Miami 'Absolutely the Favorite in the ACC,' Says Anonymous Coach
Miami won a program-record 13 games last season on its path to a national championship appearance in its home stadium. After that heartbreaking defeat to Indiana, the roster coach Mario Cristobal assembled for 2026 might be even better than the one that almost won it all in January.
The Hurricanes retained nine starters from last season's team, including All-ACC selections at wide receiver (Malachi Toney), running back (Mark Fletcher Jr.) and defensive tackle (Ahmad Moten Sr.). Between that existing talent and transfer portal additions edge rusher Damon Wilson II (Missouri), quarterback Darian Mensah (Duke) and wide receiver Cooper Barkate (Duke), Miami stands head and shoulders above the rest of the conference as the clear frontrunner and one of the best teams in the country.
"They're absolutely the favorite in the ACC," an anonymous ACC coach said in Athlon Sports' 2026 College Football Preview magazine.
These comments were made in the Hurricanes' exclusive scouting report in Athlon's annual magazine, which is available for purchase online and at newsstands nationwide.
Miami's status as the team to beat in the ACC is well-deserved. Cristobal and Co. routinely bring in highly touted high school recruiting and transfer portal classes, laying the groundwork for a team that is 23-6 over the last two seasons. And remember, it was the 'Canes who unseated defending national champion Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl during their first playoff appearance.
But Miami is also still in search of its first conference championship since it joined the ACC more than two decades ago.
- College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2026
The Hurricanes missed out on a trip to the conference title game last season due to a five-way tie for second place in the ACC that prompted the conference to change its rules. Despite having five losses, Duke won the tiebreaker and Mensah and the Blue Devils went on to beat Virginia in the championship.
After a last-second transfer to Miami, Mensah will try to go back-to-back and bring an ACC title to Coral Gables for the first time.
The 'Canes last played for the conference championship in 2017. They have come close to playing for the last two, including a 9-0 start in 2024, but some tight losses have kept Miami from returning to that stage.
Two seasons ago, it was an upset against Georgia Tech followed by a stunning loss to Syracuse in the regular-season finale. Last year, midseason losses to Louisville and SMU did the 'Canes in. All four games were decided by one possession.
"Mario Cristobal has enough scars from losing heartbreaking games the last couple of years that he is not going to let that happen again," the anonymous coach said. "The people there that he's finally surrounded himself with are going to be in position to give him guidance, especially on game day, management of the game, all of those kinds of things with just making decisions to win the game."
Miami's showing in the national championship game against Indiana - and all throughout the playoff - was proof of progress on that front. And given how far Clemson and Florida State have fallen in recent years, the ACC is there for the taking this fall for Cristobal and the 'Canes.
"He's phenomenal around recruits," the anonymous coach said of Cristobal. "When it comes to getting big-time players to come there, he's special. It's great to see his growth as a head coach. I truly think that the painful losses that he's had the last couple years will be the reason why he makes sure that he wins the ACC this year."
Related: Athlon Sports 2026 College Football Preview Magazine Available Now
Related: 10 College Football Rivalries Lost to Realignment That Need to Return
Related: Curt Cignetti Q&A: Indiana Coach Opens Up on Challenge of Title Defense
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM.