College football analyst Josh Pate predicts the Miami Hurricanes will upset the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers in the national championship game.
Pate, who has the largest subscriber base of any college football analyst, cited several potential factors that could make a difference for Miami, including the game being played at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami’s home field.
In related news, the biggest news surrounding the 2026 transfer portal concerns a potential new starting QB for the Hurricanes. Duke star quarterback Darian Mensah entered the NCAA transfer portal on the final day of the window, with Miami considered one of his top destinations. In 2025, Danian Mensah threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns against just six interceptions, leading Duke to the ACC Championship. He earned second-team All-ACC honors and ranked among the best in the conference in completion percentage (66.8%), yards per attempt and overall passing efficiency.
Mensah replaces current starter Carson Beck, who also came to Miami via the transfer portal. Beck, who had a stellar career with the Georgia Bulldogs, will face his toughest test this season against an Indiana defense that ranks second in the nation in scoring defense but allows just 11.1 points per game. Leading up to tonight’s final game, the Hoosiers held opponents to 20 points or less in most games and never allowed more than 24 points in any game during the regular season or postseason en route to the championship.
