These Miami fans are ready. See what they did on the UM campus
By Miami Herald
What’s a college football game without the spirit? There was plenty of that on Friday at a pep rally for the University of Miami Hurricanes.
Sebastian the Ibis, UM’s mascot, led the way on the lakeside patio of the UM campus in Coral Gables. On Sunday, another pep rally is planned at Playoff Fan Central at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Let’s take a look at the pomp at UM on Friday — just the beginning of a week of festivities leading up to Monday’s big game:
Canes fans get excited at the campus pep rally on Friday. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Canes fan Sophie Bernuth, 6, waves a UM souvenir towel during a Miami Hurricanes Pep Rally at the Lakeside Patio at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, on Friday, January 16, 2026, as they celebrate the upcoming National Championship Game against the Indiana Hoosiers on Monday. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian the Ibis, on stage Friday at a Miami Hurricanes pep rally on campus. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal high-five fans attending the Miami Hurricanes pep rally. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Sebastian the Ibis hangs out with with Bowie the dog at the UM pep rally. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
A Bahamian Junkanoo band during performs during a Miami Hurricanes pep rally at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Miami Hurricanes cheerleaders walk with Canes fans during Friday’s campus pep rally. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Sebastian the Ibis gets the crowd going. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Pia Gasteazoro, 6, Amaia Gasteazoro, 8, Zoe Escobar, 6, dance with moms Nicole Gasteazoro and Dyana Castro, seen left to right, during Friday’s pep rally. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Sebastian and the cheerleaders on stage. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Canes fan Hulda Acevedo wears a UM football helmet during a Miami Hurricanes pep rally at the lakeside patio on the UM campus in Coral Gables, Florida, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Canes fans get excited at the campus pep rally on Friday. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Canes fans Lillian Rekhtman, mascot Sebastian the Ibis, and Austin Decoster, react as Indiana Hoosiers fan Morgan Vidal wears her Indiana Rose Bowl shirt during a UM campus pep rally. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal arrives on stage at the Miami Hurricanes Pep Rally at the Lakeside Patio at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, on Friday, January 16, 2026, as they celebrate the upcoming National Championship Game against the Indiana Hoosiers on Monday. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 6:54 PM.
