Mario Cristobal enters his fifth season at Miami after the Hurricanes finished 13-3 and reached the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in 2025. Duke transfer Darian Mensah takes over at quarterback after Carson Beck left for the NFL and joins offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s system. Mark Fletcher Jr. returns at running back along with Marty Brown and Girard Pringle Jr. Update (Sept. 21): RB Marty Brown suffered a season-ending knee injury against Wake Forest and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season. Malachi Toney returns after recording a Miami single-season record of 109 receptions last season, while Vandrevius Jacobs and Cooper Barkate join the receiving corps. The offensive line returns one full-time starter in Matthew McCoy, who made 15 starts last season. Five-star freshman Jackson Cantwell, the nation’s No. 1-rated offensive tackle prospect in his recruiting class, also joins the group.
Miami returns five of its top eleven tacklers from last season, led by linebacker Mohamed Toure. Chase Smith also returns at linebacker, while the defensive front brings back full-time starters Ahmad Moten Sr. and Keona Davis after making 14 and 12 starts, respectively. Justin Scott returns after making nine starts, while Missouri transfer Damon Wilson II joins the group after making 12 starts last season. The secondary returns considerable starting experience, led by Zechariah Poyser and Xavier Lucas, who made 16 and 12 starts last season. O.J. Frederique made nine starts, Ethan O’Connor made six, Damari Brown made five, and Bryce Fitzgerald made four, giving those six returning defensive backs 52 combined starts in 2025. Boston College transfer Omar Thornton also joins the group.
Danny Kalter returns as special teams coordinator. Northwestern transfer Jack Olsen takes over as the primary placekicker, while Dylan Joyce returns at punter. Malachi Toney returns with experience handling punt returns, while Miami features a new primary kickoff returner following Keelan Marion’s departure. The Hurricanes enter 2026 with a new quarterback, significant turnover along the offensive line, and considerable starting experience returning on defense and in the secondary.