Miami (FL) news: Darian Mensah-led Hurricanes top analyst’s list of best offenses

For years, college football fans have been waiting for The U to come back. In 2025, they got their wish, as Mario Cristobal led Miami all the way to the national title game before falling to Indiana at the final stage.

Miami had a lot of work to do to replace some of the best pieces from that team, including cornerback Keionte Scott and quarterback Carson Beck, both of whom are off to the NFL. Cristobal did just that in the transfer portal, bringing in another star-studded class headlined by Duke transfer Darian Mensah at quarterback.

As a result, the Miami offense has a chance to be even better in 2026 than it was in 2025. Mensah is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country and is a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, so it comes as no surprise that On3 Sports college football analyst J.D. Pickell ranked the Hurricanes as the No. 1 offense in the country coming into the season.

While Mensah proved that he can carry an offense all by himself last season at Duke, leading the Blue Devils all the way to an ACC Championship, he will have no shortage of weapons at his disposal this season. Mark Fletcher Jr., one of the breakout stars of the College Football Playoff a season ago, is back at running back, and Malachi Toney is one of the most explosive players in the entire country at wide receiver.

Miami also brought in wide receiver Cooper Barkate, Mensah’s top target during his time at Duke, in the transfer portal. As a result, Mensah will have two of the best receivers in the ACC to throw to.

Last season, Miami hung its hat on its defense. That unit will be elite once again in 2026, with a number of NFL Draft prospects on that side of the ball. But if Mensah and the offense hit the ground running this fall, this will be a lethal offense that defines how far Miami goes as it seeks another trip to the national title game this season.