January 13, 2024.I was at a friend's birthday party with a group of fans representing each of the "Big 3" Florida schools (Miami, Florida, and Florida State).Being a Gator fan, I was relishing in joining my fellow Florida fanatics and Seminole supporters mocking the Miami contingent that they had whiffed on all their quarterback targets in the transfer portal.ACC SUPREMACY: IS IT REALLY THE MIAMI HURRICANES VERSUS THE FIELD FOR THE 2026 SEASON?As we laughed and reveled in their misery, a notification flashed across everyone's phone screen that changed the tide of the night in favor of the Canes fans."BREAKING: Cam Ward, the ex-Washington State QB, heading to Miami."ONE OF THESE EIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS WILL BE HOISTING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY IN 2026Nov 9, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) on the sideline against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field.
(Brett Davis-Imagn Images)The Hurricanes had found their guy, but after a Heisman-level season in 2024, their one year rental was off to the NFL Draft.So Miami's rivals fired up the trolls once again, and towards the end of the portal period, it looked like the Hurricanes were going to have to eat crow.That is, until they plucked Georgia quarterback Carson Beck from the ranks of the NFL Draft.Then the Canes rode another late transfer pickup to within a quarter of winning the national championship.So when Miami and Mario Cristobal were without a signal caller heading into the teeth of the offseason, we all knew better than to gloat.And that proved to be the right decision, as the Canes once again persuaded an NFL Draft hopeful - this time Duke transfer Darian Mensah - to hop in the boat in Coral Gables.UCLA QUARTERBACK ATTEMPTS TO EXPLOIT LOOPHOLE IN TRANSFER PORTAL WINDOW WITH UNIQUE TACTICDarian Mensah, No.10, of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes passes the ball against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Stanford ...