Miami Hurricanes Make College Football Preseason Coaches Poll

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MIAMI, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes finished No. 7 in the 2026 College Football Preseason Coaches Poll.

Programs listed ahead:

– No. 1: Ohio State

– No. 2: Oregon

– No. 3: Georgia

– No. 4: Texas

– No. 5: Notre Dame

– No. 6: Indiana (reigning champs)

Coming off a historic 13-3 season, including a trip to the National Championship, the program has legitimate aspirations this time around. In four seasons, Mario Cristobal has returned “The U” to its positive relevancy.

Several changes were made to the roster – 13 transfers and 29 high school signees. However, it doesn’t change the Hurricanes’ goals. Quarterback Darian Mensah was among the transfers, coming off a remarkable season at Duke. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 3,973 passing yards and 34 touchdowns. Mensah delivered the Blue Devils program its first football conference title since 1989.

The 21-year-old joins the Coral Gables program seeking a greater challenge and to cement a promising NFL future.

Mensah took the opportunity to follow Cam Ward and Carson Beck’s footsteps, but deliver hardware. He certainly has the supporting cast to meet expectations and be among the nation’s best college football players.

The Hurricanes have a promising and electrifying wide receiver room around rising star Malachi Toney, who’s coming off a historic freshman season. Surrounding him are Duke transfer Cooper Barkate, Joshua Moore, South Carolina transfer Vandrevius Jacobs, Daylyn Upshaw, and West Virginia transfer Cam Vaughn.

Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has the opportunity to carve out explosive plays. Mensah has the accuracy to connect with them from all over the field and potentially run up scoreboards.

The running back consists mainly of the supporting cast from last season, including local star Mark Fletcher Jr. Given the proven production and familiarity, running the ball will factor in the Hurricanes’ success.

Although the offensive line will be severely different, Mario Cristobal is confident in the talent looking to step up, including veterans Samson Okunlola, Ryan Rodriguez, and Matthew McCoy.

The Hurricanes had the fifth-best scoring defense last season in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Despite a few departures to the NFL, including edge rushers Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr., the trench personnel is nothing short of elite talent.

Despite falling one drive short in the National Championship game, it was only the beginning of “The U’s” turnaround. Cristobal has successfully established a new foundation and standard moving forward. The Hurricanes have a new chapter ahead, but the goal remains the same.

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