Do the Miami Hurricanes Have the Best Head Coach-Quarterback Duo?
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MIAMI, Fla. – Miami Hurricanes’ Mario Cristobal and Darian Mensah were ranked the best head coach-quarterback duo in college football, according to BetMGM.
They ranked ahead of the following:
– No. 2: Oregon’s Dan Lanning and Dante Moore
– No. 3: Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Julian Sayin
– No. 4: Indiana’s Curt Cignetti and Josh Hoover
– No. 5: Texas’ Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning
– No. 6: Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and CJ Carr
– No. 7: LSU’s Lane Kiffin and Sam Leavitt
– No. 8: Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Gunner Stockton
– No. 9: USC’s Lincoln Riley and Jayden Maiava
– No. 10: Penn State’s Matt Campbell and Rocco Becht
Outside of a few shortcomings, Cristobal has found success at each head-coaching stop. In six years at FIU, he made the most of an undesirable situation. Cristobal led the program to its first and only Sun Belt Conference title, including a couple of bowl games.
Following a four-year stint on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama, Cristobal received another head-coaching gig at Oregon. In five years, he led the Ducks to a couple of Pac-12 Conference titles before the notorious collapse in 2024. Although Cristobal appeared settled at Oregon, an opportunity to return to Miami came, and it was too good to pass up. He officially took over the program he once played for and won two National Championships with ahead of the 2022 season.
The Hurricanes, who had won 10 games in a single season once since 2004 and before the hiring, were unrecognizable to Cristobal. Step by step, he has officially turned “The U” around and Darian Mensah is looking to complete the process by delivering a National Championship. He’s following the same path as Cam Ward and Carson, both of whom had remarkable seasons with the program.
Before last season’s success, questions arose about Cristobal’s leadership and whether he could elevate the Hurricanes back to former honor. Doubts have been silenced, but greater expectations lie ahead.
Mensah has proven to be a high-caliber quarterback, but this will be the 21-year-old’s first time under a microscope.
The Hurricanes are expected to win the Atlantic Coast Conference, return to the College Football Playoffs, and chase another National Championship. However, it starts with the leaders, especially Cristobal and Mensah. The Hurricanes aren’t too caught up in last year's events and instead focus on attacking fall camp with pads on, then starting over for the new college football season.
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