Miami, Florida State face varying expectations for 2026 football season

Preseason polls are out for the upcoming ACC football season, and the expectations, at least from members of the media, are very clear.

The Miami Hurricanes are expected to dominate the conference after making it all the way to the College Football Playoff national championship game last season.

Miami received 165 out of 188 first-place votes in the preseason poll. SMU, Louisville and Clemson were picked after Miami, in that order. Florida State received three first-place votes but was picked as the 11th-place team in the conference. Remarkably, the last-place team, Stanford, received a first-place vote despite winding up 17th in the poll.

One of the reasons for the optimism around Miami is the addition of quarterback Darian Mensah, who steps in for the departed Carson Beck. Mensah transferred to Miami after starting his college career at Tulane before playing last season at Duke. While with the Blue Devils, Mensah tossed 34 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He begins his time at Miami as a junior.

But Mensah is far from the only top player for the Hurricanes. Running back Mark Fletcher, wide receiver Malachi Toney, guard Samson Okunlola, defensive tackle Ahmad Moten, linebacker Mohamed Toure and safety Bryce Fitzgerald were all selected as first-team all-conference picks in the preseason.

Toney and Fitzgerald were listed on several preseason All-America teams.

The Hurricanes are scheduled to open the season on Sept. 4 against Stanford.

The prospects for Florida State are not as lofty coming off a 5-7 season. Head coach Mike Norvell is in the spotlight and must show that he can get the team back to a point where they are contending annually for the conference championship and can realistically stay in the conversation for the College Football Playoff.

Florida State wide receiver Duce Robinson was the lone Seminole to make the All-ACC preseason first team. Robinson was listed as the No. 5 choice for preseason conference player of the year.

Quarterback is a big question for the Seminoles in 2026. Ashton Daniels figures to be the starter. The redshirt senior played three seasons at Stanford, then spent 2025 at Auburn, where he played in four games, starting three losses for the Tigers.

As many as seven of the 11 offensive starters for the Seminoles figure to be transfers. The defense is likely to have six starters who transferred in this season.

The Seminoles are scheduled to kick off the season on Aug. 29 against New Mexico State. They also have a key nonconference matchup at Alabama on Sept. 19. Florida State and Miami are scheduled to meet on Oct. 17 at Hard Rock Stadium.