Chip Patterson of CBS Sports named Miami in his National Championship contenders
Tier 1 as part of his article "100 Days Out: College football storylines, predictions, names to know heading into 2026 season."
Miami showed it belongs back among the elite programs in college football with a run to the National Championship Game last season. The Hurricanes won their first three games in the CFP by a total of 21 points. Miami was a Carson Beck interception on the last drive of the game against Indiana from winning the National Championship.
Miami used an aggressive pass rush, physical running game and dominant offensive line to win at Texas A&M and defeat Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl and Mississippi in the Fiesta Bowl before losing in the National Championship Game to Indiana at home.
Miami has to replace first-round edge rushers Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa in 2026. The Hurricanes return all of their scholarship running backs, led by Mark Fletcher Jr., who set the single-season CFP rushing record last season.
"53. Miami (12-1): Opponents do not want to see the Hurricanes on a heater in the postseason, but the narrow margins that even got Miami into the playoff still exist as Mario Cristobal and Co. eye another run in 2026. New CFP rules essentially set Miami up needing a top 10 ranking to make the field, so it would be best to take no more than one regular-season loss in conference play. "Chip Patterson, CBS Sports
Stepping into bigger roles
Miami added edge rusher Damon Wilson II from Missouri to help replace Bain and Mesidor. Marquisse Lightfoot, who had some big plays against Ohio State, is projected to be the other starting edge rusher for Miami. Five-star 2026 signee Jackson Cantwell is the projected starting left tackle to help replace Mauigoa.
Miami finished 10-2 overall in the 2025 regular season and 6-2 in the ACC. Miami earned the last at-large berth in the 2025 CFP over Notre Dame after beating the Fighting Irish in the season opener. Notre Dame hosts Miami on November 7 in one of the biggest games of the 2026 regular season.
Miami shoul be more explosive offensively in 2026 with the addition of quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Cooper Barkate as transfers from Duke and the return of star rising sophomore Malachi Toney. Mensah, Barkate and Toney should form one of the best passing offenses nationally in 2026.
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