Austin Nivison of CBS Sports named Clemson for Miami as his "One key game that could define each top 25 team's season: Alabama, Ohio State face tricky road test." Clemson being named as the key game that could define the season for Miami is surprising.
Miami is at Notre Dame on November 7 in one of the most anticipated games of the 2026 season. Interestingly, Nivison names Miami as the one key game that could define the season for Notre Dame. The reasoning for Nivison is that Notre Dame does not have many opportunities for impressive wins on its 2026 schedule.
Conversely, Nivison lists Clemson as the key game that could define Miami's season over Notre Dame because it is an Atlantic Coast Conference game. The best and most direct path for Miami to earn a College Football Playoff berth is to win the ACC Championship.
Clemson is one of the most difficult places to play in the ACC if not nationally. Nivison named Clemson playing at California as the key game that could define the season for the Tigers. Notre Dame is fifth, Miami seventh and Clemson 22nd in the CBS Sports Post Spring Top 25.
"7. Miami | at Clemson | Oct. 24Austin Nivison, CBS Sports
The Hurricanes have five road games on their schedule, and they'll be heavy favorites in three of them. The road clash against Notre Dame, while very important, is a non-conference matchup. That leaves Clemson as a potential stumbling block in ACC play. Yes, the Tigers have taken a couple of steps backward in recent years, but they should still be in the mix for a conference championship berth this fall. "
Miami 2026 road schedule
Miami plays at Stanford in the 2026 season opener on Friday, September 4, with a 9:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time kickoff, Wake Forest on September 18 and North Carolina on October 31, in addition to Clemson and Notre Dame as the other road games for Miami this season.
Miami plays five of its first nine games on the road. The Hurricanes are home for the final three weeks of the season. Miami hosts Duke, Virginia Tech and Boston College to finish the season. Florida A&M, Central Michigan, Florida State and Pittsburgh are the home games for Miami earlier in the season.
After Notre Dame, Miami is set up to finish the season strongly again, as they did in 2025 to earn the first College Football Playoff berth in program history. Miami should be favored in every game with the potential exception of Notre Dame during the 2026 season.
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