Miami's 41-7 Senior Day win over NC State felt like a coronation. But the clearest message for the future came before the ball was even kicked.
When Miami ran through its pregame Senior Day roll call, two names jumped out at anyone paying attention: Rueben Bain Jr. and Francis Mauigoa. It was all about the seniors — and draft eligible juniors — playing their final home game. That second category, which included Bain and Mauigoa, doesn't leave any doubt about their future plans with the game of football.
Now, including underclassmen in a Senior Day spotlight is not a binding decision. Both players still have to formally announce their intention of going to the NFL (per Capt. Obvious). But around college football, it has become a pretty clear tell: if you walk on Senior Day when you still have eligibility left, everyone assumes you are moving to the pros.
Rueben Bain Jr.'s NFL draft profile
Bain entered the season already viewed as one of the best defensive players in the country. He just needed to show consistency and good health. So far, this year has checked both of those boxes, and then some.
The junior edge rusher is a Nagurski and Bednarik Award semifinalist and has 31 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble through 10 games. Multiple outlets now rank him among the top non-quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft. ESPN's consensus position rankings list Bain as a top-five overall prospect, CBS Sports' draft board has him as the No. 1 defensive end in the class, and several mock drafts have flirted with him in the top five, if not at No. 1 overall.
Francis Mauigoa's NFL draft profile
Mauigoa, meanwhile, has felt like a future first-round pick since arriving to Miami. The junior right tackle was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after Miami's 38-10 win over Syracuse, then picked up Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honors from the Football Writers Association of America for the same performance, a game in which hescored on a big-man touchdown. Success has obviously spanned his entire Miami career as he was named Second-team All-ACC last year and many have projected him to be a guy who plays on Sundays.
ESPN's 2026 draft rankings place Mauigoa inside the consensus top 10 overall, and multiple scouting services describe him as one of the best offensive line prospects in next year's class, with some projecting him in the top half of the first round.