Projected Miami offense with Darian Mensah committing has the CFP written all over it

Former Duke QB Darian Mensah has officially transferred to Miami. With the addition of Mensah, his No. 1 WR last year at Duke, Cooper Barkate is also on his way to Coral Gables as well.

Duke QB Darian Mensah and WR Cooper Barkate transfer to Miami

The entire situation started with a reversal that shocked Duke. Mensah had announced on Dec. 19 that he planned to return to Duke, then changed course and entered the transfer portal on Jan. 16, the final day of the winter window for FBS players. Soon after, Duke filed a lawsuit to enforce what it said was a multiyear NIL deal that included exclusive marketing rights and required disputes to be handled through arbitration.

Duke initially tried to stop Mensah from entering the portal at all, but a judge denied that part of the request. The court did, however, keep Mensah from enrolling elsewhere while Duke pursued an injunction. Duke obtained a temporary restraining order that maintained the status quo until the next hearing, which had been scheduled for Feb. 2.

Then, on Tuesday, Mensah's agency, Young Money APAA Sports, said the sides reached "a fair and mutually agreeable resolution." Duke, in its own statement, framed the case as part of a push for “predictability and structure” in the new college football economy, while acknowledging it was “a difficult choice” to sue a player.

Mensah threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns at Tulane in 2024, then jumped to Duke and posted 3,973 passing yards with 34 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2025, completing 66.8% of his throws. He was a second-team All-ACC selection after leading Duke to an ACC title.

In the past two seasons, Barkate has totaled 135 receptions for 2,190 yards and 18 TDs. Barkate is ranked as the No. 3 WR in the On3 Portal Rankings.

With the recent news, many are now putting Miami among the top teams in the country. The sky is now the limit for the Miami Hurricanes in 2026.