Miami Hurricanes Football 2026 Season Preview Part 2

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Miami, Florida – Welcome to the second part of this year’s Miami Hurricanes season preview, where we look at the offense and special teams. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has a unit regarded as scary, elite, explosive, and resilient. Things fans absolutely love to hear. Dawson will be wielding a quarterback who’s in the Heisman conversation, two 1,000-yard wide receivers, and a loaded backfield. Separately, special teams remains solid with new faces at kicker and a very familiar punter. The Cardiac Canes averaged 254.6 yards in the air and 154.6 on the ground. Additionally, they averaged 31.6 points per game offensively. I think it’s safe to say they’ll be just as good, if not better, than last year.

Darian Mensah, Mark Fletcher Jr. and Malachi Toney have been named to the 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year Preseason Watch List 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7VR5BUvoRc

— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) August 17, 2026

Although the new-look offense aggressively reloaded via the portal, this dynamic collection of players faces a question mark in an area that can be their biggest roadblock to greatness. The offensive line lost four starters and is entering 2026 talented but inexperienced. Let’s jump right in, starting with Miami’s most important acquisition.

Quarterback

Darian Mensah won the ACC Championship last year and is now the face of The U. For the third consecutive season, UM utilizes a transfer quarterback as a starter. Duke sued Mensah, citing a contract violation when he wanted to enter the transfer portal. The star QB initially stated he intended to return for the 2026 season after considering the NFL Draft. The school had signed him to a multi-year NIL deal and ultimately agreed to a settlement. Mensah also brought along both teammate and top target Cooper Barkate.

Darian Mensah throwing with touch

He’s my pick for the Heisman in 2026 pic.twitter.com/xCEmBcUtZG

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) August 25, 2026

Totaling 3,973 passing yards and 34 touchdowns, the former Blue Devil led Duke to its first outright ACC title since 1962 (shared in 1989 with Virginia). Mensah is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the country and, hands down, the best in the ACC. Compared to his two predecessors, Cam Ward and Carson Beck, Darian has Ward’s arm and Beck’s situational football. For those wondering, he’s an upgrade to the latter. Scouts love him, although ball security might be a concern. Mensah fumbled eight times, tied for the third-most in FBS last season. His backup is Luke Nickel. The four-star recruit had a decorated high school career and will likely be next year’s starter. Behind him is Judd Anderson and Dereon Coleman, two intriguing options for 2027. Now let’s discuss the guys tasked protecting the star QB.

Offensive Line

Offensive line coach Alex Mirabal is overseeing a largely reconstructed O-line charged with being the foundation of the offense’s explosive playmakers. Samson Okunlola, Matt McCoy, and Ryan Rodriguez will be the veteran mainstays. Okunlola is a former five-star prospect who’s likely one of the leaders in the trenches. A rotational player during Miami’s CFP run, he earned his starting gig. Reporting shows he has taken over the crucial left tackle spot. Okunlola pushed elite five-star freshman Jackson Cantwell inside to guard. Thanks to his elite pass protection and run blocking, the blindside will be his charge. McCoy is another key starter who, similarly, was a rotational piece but logged more playing time. The glue guy of the group, his highly regarded toughness and versatility are in demand to fill the void.

Samson Okunlola and Elija Lofton in blocking drills against Armondo Blount and Kamal Bonner. pic.twitter.com/ZHuc0pbVTd

— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) August 10, 2026

Rodriguez is the projected center. One of the last from the Manny Diaz era, he’s among the oldest on the roster and brings brains and brawn. His high football IQ and physicality earned his coaches’ trust, making him a linchpin of the line.  The aforementioned Cantwell was the No. 1 ranked high school football recruit for the class of 2026. His elite athleticism at such a young age makes Cantwell the jewel of the recruiting class. Max Buchanan appeared in five games last season, including the Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss, tracking 55 offensive snaps. Buchanan is leaning towards starting at right guard, praised for being highly physical, aggressive, and athletic.

Jackson Cantwell already looks like a BEAST. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6Y6sOT8m4J

— CanesMuse (@canesmuse) April 12, 2026

Ben Congdon, Jaden Wilkerson, Jamal Meriweather, Joel Ervin, and SJ Alofaituli will make up the rest of the depth. Alofaituli and Congdon should see a significant number of snaps due to their performances in fall camp. Although Francis Mauigoa, Markell Bell, and Anez Cooper are no longer around, the team will be fine.

Wide Receivers

Miami has an incredible 1-2 punch. Mensah has not only his boy Cooper Barkate, but also star wide receiver Malachi Toney. Barkate was Mensah’s favorite wideout at Duke and is seen as one of the best in the ACC. The redshirt senior caught 72 passes for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 15.4 yards per catch. Scouts say he’s a highly polished, high-floor receiver ready to leave his mark at Coral Gables and beyond. Toney, meanwhile, did it all his freshman year. The rookie sensation caught, ran, and even threw the ball with memorable success. He totaled 109 receptions for 1,211 yards and 10 TDs. Named to the Maxwell Award, the Paul Hornung Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, and the Biletnikoff Award, the sophomore is also generating buzz for the Heisman race as one of the best wide receivers in the country. It will be interesting to see how the dynamic plays out between these two now that CJ Daniels and Keelan Marion departed.

Every Cooper Barkate Touchdown last year.

-Some replays🎥🤝 pic.twitter.com/LicO5wSaoa

— Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) January 22, 2026

So we have our WR1 and WR2. What about the rest? Three are fiercely competing for the third slot: Vandrevius Jacobs, Daylyn Upshaw, and Joshua Moore. Jacobs is a South Carolina transfer regarded as a deep-ball threat. He also fights for contested catches, recording 32 receptions for 548 yards and four TDs in 2025. Moore returns for another year, offering size and speed, tallying 17 receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns last year, both against USF. Upshaw can create great plays. He totaled seven catches for 105 yards, demonstrating he can build on these modest numbers. Vance Spafford, Somourian Wingo, Milan Parris, and Tyran Evans will be additional depth.

Malachi Toney 109 REC, 1211 YDS, 13 Total TDs 2025 Season Highlights.pic.twitter.com/L0qGYfJUUN https://t.co/Kq08YeqdL8

— Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) February 19, 2026

Tight End

With sophomore Luka Gilbert out for the season, Elija Lofton tops the depth chart. Lofton recorded 23 catches for 218 yards and a trio of scores, showing he has the tools to be a star. The Hurricanes expect big things from him because he’s a versatile asset in passing and blocking. If he can’t, freshmen reserves Israel Briggs and Gavin Mueller must step up. Briggs has a big physical ceiling while Mueller brings athleticism and size. The latter could be an elite passing target in the future.

Runningback

The RB Corps remains solid with a lot of depth. Mark Fletcher Jr. leads the ground game in his final season, operating behind a reworked O-line. Miami’s workhorse churned out 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, including 507 yards and two TDs during the CFP. With 2,313 yards and 26 TDs in his three years at UM, Fletcher is playing not just for himself but for his parents and teammates. The big man won’t be the only one grinding down opposing offenses. CharMar Brown has shown his worth, rushing for 474 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. He’ll likely be deployed for goal-line work and other crucial moments, giving Fletcher a breather.

Mark Fletcher Jr. is still ascending. pic.twitter.com/KfGxerAuZB

— Art M. (@canefilms) July 20, 2026

Girard Pringle Jr. returned to the Canes after recording 62 carries for 375 yards and four TDs, averaging six yards per carry. Pringle has dangerous speed and burst, helping to make this trio arguably the best room on the squad. Jordan Lyle was supposed to be in the mix, yet his future with the team is up in the air. Lyle was arrested on August 13 for reckless driving and aggravated fleeing and eluding law enforcement.  Head coach Mario Cristobal stated he is waiting for the legal process to take its course. Blue-chip freshman Javian Mallory has a shot at rotational playing time, showcasing quickness and versatility.

Special Teams

It's good 🙌 @NUFBFamily

Jack Olsen is good from 28 yards pic.twitter.com/IRz8fDQFM5

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 11, 2023

The Hurricanes acquired two kickers from the transfer portal. Jake Weinberg came over from rival Florida State and offers a lot of range. Weinberg nailed a 72-yard field goal while training in Tennessee. Jack Olsen, meanwhile, transferred from Northwestern. Olsen brings accuracy, making 19 of 21 field-goal attempts last season for the Wildcats. His longest in a college game was 47. Weinberg made 12 of 19 field goals and missed both of his attempts from 50 yards or more. A final decision has not been made, but they will likely use Weinberg for kickoffs and long-range strikes while Olsen handles most of the field goals. Reliable punter Dylan Joyce returns for his fourth straight season. Joyce is one of the best in the conference, averaging 44.4 yards per punt last year. The speedy Toney will once again handle the return game.

Prediction

Hurricanes HC Cristobal talks with @patmcafeeshow about the culture being built in Miami 😤

"You either create distractions or you just don't." pic.twitter.com/PnhHQexwlb

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) August 22, 2026

Now for my favorite part. The Miami Hurricanes look poised to return to the national championship game. A retooled defense reinforced by an explosive offense, the Canes are stacked with talent on both sides of the ball. UM should get off to a fast start, winning its first four games (Stanford, FAMU, Wake Forest, Central Michigan) before venturing to Death Valley for a matchup with Clemson. Coming out of the bye week, Miami hits a crucial stretch of games that starts with in-state rival FSU, continues with Pitt, and is followed by a Halloween road trip to North Carolina, before concluding with a gigantic showdown with Notre Dame. The Cardiac Canes return home for the last three games of the season, facing Duke in a potential trap game, Virginia Tech, and Boston College.

As the clear conference favorite, some say UM will go undefeated. My prediction is 11-1. So where’s the loss? Believe it or not, I don’t think they’ll lose to Duke or Notre Dame, but to Clemson. The last two visits weren’t pretty. Miami lost 40–10 on November 19, 2022, and 42–17 on October 10, 2020. In fact, their last victory at Clemson was on October 2, 2010, 30-21. Regardless, this will be the year they finally win the ACC for the first time (they’ll face Louisville or SMU) and will return to the CFP finals for a shot at the natty.

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