South Florida

A refresher on the UM Hurricanes at the start of the 2025 football season

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

All the articles discuss Miami Hurricanes football as they pursue a College Football Playoff berth and compete in the ACC. The articles focus on Miami's path through the season, their improvement under coach Mario Cristobal, and the challenges posed by their schedule and ACC rivals.

One article tracks the Hurricanes' steady rise under Cristobal, detailing the shift from losing seasons to playoff contention. Another examines Miami's win over Notre Dame in the season opener, showing how the team closed out a tight game after losing a big lead. The team then dominated Bethune-Cookman, giving reserves playing time and letting freshmen make an impact. Miami notched a convincing win over USF, marking a second victory over a ranked opponent and moving up in the AP poll. The team managed rivalry wins, handled schedule quirks including byes, and prepared for ranked matchups against Louisville and Florida State. Depth and transfers, such as Keionte Scott at defensive back, continue to shape the rotation. The season reflects the Hurricanes' focus—manage every test, emphasize competition within the team, and target the ACC Championship Game and playoff spot while navigating an unforgiving conference stretch.

University of Miami coach Mario Cristobal leads the team during the Miami Hurricanes football spring game at Cobb Stadium on UM’s campus in Coral Gables, Florida on Saturday, April 12, 2025. By PHOTO BY AL DIAZ

NO. 1: AS FALL PRACTICE LOOMS, CRISTOBAL STRESSES ‘IT’S MIAMI VERSUS MIAMI’ UNTIL SEASON STARTS

‘The Notre Dame game will come eventually, but right now, we’ve got to find ourselves and find what we’re good at.’ | Published July 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

Keionte Scott (0) and other defensive backs run a drill during Miami Hurricanes football practice on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. By Alie Skowronski

NO. 2: 30 KEY MIAMI HURRICANES FOR 2025 SEASON: KEIONTE SCOTT SHORES UP NICKEL CORNER

The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2025 season on Aug. | Published August 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal flashes the U after the Canes defeat the Florida State Seminoles during an NCAA football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Garden, Florida on Saturday, October 26, 2024. By PHOTO BY AL DIAZ

NO. 3: FIVE MIAMI HURRICANES STORYLINES TO FOLLOW FOR THE 2025 SEASON

College football season has arrived — and the Miami Hurricanes’ marquee season opener is on the horizon. | Published August 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal celebrates after his team defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in their NCAA football game at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. By Photo by Matias J. Ocner

NO. 4: MIAMI HURRICANES, AFTER BLOWING 14-POINT LEAD, BEAT NOTRE DAME IN TOP-10 MATCHUP

The Miami Hurricanes entered Hard Rock Stadium on a mission. | Published September 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck (11) throws the ball in the first half of his NCAA football game against Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. By Photo by Matias J. Ocner

NO. 5: NO. 5 MIAMI HURRICANES MAKE QUICK WORK OF BETHUNE-COOKMAN IN BLOWOUT WIN

The game went as expected. | Published September 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian the Ibis greets fans as they wait for players to arrive at Hard Rock Stadium before the team’s NCAA football game against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. By Photo by Matias J. Ocner

NO. 6: LIVE UPDATES: NO. 5 MIAMI HURRICANES BLOW OUT BETHUNE-COOKMAN WILDCATS 45-3

The game went as expected. | Published September 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman James Brockermeyer (52) gestures at the line of scrimmage in the second half during the NCAA football game against the South Florida Bulls at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, September 13, 2025. By PHOTO BY AL DIAZ

NO. 7: WHERE THE MIAMI HURRICANES RANK IN THE AP POLL AFTER THEIR WIN OVER USF

The Miami Hurricanes once again handled business on Saturday, defeating their second ranked opponent of the season in a convincing 49-12 win over the USF Bulls at Hard Rock Stadium to improve to 3-0 on the season. | Published September 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

Miami Hurricanes running back CharMar Brown (6) battles Florida Gators defensive back Jordan Castell (14) in the second half of their NCAA football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, September 20, 2025. By PHOTO BY AL DIAZ

NO. 8: FROM COLLEGE GAMEDAY TO RIVALRY WIN, HURRICANES SHINE IN NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

The Miami Hurricanes’ Saturday started bright and early on campus. | Published September 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (4) on a carry as Florida State Seminoles defensive back Charles Lester III (4) gives chase in the first half during an NCAA football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Garden, Florida on Saturday, October 26, 2024. By PHOTO BY AL DIAZ

NO. 9: NO. 3 MIAMI HURRICANES VS. NO. 18 FSU SEMINOLES: HOW TO WATCH, WHAT TO KNOW, 3 KEYS

The No. | Published October 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck (11) flashes the U after the Hurricanes defeat the Florida State Seminoles during their NCAA game at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday, October 4, 2025. By PHOTO BY AL DIAZ

NO. 10: BOTH BYES BEHIND THEM, EVERYTHING AHEAD OF THEM: HURRICANES READY TO MAKE PUSH

For the second time in the past three weekends, the Miami Hurricanes did not play a football game. | Published October 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

Miami Hurricanes linebacker Raul Aguirre Jr. (32) and linebacker Wesley Bissainthe (31) celebrate Aguirre’s fumble recovery for a touchdown in the first half against the Louisville Cardinals during an NCAA football game at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, October 19, 2024. By Al Diaz / Miami Herald Staff

NO. 11: NO. 2 MIAMI HURRICANES VS. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS: HOW TO WATCH, WHAT TO KNOW, 3 KEYS

The No. | Published October 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian the Ibis runs on the field before his team plays against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in their NCAA football game at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. By Photo by Matias J. Ocner

NO. 12: LIVE UPDATES: NO. 2 MIAMI HURRICANES DROP FIRST GAME OF SEASON TO LOUISVILLE

The Cardiac Canes made their first appearance on Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium. | Published October 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan McPherson

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.