For the past two seasons, the Miami Hurricanes have been one of the most aggressive programs in the transfer portal — and it has paid off.
In 2024, Miami landed the No. 10-ranked transfer portal class, followed by the No. 3 class in 2025. Much of that success can be traced back to the quarterbacks the Hurricanes brought in during those cycles.
In 2024, it was Cam Ward out of Washington State. Ward led Miami to its best season since 2017, guided one of the nation’s most productive offenses and emerged as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
In 2025, Miami added former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck, who was coming off a devastating injury to his throwing arm suffered in the SEC Championship Game. All Beck has done since arriving is lead Miami to its first national championship appearance in more than two decades.
Ward and Beck, both of whom initially declared for the NFL draft, are one-and-done players at Miami, exhausting their final year of eligibility. That means head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff must once again identify their next quarterback for the 2026 season.
It appears they could be lining up another significant addition.
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Miami Set To Host Former Arizona State Quarterback
The transfer portal reopened shortly after the Sugar Bowl to begin the new year, sending programs across the country scrambling to fill roster needs for the upcoming season. Miami, however, remained relatively quiet early in the window.
Balancing preparation for the Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss while navigating the portal is no small task, and the Hurricanes may have simply been focused on getting through the semifinal matchup. The day after the game, though, reports surfaced that former Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt was visiting “The U.”
ESPN’s Pete Thamel confirmed the report.
“Former ASU QB Sam Leavitt is headed to Miami on a visit later today. He’s been to Kentucky, LSU and Tennessee already. Hurricanes are up next,” Thamel wrote.
Leavitt, NIL valued at $3.1 million, had been viewed as a potential favorite to land at LSU after he was seen courtside with Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin during a men’s basketball game. He later visited Tennessee Volunteers, even extending his stay in Knoxville by an extra day.
Leavitt is currently rated as the top quarterback — and the top overall player — remaining in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports. Over three seasons split between Michigan State and Arizona State, he has thrown for 4,652 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while adding 816 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground.
Miami’s Options At Quarterback For 2026
The quarterback market in the transfer portal is beginning to thin, and with no spring portal window available, Miami may need to act quickly to secure Leavitt — especially after missing on other targets.
“Miami’s Plan A was Brandon Sorsby, but he’s heading to Texas Tech,” CanesSport reported.
Sorsby reportedly signed a $5 million deal to play for the Red Raiders, with proximity to his girlfriend — who attends Texas Tech — also factoring into the decision.
If Miami is unable to close on Leavitt, the Hurricanes would be left to sort through their current quarterback room, which includes Emory Williams, Luke Nickel, Judd Anderson and incoming freshman Dereon Coleman.
That likely is not the route Miami wants to take, even with talent already on the roster. Expectations at the quarterback position have not changed over the past two seasons, and Leavitt represents the clearest path to maintaining continuity at the most important position on the field.
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