Miami is 4-0, Darian Mensah has a Heisman campaign in full swing with 14 touchdown passes to just 12 incompletions (zero interceptions) and the Hurricanes are hoping to win the ACC for the first time.
Looking ahead at the schedule, there are some games that could sneak up on the Hurricanes, some that should already be penciled in as W's and others that will have everybody watching. Here's a ranking of what Miami has left on the schedule in 2026.
8. Boston College: Not much to worry about
Miami gets Boston College at home on Nov. 28 and there is nothing in the Eagles' first four games that shows this will be a competitive matchup.
Boston College is averaging 19.8 points per game, which ranks 122nd in FBS and last in the ACC. The Eagles are at 352.5 yards per game, 105th nationally, and they convert third downs at just a 28% clip. QB Mason McKenzie has thrown five interceptions on 108 attempts and completed 56.5% of his passes.
The wins were 28-21 over Rutgers and 22-16 over FCS Maine, while the losses include 34-15 at Cincinnati and 21-14 at home to Virginia Tech. McKenzie's two second-half rushing scores did put BC in front, but when your only wins are against Rutgers and an FCS program, you're not exactly putting fear into the opponent.
7. North Carolina: Maybe a concern if Bill Belichick was what he used to be
UNC was supposed to be great... instead they have been one of the most dysfunctional programs in the entire nation. At points they look competitive, but there is nobody in the country that would bet on the Tar Heels making this a game against Miami.
North Carolina (2-1) beat TCU 15-10 in Dublin, they beat East Tennessee State 35-3, but then lost 28-20 at Clemson.
Xavier Lewis has six sacks in three games, which leads the ACC. He will be a player to watch depending on how Miami's line develops next month, but the Hurricanes should still win in Chapel Hill on Halloween.
6. Florida State: It's a rivalry game and that's about it
Florida State is 2-2 after a 27-24 L to SMU in Week 1 and 50-36 loss at Alabama. Those are not moral victories. They are also not evidence that the Seminoles cannot score. Ashton Daniels hasn't been half bad this season, and the Seminoles have scored on all 17 red-zone trips this season.
But this feels like another lost season for FSU and the two programs are in vastly different places. Miami went on the road last year and caught a dub, so this one should be pretty easy with Mike Norvell presumably on the way out soon after.
5. Virginia Tech: Hokies will be a tough out in the future
If Miami had to go on the road against Virginia Tech in late November this matchup would have been higher. But this is a home game and James Franklin is still in his first season as HC of the Hokies, so the brakes have been pumped.
Credit to Franklin and the program, though. Virginia Tech is averaging 43.3 points per game, the Hokies have 17 sacks on the season (most in the ACC), and they have not thrown an interception.
VT's wins include a 73-3 demolition over VMI, a 44-21 victory over Old Dominion, a 35-26 non-conference win at Maryland and 21-14 comeback win at Boston College.
4. Pittsburgh: A sneaky-good team that can cause trouble
Pitt comes into town on Oct. 24 for the 25th anniversary of Miami's 2001 title team, and the Panthers will look to spoil things right before Halloween.
Pittsburgh currently has the No. 3 scoring defense in the country, allowing just 8.5 points per game, and they have outscored teams 157-34.
All four wins have come at home: 59-14 over Miami (Ohio), 12-7 over UCF, 27-13 over Syracuse and 59-0 over Bucknell.
3. Duke: Manny Diaz and the entire program is out for revenge
Duke has won eight in a row, the program's longest streak since 2013, and the Blue Devils are 4-0 after a 62-7 win over William & Mary in which they piled up 638 yards.
Depending on how this season unfolds for Miami and Duke, this could be a matchup of two unbeaten teams and have major implications on the ACC race. This game also comes with a lot of baggage. The reigning ACC champs are coached by former Miami HC Manny Diaz, and the Hurricanes are led by former Duke QB Darian Mensah.
The lead-up to this matchup will be filled with talk of "revenge" and could be close if Duke really is that kind of team this year. Canes fans should also keep this one on the radar since it comes one week after the matchup against Notre Dame.
2. Clemson: Don't sleep on Dabo Swinney
The years of Clemson being a CFP-caliber team seem to be in the rearview, but don't count Dabo Swinney out just yet. Heading into this Saturday, the Tigers have picked themselves off the mat and look presentable.
Clemson is currently a 3-1 ball club and they definitely have the recruits to compete with a team like Miami, which is probably more than can be said about the teams already mentioned on this list.
Also, Death Valley at night might be enough for Dabo and company to be able to turn back the clock, so Miami needs to recognize that this isn't a team to play around with.
1. Notre Dame: High-alert matchup for all the marbles
There's not much to be said about the Irish that hasn't been said already. Notre Dame's program has really transformed under HC Marcus Freeman and QB CJ Carr is the real deal.
After winning last season, Miami will have to go on the road this time and it's likely going to also be the setting for ESPN's College Gameday.
A lot of the games on this list include phrases like, "if this team can get it together," or "don't count them out." This isn't one of those cases. The Miami-ND matchup in 2026 is going to define the CFP race once again, and the entire college football world needs to have their butts in seats by 7:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 7.
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