We’re a month away from the first games of the 2026 college football season, and Miami Hurricanes fans are getting restless.
Proclamations that “the U is back” came true last year when Mario Cristobal’s squad got all the way to the national championship game, coming about 50 yards shy of upsetting native son Fernando Mendoza and Indiana’s incredible title run. As preseason favorites in the ACC, can the Canes finish the job in Las Vegas this season?
Aside from dynamic receiver Malachi Toney (he made the All-ACC preseason team at three positions) and bruising running back Mark Fletcher Jr., these Hurricanes are going to look very different. Prominent pieces on both sides of the football left via the NFL draft, most notably on the offensive line and on one of the nation’s most fearsome defenses. Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor and Keionte Scott won’t be easily replaced, but Ahmad Moten and Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II still give Miami plenty of dynamic playmakers up front.
As for the offense, ACC Preseason Player of the Year Darian Mensah might prove to be an upgrade over departed quarterback Carson Beck. At the very least, he brought top receiver Cooper Barkate with him from Duke, where the two hooked up for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Along with tight end Elija Lofton and former South Carolina (and Florida State) wideout Vandrevius Jacobs, Miami’s offense should help it contend even if the defense takes a step back.
Will it be enough to finally reach the ACC championship game? The toughest in-conference games might be the peculiar Friday night opener at Stanford and an early October tilt at Clemson, while who knows what former UM coach Manny Diaz or ex-Penn State coach James Franklin will have in store when Duke and Virginia Tech come to South Florida late in the season. And of course, there’s the marquee event of the year when the Hurricanes head to South Bend for a grudge match against Notre Dame.
With expectations for another deep run in the College Football Playoff, here’s a look at Miami’s schedule for the 2026 season, as well as the CFP schedule.
Miami Hurricanes football schedule 2026
All times Eastern.
*- ACC game
College Football Playoff schedule 2026
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: How far can Miami Hurricanes go in 2026? Why a CFP return isn’t enough
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
