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State of The U

https://www.stateoftheu.com/ | 349 entries published

Pissed Off For Greatness

Latest Entries

Canes Rebound & Hang On Late, Defeat Boston College 74-68

The Miami Hurricanes have started February with a bang. After losing three of its final five games to end January, the team took care of business on the road, beating lowly Boston College to improve to 18-5. The Canes need a great final month of the regular season to stay alive for an at-large bid […]

3 days ago | 0 reads

2025 SOTU Awards Best Unit: Defensive Line

The Miami Hurricanes defensive line unit won the SOTU Awards for the Best Unit in 2025. The defensive line is coached by Jason Taylor and Damione Lewis. As I’m sure you know, Jason Taylor is a former Miami Dolphin and NFL Hall of Fame defensive end while Lewis played for the Hurricanes as well as […]

4 days ago | 0 reads

Three ProCanes, One (or Two) Guaranteed Champion: Miami’s NFL Big Game Story

For decades, the Miami Hurricanes have dominated the NFL’s biggest stage. From Michael Irvin’s two-touchdown explosion in Super Bowl XXVII to Dan Morgan’s record-setting 18 tackles in Super Bowl XXXVIII, from Duane Starks’ game-changing pick-six to Ray Lewis’ legendary MVP performance, the program has produced some of the most iconic moments in Super Bowl history. […]

6 days ago | 0 reads

2025 SOTU Awards: Worst Unit, Tight Ends

Just like State of the U’s flagship column “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” the State of the U awards are not just about the good, but also cover the bad and the ugly. While certain position groups thrived in 2025, the tight ends fell well short of Miami’s reputation as “Tight End U.” […]

7 days ago | 1 read

2025 SOTU Awards: Offensive MVP and Rookie of the Year: Malachi Toney

“This kid can do a lot more. So let’s push the limits of what we can do with him.” This sentiment from Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson after watching Malachi Toney‘s progression through the season couldn’t be more accurate. Toney didn’t just contribute for the Hurricanes as a true freshman – he obliterated program records, […]

8 days ago | 1 read

Can either freshman tight end make an impact in ’26?

That Miami Hurricanes have signed two freshmen tight ends in the 2026 recruiting class. Gavin Mueller and Israel Briggs are both out-of-state, four-star TE’s that will be added to a position group that has Elija Lofton, Jackson Carver, Luka Gilbert, and Jack Nickel. Alex Bauman has moved on to updating his LinkedIn page while Brock […]

8 days ago | 2 reads

2025 SOTU Awards: Co-portal addition of the year — CB Keionte Scott

The Miami Hurricanes had one of the biggest turnarounds you’ll see from a unit from one year to the next. The Hurricanes’ defense was an abomination in 2024 that ultimately cost the team a trip to the College Football Playoff for the first time ever. What a difference nine months made. Well, that and some […]

9 days ago | 0 reads

2025 SOTU Awards: Most Improved Player, RB Mark Fletcher Jr.

Some seasons stick with you longer than others. Not only because of the memorable wins, but because of the way a team feels and the identity it built. The moments that made it magical, and the players who quietly shape everything in between. This season for Miami was one of those years, the kind fans […]

10 days ago | 1 read

Miami Hurricanes star Rueben Bain Jr. wins 2025 Ted Hendricks Award

After a stellar 2025 season in which he helped lead the Miami Hurricanes to the National Championship Game, star EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. was named the Ted Hendricks Award winner on Wednesday afternoon. Named after a former Miami Hurricanes standout, the Ted Hendricks award is given to the top defensive end in college football annually. […]

13 days ago | 2 reads

Duke Duo to be Dynamic Addition to Hurricanes Offense

Former Duke Blue Devils QB and WR Darian Mensah and Cooper Barkate have committed to the Miami Hurricanes via the transfer portal. Mensah comes to Coral Gables from Duke via Tulane, while Barkate arrived at Duke via Harvard (yes, that Harvard). Mensah, the ACC’s leader in passing yards, passing TD’s, and adjusted yards per attempt […]

13 days ago | 1 read

ESPN announces 30 for 30 podcast about the murder of Bryan Pata

ESPN has a long history of using the Miami Hurricanes to drive ratings. Apart from numerous highly rated football games, including 2 of the top 3 most watched games of the 2025 College Football season, ESPN has had 2 Miami Hurricanes documentaries win widespread acclaim: The U and The U part 2. Now, the latest […]

13 days ago | 1 read

Former Duke Blue Devils QB Darian Mensah transfers to the Miami Hurricanes

One of the biggest stories in the CFB world came to a right and proper end when former Duke Blue Devils QB Darian Mensah announced his commitment to transfer to the Miami Hurricanes. A 6’3” 200lb signal caller, Mensah is one of the top players at his position in the sport, and gives Miami another […]

13 days ago | 1 read

BREAKING: Darian Mensah and Duke Settle Lawsuit

This morning, as predicted, Duke settled its lawsuit with now former QB Darian Mensah. Last Tuesday (1/20), Duke was able to obtain a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) preventing Mensah from enrolling at another institution because doing so would breach his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Agreement. That TRO was set to expire on Thursday (1/29), […]

14 days ago | 1 read

Miami Hurricanes 2026 Football schedule announced

With the 2025 College Football season now behind us, it’s time to turn our attention to 2026. On Monday evening, the ACC released the full conference schedules for each team. This now gives us a complete picture of the Miami Hurricanes schedule in 2026. You can see the full ACC release here: The 3 non-conference […]

15 days ago | 2 reads

2025 SOTU Awards: Play of the Year

I’m sure the image on the post was a dead giveaway but the play of the year for the Miami Hurricanes in 2025 was the Keionte Scott pick six against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. I covered the play in the Film Review of Miami’s 24-14 win over the Buckeyes on New Year’s Eve […]

15 days ago | 1 read

Breaking Down the Darian Mensah Lawsuit – And Why Duke Should Settle

Duke University filed a lawsuit against its, likely former, QB Darian Mensah last week. The situation has been rapidly developing with many, many questions being raised about what’s happening, and fans wanting to know what’s likely to happen. This lawsuit could have a seismic effect on the entire NIL industry, with effects far reaching who […]

15 days ago | 1 read

Where the Canes landed in college baseball preseason rankings

Things are going well in the University of Miami sports spectrum right now. The Hurricanes came one drive short of winning their sixth football national championship on Monday. The team looks set up well for another championship run in 2026, particularly if they can find a way to secure QB Darian Mensah and his Duke […]

NFL

17 days ago | 1 read

Miami Hurricanes Transfer Portal round-up

To the chagrin of many of you, I made the editorial decision to focus on the Miami Hurricanes’ push for a National Championship in the College Football Playoffs, and left the transfer portal movement for later. That journey ended with a loss in the National Championship Game on Monday, so with the season fully completed, […]

17 days ago | 2 reads

QB Options if Darian Mensah’s NIL is Blocked

The Miami Hurricanes clearly want to sign Darian Mensah as their quarterback for the 2026 season. Mensah has requested to be entered into the transfer portal, and he has a 100% crystal ball per 247 to The U. But as our own Rob Weaver told us, Duke was granted a restraining order which has paused […]

17 days ago | 2 reads