Offense
The quarterback position belongs to Duke transfer Darian Mensah. Mensah was a standout for the ACC Champion Blue Devils, throwing for 3,973 yards, 34 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. His ability is off the charts. With the weapons around him, Mensah could have a very special season and is a Heisman candidate.
The running back room returns a ton of talent and will be one of the best backfields in the nation. The group is headlined by Mark Fletcher, who has an amazing story and the game to back it up. CharMar Brown, Jordan Lyle, and Girard Pringle also bring a lot to this group as well.
The wide receiver room returns dynamic slot receiver Malachi Toney. What he did as a true freshman was spectacular and earned him All-American honors. Joshua Moore, Daylyn Upshaw, and tight end Elija Lofton also return. The additions of Cooper Barkate (Duke), Vandrevius Jacobs (South Carolina), and Cam Vaughn (West Virginia) are massive for this unit.
The offensive line room loses four starters. Matthew McCoy, Ryan Rodriguez, and Samson Okunlola have experience. Watch out for redshirt freshman Max Buchanan. The additions of Johnathan Cline (East Tennessee State), Jamal Meriweather (Georgia), and 5-star true freshman Jackson Cantwell are crucial to this unit’s success.
Defense
The defensive line room loses elite pieces but will still be stout. Ahmad Moten Sr., Justin Scott, Armondo Blount, and Marquise Lightfoot all have experience. The additions of Keona Davis (Nebraska), Jarquez Carter (Ohio State), and Damon Wilson II (Missouri) provide the depth this unit needs. Wilson recoded nine sacks last season.
The linebacker room returns Mohamed Toure but will absolutely need depth to develop around him. There is hope Kamal Booner, Chase Smith, Cameron Pruitt, and others can do that. Toure getting an extra year of eligibility was massive for this group.
The secondary returns production in Xavier Lucas, Damari Brown, Romans “OJ” Frederique Jr., Ethan O’Connor, Bryce Fitzgerald, Zechariah Poyser, and Dylan Day. The additions of Omar Thornton (Boston College) and Conrad Hussey (Oregon State) provide this unit with even more depth.
Specialists
Punter Dylan Joyce returns and is one of the best in the ACC. Kicking duties will belong to Northwestern transfer Jack Olsen. Florida State transfer Jake Weinberg will handle kickoffs. Malachi Toney is a major weapon returning punts.
2026 Schedule
- 9/4 at Stanford
- 9/10 Florida A&M
- 9/18 at Wake Forest
- 9/26 Central Michigan
- 10/3 at Clemson
- 10/17 Florida State
- 10/24 Pittsburgh
- 10/31 at North Carolina
- 11/7 at Notre Dame
- 11/14 Duke
- 11/21 Virginia Tech
- 11/28 Boston College
Final Analysis
Miami is once again a threat to win the national championship. Mario Cristobol has built a fantastic roster that may be even better than last year’s group. This team is motivated to win the ACC Title and National Title. With the talent and the schedule, there’s not much stopping them from doing so. November 7th at Notre Dame will be special.
