National CFB analyst predicts Miami will win national championship

Miami quarterback Darian Mensah. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

National CFB analyst predicts Miami will win national championship

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Sep 1, 2026 10:06 PM ET

National college football analyst and host Josh Pate predicts that the Miami Hurricanes will win the 2026 National Championship, quarterback Darian Mensah will win the Heisman Trophy and playing at Notre Dame on Nov. 7 will be the game of the year.

Pate discussed the 2026 season during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday. Pate is confident in the players returning for Miami and minimized the losses. The addition of Mensah is an upgrade over Carson Beck at QB, according to Pate.

Pate explained that the preview magazine culture he grew up with too often focused on the players and lost production and not their replacements. Miami lost edge rushers and first-round picks Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, but replaced them with Marquise Lightfoot and Damon Wilson II.

Pate said, "In most places, it is true. If you lose offensive linemen and pass rushers and a QB like Miami lost, history says you take a step back. There are exceptions to all of those rules. Miami is simply an exception to that rule right now."

"I’m actually going with Miami to win the National Championship!”@JoshPateCFB has high expectations for the University of Miami on @RichEisenShow pic.twitter.com/qDQs5paWoR
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 1, 2026

Josh Pate likes Miami's returning players

Pate is high on the returning players for Miami, stating, "There are a number of guys, truthfully, that would have been starting elsewhere last year that were just contributors and depth providers and role players for them that could be stars this year."

Lightfoot was one of the players that Pate referenced. Projected starting right tackle Matthew McCoy, who started at right guard in 2025, is the only returning starter for Miami on the offensive line. Wide receiver Josh Moore and safety Bryce Fitzgerald are other players moving into bigger roles for Miami in 2026.

Pate stated that Mensah is tailor-made for the Miami offense under coordinator Shannon Dawson and that he expects the Hurricanes to average over 40 points for the second time in the last three seasons. Miami has a "workable schedule," according to Pate. The game against Notre Dame will once again be pivotal this season.

Josh Pate has Miami finishing the job and winning its sixth national championship this season

(: @JoshPateCFB/YT) pic.twitter.com/W7JGAcTnXr
— Ibis Media (@IbisMediaCo) August 26, 2026

Pate stated he is not worried about Miami being hard-nosed and battle-tested because he has seen the way that the Hurricanes practice every day. Under head coach Mario Cristobal, being physical is required and essential to the Miami culture.

Notre Dame is fourth in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 and fifth in the AFCA Coaches Poll and Miami is ranked seventh in both polls. Miami plays its season opener on Friday night at Stanford. Notre Dame opens the season on Saturday night against Wisconsin.

Alan Rubenstein

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