggests that talent pipeline will continue flowing.