Mario Cristobal hits Michael Irvin with a playful warning after viral moment from Hurricanes’ 2025 season
The Canes’ head coach had some fun at the Playmaker’s expense at ACC Media Days.
The 2025 Miami Hurricanes season was a tremendous run that saw the Hurricanes win their first three College Football Playoff games ever. It had plenty of unforgettable moments for Miami fans on the field.
And it had plenty of unforgettable moments from Michael Irvin off of it along the way. Or, technically, on the field, too, I suppose. At least for one moment.
Irvin’s excitability and wild celebrations have been staples of Miami’s resurgence back to the upper echelon of the college football world over the last two seasons. He’s been, in a way, a bit of mascot for the Hurricanes from the sideline.
And when Miami won their first-ever CFP game last December over Texas A&M 10-3, the celebrations from the players, coaches, and even Mario Cristobal himself were emphatic.
And viral. During the on-field interview after the game, Irvin came up to Cristobal and kissed him on the cheek. Cristobal broke up laughing as a result.
On Wednesday at ACC Media Days, Cristobal had some fun with the moment again. When asked by a reporter about the involvement of former Miami players in the program, Cristobal had some fun with the Canes legend.
Mario Cristobal references kiss on the cheek from Michael Irvin during ACC Media Days
“It’s important that Michael Irvin never kisses me on the cheek on national television ever again,” Cristobal quipped.
Well now, not so fast, coach.
The Miami Hurricanes came one play from winning a national championship in January. One painfully-short drive. If Miami can make that additional play in 2026, then the celebration will hit even another level on January 25, 2027 in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the national championship is going to take place.
And I think that would be another kiss on the cheek that Cristobal would welcome with open arms at that point from the Playmaker.