The Miami Hurricanes have swung and missed on several of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal over the last few weeks.
But with just one more game left on their schedule — a College Football Playoff national championship game showdown with No. 1 Indiana on Monday — the Hurricanes are trying desperately to find a starting QB for 2026.
Miami hasn’t been afraid to break out the checkbook to lure high-profile QBs to the school before.
Two years ago, UM convinced Washington State’s Cam Ward to forgo the NFL draft and come play QB for the Canes. It worked out quite well for Ward, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Tennessee Titans last April.
Miami also paid up a little over $3 million for former Georgia signal-caller Carson Beck, who also declared for the NFL draft but was talked out of it not long after to play for the Hurricanes.
It also worked out for Beck, who has a chance to win his first national title as a starter. But with Beck’s impeding departure, Miami is pulling out all the stops to land his successor.
Miami Pushing to Flip Duke’s Darian Mensah
GettyDuke QB Darian Mensah is reportedly a transfer portal target of Miami
According to multiple reports on Friday, Duke passer Darian Mensah plans to hit the transfer portal despite signing a revenue-share NIL deal with the school — and Miami seems to be the frontrunner to land him.
Mensah threw for 3,973 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions for the Blue Devils this season.
“Sources consider Miami to be an early team to watch as a potential landing spot for Duke star QB Darian Mensah, who just informed the Duke staff he plans to enter the transfer portal,” CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer wrote on X.
Barstool Sports’ Liam Blutman also revealed what the Hurricanes’ alleged plan is for landing Mensah — though no national college football insider has confirmed his report.
“Miami’s supposed desperation move for Mensah: Buyout his Duke contract and terminate it, pay around $10 mil total to make it happen, country club housing
Adidas deal + campaign? Sister supposedly gets a full ride + NIL, current soccer player at Oregon,” Blutman stated on X.
Blutman correctly reported Kyle Whittingham’s interest in taking the Michigan head coaching job, and LSU’s interest in luring QB Demond Williams away from Washington and into the transfer portal, so he appears to be plugged into some college football circles.
Miami Has Been Burned With Portal QBs Before
It was initially reported UM offered former Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby a $5 million NIL deal to transfer to Coral Gables. He turned it down for a similar offer from Texas Tech, where his girlfriend also is enrolled.
Then the Hurricanes tried to lure away Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt, the No. 1-ranked passer in the portal, only to watch him commit to Lane Kiffin and LSU one day after his official visit with the team.
The same happened with Husan Longstreet, who allegedly was considering Miami but also chose to head to Baton Rouge with Kiffin as well.
Miami also threw a desperation $6.5 million NIL offer to Alabama’s Ty Simpson, which was reportedly matched by Ole Miss, only to be rebuffed with his eyes fixed on the 2026 NFL draft.
But now, the Hurricanes seem to be trying a last-minute Hail Mary — and it looks like it just may work.
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