The U is back in the National Championship, and even as the Hurricanes prepare for the biggest game of their lives, Miami head coach has to keep his feet in two places at once: focusing on the game, while also keeping an eye on the currently open transfer portal.
Most recently, it was announced that former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt had booked a trip to Miami to check out everything the Canes had to offer. However, the most interesting piece of news that came along with the announcement was that Miami hadn't ruled out Ty Simpson as its next QB1.
Yes, Simpson, the Alabama quarterback who is still deciding between returning for another year of college football or declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Could Ty Simpson be the next Carson Beck?
Last year, after falling short of leading the Georgia Bulldogs to the National Championship game, quarterback Carson Beck headed for greener pastures and joined the Miami Hurricanes from the transfer portal.
Now, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal is searching for his next QB1 in the form of another transfer portal gem. If, and there's a huge emphasis on 'if,' Simpson decides to enter the portal instead of declaring for the draft, he could be that guy.
In 2025, Simpson had 3,567 passing yards for 28 touchdowns and just five interceptions through the air, alongside 93 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Not too shabby for a guy who led his team to the SEC Championship and the second round of the College Football Playoff.
This isn't to say that everyone in Miami should ignore the possibility of Leavitt being their next go-to guy in the back field.
Sam Leavitt's on his way to Miami for a visit, but don't rule out Ty Simpson as a possibility in the crosshairs, too.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) January 9, 2026
Transfer portal QB dominoes are falling and the Hurricanes are in need post-Carson Beck: https://t.co/q51LZgj2SA pic.twitter.com/HddBxJxqym
Leavitt finished 2025 with 1,628 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, 306 rushing yards, and five rushing touchdowns. To put that into a better context, he did it all in just seven games, less than half as many games as Simpson played in this season.
Even if the Hurricanes go for an entirely different quarterback than Leavitt or Simpson, Cristobal will undeniably ensure that Miami is in good hands for at least the foreseeable future.