Kirk Herbstreit Predicts 2026 National Championship Winner

Fresh off the first national championship in school history, the Indiana Hoosiers head into the 2026 college football season with a big target on their back.

They lost star quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the NFL, but they replaced him with four-star TCU transfer Josh Hoover, who threw for 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions last year, plus four-star Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh.

However, the team Indiana beat in the national title game, the Miami Hurricanes, also reloaded. They added four-star QB Darian Mensah, four-star WR Cooper Barkate, and four-star edge-rusher Damon Wilson II via the transfer portal - and those moves are why ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit picked Miami as the team most likely to win the national championship in 2026.

"I think Miami might be the team to win it all this year," Herbstreit said on the "Pat McAfee Show" on Tuesday. "I think Miami. The running back's back (Mark Fletcher), (Malachi) Toney‘s back. They're going to be loaded this year."

Why It Matters

To Herbstreit's point, Fletcher and Toney were among two of the top players in the country at their respective positions.

Fletcher rushed for 1,192 yards and 2 touchdowns last year, while Toney logged 109 receptions, ,211 yards, and 10 touchdowns en route to winning the ACC Rookie of the Year and first-team All-ACC honors. He also led the country in receptions.

Mensah, who transferred from Duke, is also a clear upgrade over Carson Beck, who threw for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions a year ago.

Mensah was second in the country in passing yards (3,973) last season, behind only Drew Mestemaker (4,379), and he tied with Mestemaker for the second-most touchdown passes (34).

Barkate led Duke with 72 catches, 1,106 yards, and seven touchdowns last season. Adding him opposite Toney gives Miami arguably the best 1-2 WR punch in the ACC, and possibly the country.

On paper, Miami's offense is miles better heading into 2026 than it was last season. The defense might be a little less imposing, especially at edge-rusher after losing both Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor to the NFL, but adding Wilson helps at least soften the blow.

Some analysts believe Miami had one of the best offseasons of any team in the Power 4, which could set them up nicely to get over the national championship hump.

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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 12:12 AM.