Michael Irvin is bullish on the Miami Hurricanes heading into the 2026 season.
Of course he is. Irvin played for Miami from 1984 to 1987. He was a first-team All-American for the Hurricanes and won a championship in Coral Gables.
Irvin is all Miami all the time, so it’s not super surprising to hear that he believes in Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes right now.
They are coming off a trip to the College Football Playoff national championship, after all. Cristobal is also known as one of the best coaches and recruiters in the game.
So how good can Miami be in 2026?
Irvin believes the sky is the limit.
“I think Miami will go undefeated this season,” Irvin told On3. “…Our business is hand-to-hand, man-to-man combat. Raising your skill is one thing, but as you raise your skill, you have to equally deepen your collective will since we’re going against other men, grown men. It’s a will and a skill, and that’s the key to what has to happen. You got to have that collective will.”
Does Miami have the will to win a championship in 2026?
As far as the “collective will” to go out and win a championship, Irvin believes that is something Cristobal can instill in this team. He’s gone 35-19 over the past four seasons in Miami, and as the Hurricanes head into 2026, they’ve got a very intriguing squad.
Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah is a superstar (3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns thrown last season), and wideout Malachi Toney is one of the best in college football (109 catches for 1,211 yards and 11 touchdowns).
On defense, the Hurricanes return defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. (4.5 sacks at 6-foot-3, 325 pounds) and brought in transfer EDGE Damon Wilson III from Mizzou (nine sacks and 40 pressures last season).
They also now have the experience of tasting the national championship game, which Irvin believes will help in 2026.
“Miami got a taste of playing in a championship game. We have been going back, talking about what it’ll be like for years, we can talk to where black in the face, or blue in the face, or green, whatever color you want to turn. But once you go through it’s a different thing,” Irvin said.
Several tough opponents will stand between Miami and an undefeated season in 2026. Their schedule isn’t a gauntlet by any means, but games at Clemson and Notre Dame will certainly be challenging.
