Miami Hurricanes fans get an early Christmas present for the 2026 season without adding a thing
Miami got a big boost for next year without lifting a finger.
The Miami Hurricanes got an absolutely enormous showing on Saturday in College Station from RB Mark Fletcher Jr. The junior running back was arguably the best player on the field for either team, rolling up 172 rushing yards on 17 carries to give Miami just enough on offense to pull off a 10-3 win over the Aggies in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
However, while the focus of the team is now firmly on the Ohio State Buckeyes, who the Canes will face in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals in the Cotton Bowl, a little bit of good news for the 2026 season came by way of Fletcher, Jr. himself.
The Canes’ veteran ballcarrier confirmed during his media availability on Tuesday a previous report from ESPN’s David Hale that he will be back for Miami in 2026.
Mark Fletcher, Jr. confirms he will be back for Miami in 2026
“Yeah, it’s true,” Fletcher, Jr. said. “I’m coming back another year, and I have another year. I’m a true junior. I have another year guaranteed, and man, I love this team, I love this organization, I love this culture, and I just want to spend one more time with my brothers for all I can.”
Fletcher, Jr. proved during the Canes’ win over Texas A&M just how valuable he’s become both on and off the field for the Hurricanes. One of the team’s strongest leaders, he helped freshman sensation Malachi Toney get over a fourth quarter fumble that set the Aggies up near midfield in a tie game, by going to him on the bench and encouraging him. Minutes later after Fletcher, Jr. carried the offense inside the red zone, Toney finished it with the game-winning 10-yard touchdown run.
Miami has a strong presence on the field that defenders can feel in their bones when they try to tackle him. He also has a presence that lifts up and inspires his teammates around him. Those are two important positives the Hurricanes will carry through the remainder of the playoff as well as their 2026 season.
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