Miami is coming off a 13-3 season, a 6-2 ACC record and a trip to the College Football Playoff national championship game.
The standard is no longer "can the Hurricanes be relevant?" The better question is where the schedule gives Mario Cristobal's team some breathing room and where are the trap games?
12. Florida A&M, Sept. 10, home
This is the easiest game on the schedule. Florida A&M went 5-7 overall and 4-4 in SWAC play in 2025, and the Rattlers allowed 33.8 points per game. Miami gets this game at Hard Rock Stadium on a Thursday after opening the season at Stanford.
The only real challenge is the time. Miami has to fly back from California after a late Friday season opener and reset on a short week. But, talent-wise, this should be the safest game on the slate.
11. Central Michigan, Sept. 26, home
Central Michigan went 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the MAC in 2025, then lost to Northwestern in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. They went 3-4 away from home.
This is a game Miami should control. The only reason to be careful here is the fact that this game comes after the Hurricanes' road trip to Wake Forest and sits one week before Clemson. But, if the Hurricanes lose a "trap game" to Central Michigan, then that probably won't be the only loss of the season.
10. Boston College, Nov. 28, home
Boston College finished last in the ACC in 2025 at 1-7 in conference play and 2-10 overall. The Eagles were outscored 393-305 for the season and 278-166 in conference play.
The reason this is not ranked easier than Central Michigan is because this is the regular-season finale, and strange things happen in late November when one team isn't going to a bowl game and the other might be trying to protect an ACC title game or CFP spot.
Still, Miami gets it at home. If the Hurricanes are what they are expected to be, this should be a closing win before championship weekend.
9. Stanford, Sept. 4, away
Stanford went 4-8 overall and 3-5 in ACC play in 2025. The Cardinal were winless away from home but 4-2 at home. Miami opens the season in California at 9 p.m. Eastern.
A cross-country season opener isn't easy, but Miami beat Stanford 42-7 last season in the first football meeting between the programs.
8. North Carolina, Oct. 31, away
North Carolina went 4-8 overall and 2-6 in ACC play in 2025, and the Tar Heels lost their final three games. But, Miami's trip to Chapel Hill comes one week after Pittsburgh and one week before Notre Dame. If the Canes are looking ahead to the Irish in the following week, Bill Belichick will have his team ready to pounce.
7. Florida State, Oct. 17, home
The Seminoles went 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the ACC, but rivalry games are not ranked only by last year's results, and Florida State still has a ceiling higher than most teams on Miami's schedule.
With that being said, the Seminoles would actually have to reach that potential to go any higher than No. 7. For now it's just speculation as we move further away from the Noles' 2023 season.
6. Pittsburgh, Oct. 24, home
Pittsburgh went 8-5 overall and 6-2 in ACC play in 2025. The Panthers were also 4-1 on the road.
This is one of the more underrated games on the schedule (and it's perhaps underrated on this list). Miami gets Pitt at home, which helps. But the Panthers were a legitimate ACC contender last season, and their conference record was legit.
5. Wake Forest, Sept. 18, away
The Demon Deacons went 9-4 overall and 4-4 in ACC play in 2025, then beat Mississippi State 43-29 in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.
Wake Forest presents a road conference game in September, with a team that just won nine games in Jake Dickert's first season.
Miami has to play this game in Winston-Salem on a Friday, but the Hurricanes will be coming off a Thursday home game against Florida A&M, so they get a little extra rest.
4. Virginia Tech, Nov. 20, home
Virginia Tech went 3-9 overall and 2-6 in ACC play in 2025. The Hokies lost their final four games and finished with the second-worst overall record among ACC teams on Miami's 2026 schedule.
But, there is reason to believe that this is not going to be the same team as last year. Hiring James Franklin has changed the direction of the program. In the offseason, the Hokies flipped multiple Penn State commits and the team building has been impressive. VT may be hit or miss week-to-week in 2026, but they will be far better than they were last season.
Also, Miami plays Duke on Nov. 14 and then turns around for Virginia Tech six days later. That's an interesting stretch for the Canes and they will need to be firing on all cylinders during that time.
3. Duke, Nov. 14, home
Duke deserves respect because they won the ACC in 2025. The Blue Devils went 9-5 overall and 6-2 in ACC play, then beat Virginia in the ACC Championship Game.
Now, there are two ways you can look at this game. The first way of looking at it is that Duke won't be nearly as good since they lost QB Darian Mensah. The second way is that the Blue Devils will be looking for revenge against their old QB who left through the portal in a messy way. Not to mention they are led by former Miami HC Manny Diaz.
Regardless of how you look at it, Duke is going to get up for this game and the program is in a good spot. Miami can't let them hang around.
2. Clemson, Oct. 3, away
Clemson went only 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC in 2025, so this ranking is more about the program itself rather than recent history. A road game at Clemson should never be treated like a regular ACC matchup.
This is also Miami's toughest ACC road game. The Hurricanes play at Clemson on Oct. 3, one week after Central Michigan and one week before their only bye.
If Miami wins this game, the Hurricanes will have a clear path into a bye and a chance to control the ACC race. If they lose it, the second half of the season gets complicated, similar to last year.
1. Notre Dame, Nov. 7, away
This is the easiest call on the list. Notre Dame is the toughest opponent on Miami's 2026 schedule.
Notre Dame went 10-2 in 2025 and finished No. 10 in the final AP poll. The Irish are being treated like a national title contender again entering 2026.
Miami also has to go to South Bend on Nov. 7, one week after playing at North Carolina and one week before hosting defending ACC champion Duke. This matchup was the difference maker last season and it looks like it will do the same in 2026.
Add us as a preferred source on Google