It’s been a long road back for Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes. Now, in just over a week, they will play the Indiana Hoosiers for the national championship, scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19.
Although the Hurricanes are focused on their first championship since 2001, they also have work to do off the field to build their 2026 roster. The overlap of the football season and the transfer portal forces them to juggle both priorities.
Miami Reloads Its Passing Attack With Cam Vaughn to Complement Malachi Toney
Although their defense has gotten a lot of shine lately, the Hurricanes also fielded a productive offense, earning a PFSN CFB Offense Impact Score of 82.7, good for a B-minus grade and ranking 26th in the country.
The Hurricanes should retain the focal point of their offense, freshman megastar Malachi Toney, for two more seasons. Of course, nothing is guaranteed in this era of college football and the transfer portal. However, with Miami’s resources and recent success, it seems likely Toney will stay. CJ Daniels and Keelan Marion, both seniors, may not return.
No one matched Toney’s production: 99 receptions, 1,089 yards, 9 touchdown catches, 113 rushing yards, and a score, plus 4 completions for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns. Daniels (46 receptions, 495 yards, 7 touchdowns) and Marion (56 receptions, 740 yards, 2 touchdowns) were strong complements to the freshman All-American.
To replicate this year’s passing success, Miami needs new complements for Toney next season. On Sunday, the Hurricanes addressed that need by landing former West Virginia standout Cam Vaughn, as first reported by Hayes Fawcett.
BREAKING: West Virginia standout transfer WR Cam Vaughn has committed to Miami, @Hayesfawcett3 reports🙌https://t.co/ftxFmcnUeN pic.twitter.com/w1FjWIbj7X
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) January 11, 2026
Vaughn, a redshirt sophomore in 2025, had 35 receptions for 541 yards and four touchdowns for the Mountaineers. He spent the 2024 season with Jacksonville State, making 48 catches for 803 yards and five scores. In his career, he has 83 receptions for 1,344 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Vaughn was originally a dual-threat quarterback in high school. The way Miami uses Toney should excite Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson.
Vaughn’s big-play ability stands out. He averaged 15.5 yards per catch in 2025 and 16.7 in 2024. His career-long is a 75-yard touchdown, scored with Jacksonville State in 2024. That explosiveness is another reason Miami targeted him.
For the third straight year, the Hurricanes are entering the transfer portal to find another quarterback. After landing Cam Ward and Carson Beck in back-to-back years, expectations are high to identify another star. Currently, the Hurricanes have been linked to former Arizona State standout Sam Leavitt, though his recruitment has already included plenty of drama.
Much more should be known about the 2026 Hurricanes roster before they face the Hoosiers for the national championship on Jan. 19.
