Five thoughts on the Miami Hurricanes after five games

University of Miami admin October 5, 2026 0 Comments

Five thoughts on the Miami Hurricanes after five games

Five games. Five wins.

It has been a strong start to the season for the Miami Hurricanes, who are ranked as the No. 4 team in the AP Top 25 poll and looking more than capable of following up last season’s run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game with another long playoff push.

Here are five things we’ve learned about the Hurricanes (5-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) through their first five games as the team enters its bye week.

The Mensah-Toney connection is legitimate

Darian Mensah is quickly on his way to being the Hurricanes’ third consecutive successful dip into the transfer portal for a starting quarterback.

Having arguably the best wide receiver in college football to throw to in sophomore Malachi Toney certainly helps.

Through five games, Mensah has completed 84.2% of his passes (112 of 133) for 1,438 yards, 15 touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s one of two quarterbacks with 15 touchdowns and no interceptions to start the season, along with Indiana’s Josh Hoover.

Toney, meanwhile, has caught 39 passes for 604 yards and six touchdowns, all of which rank among the top seven nationally. Of Toney’s 39 catches, 32 have resulted in a first down or a touchdown.

The Hurricanes’ hope, though, has always been that Toney’s presence opens up the field for the rest of Miami’s receiver corps. That has been seen in spurts. Cooper Barkate, who transferred to Miami from Duke with Mensah, has 19 catches for 241 yards and four touchdowns. Two others also have double-digit catches this season in receiver Daylyn Upshaw (13 catches, 129 yards, two touchdowns) and tight end Elija Lofton (12 catches, 134 yards, one touchdown).

Growth on both lines of scrimmage

The Hurricanes had to replace a lot of talent on both the offensive and defensive line from last year. Gone are Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor on the defensive edge and four starters on the offensive line.

While there are still growing pains, both units are finding their stride.

The defensive line is generating pressure in the passing game and doing an admirable job stopping the run. Since the Wake Forest game in Week 3, the Hurricanes have pressured opposing quarterbacks on 46.3% of dropbacks (62 of 134). That includes pressuring Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds on 23 of 52 dropbacks on their way to generating a season-high six sacks. Meanwhile, Miami boasts the nation’s best run defense entering the week, holding opponents to an average of 42.6 rushing yards per game and just 1.84 yards per rush.

The offensive line has been more of a work in progress. Three spots have been all but solidified in tackles Samson Okunlola and Matt McCoy as well as center Ryan Rodriguez. The guards, however, have seen a lot more rotating. Most recently, freshman Ben Congdon started at left guard over SJ Alofaituli, who had started there each of the first four weeks. Max Buchanan had been Miami’s primary right guard but he got banged up early against Clemson, which prompted Alofaituli to get steady reps there late.

Overall, the group has still only allowed five sacks and 12 tackles for loss through five games. The offense as a whole leads the country with an average of 554.8 yards per game and 8.21 yards per play.

Injuries have tested Miami’s depth

The Hurricanes have had their success so far this season despite being without a lot of key players.

Starting cornerbacks OJ Frederique Jr. and Xavier Lucas haven’t played since the season opener against Stanford. Reserve corner Ja’boree Antoine hasn’t played at all. Running back CharMar “Marty” Brown and wide receiver Joshua Moore are out for the season, as is backup tight end Luka Gilbert.

Buchanan and McCoy on the offensive were banged up against Clemson, as was edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot, who leads the team with five sacks. Lightfoot didn’t return to the game. Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal on Monday said players will be evaluated throughout the bye week.

But even with those absences, UM’s depth has helped the group carry through. Ethan O’Connor has stepped up at corner, as has Bryce Fitzgerald, who moved from safety to outside corner. Damon Wilson II had his best game with Miami against Clemson, logging two-and-a-half sacks. Freshman Javian Mallory has stepped up as Miami’s No. 2 running back behind starter Mark Fletcher Jr.

Defense bending but not breaking

In its two biggest games of the year so far — a 33-20 win at Wake Forest and Saturday’s 41-13 road romp of Clemson — Miami’s defense did allow opponents to march down the field and threaten to score.

But in the end, more often than not, the defense got stops or limited the damage.

In the Wake Forest win, UM’s final four defensive drives ended in a safety, a pair of turnovers on downs and an interception. Meanwhile, eight of the Tigers’ 12 offensive possessions reached UM territory. Clemson scored three times (two field goals and one touchdown).

Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman’s unit has stepped up when needed, and all while the offense garners most of the headlines.

The real tests are here

Miami has already beaten a Wake Forest team that is looking like a dark horse team in the ACC and easily handled Clemson, which is on the downswing but has been one of the league’s top teams for the better part of the decade.

More tests are on the horizon.

Miami still has its big game at Notre Dame (currently No. 3 in the country) on Nov. 7. The Hurricanes’ six remaining ACC opponents — home against Florida State (Oct. 17) and Pittsburgh (Oct. 24), at North Carolina (Oct. 31), and home against Duke (Nov. 14), Virginia Tech (Nov. 21) and Boston College — have a combined 20-8 record entering this week. Pittsburgh is ranked No. 25 in the latest AP poll; Wake Forest and Duke are receiving votes.

This story was originally published October 5, 2026 at 11:26 AM.