Miami Hurricanes 2026 Schedule Kicks Off with Stanford Showdown
The Miami Hurricanes are gearing up for a wild 2026 football season after a strong 2025 run that took them all the way to the national title game. This next campaign? It’s loaded—tough road trips, big home showdowns, and plenty of matchups that could go either way.
With the new nine-game ACC schedule, nothing’s a given. Miami’s road to the College Football Playoff is going to be a grind. Here’s a closer look at the Hurricanes’ 2026 schedule, spotlight games, and some storylines that might be worth keeping an eye on.
Contents
Season Opener: A West Coast Challenge
Miami starts things off with a rare trip out west, heading to Palo Alto to face Stanford on Friday, September 4. It’s the first-ever meeting between the Hurricanes and Stanford, which adds a little extra intrigue right out of the gate.
Stanford’s coming off a rough 4-8 season, but you can bet they’ll want to make a statement against a team like Miami.
Key Points:
- Date: Friday, September 4
- Location: Palo Alto, California
- Opponent: Stanford (4-8 in 2025)
Early Home and Road Games
Once they get back from California, Miami hosts Florida A&M on Thursday, September 10. That one should be a chance to settle in before they hit the road again.
Next up is Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Friday, September 18. Wake’s no pushover—they finished last season 9-4 and could give Miami some real trouble early.
Early Schedule Highlights:
- Week 2: Miami vs. Florida A&M (5-7), Thursday, September 10
- Week 3: Miami at Wake Forest (9-4), Friday, September 18
Mid-Season Challenges
Midway through the season, Miami has a mix of home and away games, starting with Central Michigan visiting on September 26. Then it’s off to Clemson on October 3—a place where, honestly, Miami hasn’t had much luck lately.
After a bye week on October 10, things heat up again. The Hurricanes host their old rivals, Florida State, on October 17. Miami’s riding a two-game streak against the Seminoles, so there’s a bit of swagger there.
Mid-Season Schedule:
- Week 4: Miami vs. Central Michigan (7-6), September 26
- Week 5: Miami at Clemson (7-6), October 3
- Week 6: BYE
- Week 7: Miami vs. Florida State (5-7), October 17
Late-Season Road Trips and Home Stretch
Things don’t get any easier as the season rolls on. Miami hosts Pittsburgh on October 24, then heads to Chapel Hill for a Halloween clash with North Carolina. Kenan Stadium’s been a bit of a house of horrors—they’ve dropped three straight there.
Then on November 7, it’s a big rematch at Notre Dame in South Bend. That one could have some real playoff stakes, depending on how things shake out.
Late-Season Key Games:
- Week 8: Miami vs. Pittsburgh (8-5), October 24
- Week 9: Miami at North Carolina (4-8), October 31
- Week 10: Miami at Notre Dame (10-2), November 7
Closing Out the Regular Season
To wrap up the regular season, Miami’s got three straight at home. First up is reigning ACC champ Duke on November 14. That one’s got some added spice, with Miami reportedly eyeing Duke’s quarterback, Darian Mensah, and a bit of legal drama swirling around that.
After Duke, it’s Virginia Tech on November 20 and Boston College on November 28. These last games? They’re going to matter—a lot—if Miami wants a shot at the ACC Championship or maybe even the College Football Playoff.
Final Games:
- Week 11: Miami vs. Duke (9-5), November 14
- Week 12: Miami vs. Virginia Tech (3-9), Friday, November 20
- Week 13: Miami vs. Boston College (2-10), November 28
Conclusion: A Season of High Expectations
The Miami Hurricanes are staring down a 2026 schedule that looks both tough and, honestly, pretty intriguing. There’s a blend of tough road trips and some home games that could get loud.
Games against Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame, and Duke? Yeah, those will matter—a lot. How Miami handles those matchups might just shape their whole postseason story.
If you’re curious about the full slate, there’s more info on the Sun-Sentinel. Might be worth a peek.
