Miami Hurricanes ultimately turned a huge miss into a massive win and a better situation going into 2026
The Hurricanes ultimately won for losing this month, and the result is a better outlook going into next season.
There’s a country song that says, “God bless the broken road that led me straight to you”. Or something like that. I had to look it up (Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts), as I’m not a country music fan.
And for the Miami Hurricanes, that’s appropriate for how their pursuit of an experienced 2026 starting quarterback went.
The Canes had a lot to balance during an incredibly busy month of January. Prepping for and beating Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal. Getting ready for the Indiana Hoosiers in the national championship game. Continuing with high school recruiting, which never stops.
Oh, yeah. And trying to find experienced standouts in the transfer portal that can help keep the good times rolling for Miami in 2026. And that’s especially the case at the quarterback position with Carson Beck out of eligibility.
Miami took swings at Sam Leavitt and Ty Simpson and missed
The Hurricanes brought in former Arizona State Sun Devils starter Sam Leavitt in for a visit. Leavitt, who is dealing with a foot injury, also visited Kentucky, LSU, and Tennessee, with Lane Kiffin stumping hard to land him. His persistence paid off, as Leavitt picked LSU over Miami and Tennessee.
The Hurricanes also took a big, big financial swing at Simpson, per On3 Sports, who reported Miami came in at $6.5 million to try to get the Alabama quarterback to forego the NFL Draft for one more season and come to Coral Gables. That effort also failed, with Simpson opting to stay with the draft.
Miami instead landed one of the NCAA’s top quarterbacks and receivers in a package deal
However, what followed was more than a replacement option; it might have been a better one.
Duke QB Darian Mensah announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. Duke attempted to block that and secured a temporary restraining order preventing him from enrolling in another school. However, that was resolved by agreement between Mensah and Duke on Tuesday, paving the way for him to leave. And by Tuesday night, he was signed, sealed, and delivered as a Miami Hurricane.
Mensah is one of the top returning quarterbacks in the nation. Last year, he threw for 3973 yards (second nationally), 34 touchdowns (tied for second nationally), with six interceptions. He comes in healthier than Leavitt and gives the Hurricanes’ offense another gear for 2026.
And it’s not just Mensah coming from Durham. Duke’s top wide receiver Cooper Barkate is coming to Coral Gables with him. Barkate’s 1106 receiving yards was ninth nationally in 2025.
Now, the Hurricanes will have two of the nation’s most prolific receivers in the nation in 2025 in Malachi Toney and Barkate, with Mensah throwing them the ball. Oh, and with the bruising Mark Fletcher, Jr. back along with the Canes’ other top four running backs.
Indeed, thanks to a couple of broken roads, the path to Las Vegas — home of the 2026-27 national championship game — might have just gotten a lot smoother.
College Football
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