He was always the man for the job. While Mario Cristobal refuses to say 'The U is back' when it comes to what Miami has been able to get done this season, let us do it for him. The Hurricanes are back where they belong and the rest of the country is taking notice.
Miami facing Darian Mensah roadblock even if Mario Cristobal makes a move
Come Monday night, Cristobal and Co. are pushing for another Miami national title, with only the Indiana Hoosiers standing in the way of the CFP glory getting achieved. Win or lose, no one can deny the fact that Cristobal has Miami operating at an incredible level. And it's something he's been hoping to do for quite some time:
“I couldn’t go to the grave without Miami being Miami again.”
— Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) January 16, 2026
-Mario Cristobal pic.twitter.com/TVcOCj7UYE
Mario Cristobal delivers Miami message right before the CFP title game
"Let's call it what it is man, I couldn't go to the grave without Miami being Miami again," Cristobal said with passion. "That's the bottom line and that's why I came."
Oh come on, fire us up, Mario. No one can ever question how much this program means to Cristobal, as he's been all-in on getting the Canes at the top of the college football world ever since he made the move to Coral Gables.
Years ago, people questioned whether or not Cristobal making the jump from Oregon to Miami would be a mistake or not. With all due respect to the Eugene side, taking the Canes job was always a no-brainer for Cristobal and we're seeing exactly why right now.
While there are a ton of good vibes surrounding this team, remember that the job isn't done just yet. There will be plenty of time to celebrate the incredible 2025 season once Tuesday gets here. Will things end with a win over the Hoosiers?
That's of course going to be tough, as Fernando Mendoza and Indiana are currently 8.5-point favorites to win the natty. Miami's back will be against the wall, as many analysts aren't giving the Canes much of a shot. However, this group has made plenty of people look foolish this postseason and more of the same could be on the way come Monday in primetime.