Built in Berkeley

[YaBoyRobRoy]

here we go again

can't lose to the Canes

Miami

Hell of a season.

You know what you have to do to Miami.

It's all been leading up to this! Huge game, definitely the most talented team we have faced this season.

I honestly never thought Miami would bounce back after that loss to Wake Forest but they beat everyone after that point (besides ND). Going to be a tough one

[YaBoyRobRoy]

2026 ACC CHAMPIONSHIP

#7 MIAMI (9-3, 7-2) vs #4 CALIFORNIA (11-1, 8-1)
12/12/26 • 12:00 PM • 38° • 5% CHANCE OF RAIN
Bank Of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC


THE OPPOSITION

MIAMI HURRICANES
89 OVR • 89 OFF • 91 DEF

HC: Lou Hernandez (LVL 65 - Program Builder, A+ Prestige)
OF: Shannon Dawson (LVL 27 - Master Motivator, A+ Prestige)
DC: Corey Hetherman (LVL 30 - Elite Recruiter, A+ Prestige)
OFF: Air Raid • DEF: 4-2-5 Zone Pressure

All-Time: Miami leads 3-2
Last Meeting: L 38-39 (2024)


TOP RATED PLAYERS

Malachi Toney • WR #1 • SO • 5'11", 188 • Elusive Route Runner • 97 OVR
Mark Fletcher Jr • RB #4 • SR • 6'2", 225 • Contact Seeker • 93 OVR
Darian Mensah • QB #10 • JR • 6'3", 205 • Pocket Passer • 93 OVR


TEAM LEADERS

PASS: D. MENSAH, QB #10 • 298/461, 3676 yds, 36 TD, 4 INT
RUSH: M. FLETCHER JR, RB #4 • 185 car, 1439 yds, 11 TD
REC: C. VAUGHN, WR #17 • 99 rec, 1315 yds, 14 TD
TKL: O. THORNTON, SS #0 • 83 tkls, 62 solo
SACK: J. SCOTT, DT #5 & A. MOTEN SR, DT #99 • 6.5 sacks each
INT: J. DUNNIGAN, FS #25 • 4 INT


SCHEDULE

WK 01 • AT STANFORD (W 56-7)
WK 02 • VS FCS (W 52-0)
WK 03 • AT WAKE FOREST (L 20-28)
WK 04 • VS CENTRAL MICHIGAN (W 48-7)
WK 05 • AT CLEMSON (L 17-28)
WK 07 • VS FLORIDA STATE (W 31-25)
WK 08 • VS PITTSBURGH (W 55-27)
WK 09 • AT NORTH CAROLINA (W 56-13)
WK 10 • AT NOTRE DAME (L 21-24)
WK 11 • VS DUKE (W 38-20)
WK 12 • VS VIRGINIA TECH (W 38-24)
WK 13 • VS BOSTON COLLEGE (W 41-17)
CCG • VS CALIFORNIA


INJURY REPORT

CAL
A. MANUTAI, SS #14 • TORN PECTORAL, SEASON

MIAMI
S. IKUNLOLA, LG #63 (85 OVR) • FRACTURE KNEE CAP, SEASON
C. PRUITT, LB #22 (76 OVR) • BROKEN FIBULA, 6 WEEKS



CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUPS

AAC: #14 UAB (11-1, 7-1) vs #18 USF (10-2, 7-1)
BIG TEN: #1 Indiana (11-1, 8-1) vs #11 Penn State (9-3, 8-1)
BIG 12: #2 BYU (12-0, 9-0) vs #5 Texas Tech (11-1, 6-1)
C-USA: Liberty (9-3, 7-1) vs Missouri State (7-5, 5-3)
MAC: Buffalo (8-4, 6-2) vs Ball State (7-5, 6-2)
MW: #15 UNLV (10-2, 7-1) vs North Dakota State (10-2, 7-2)
SEC: #6 Oklahoma (10-2, 7-2) vs #12 LSU (9-3, 6-3)
SUN BELT: #20 Appalachian State (11-1, 7-1) vs Southern Miss (8-4, 7-1)
PAC-12: Boise State (9-3, 6-2) vs Washington State (6-6, 5-3)

[redsox907]

I honestly never thought Miami would bounce back after that loss to Wake Forest but they beat everyone after that point (besides ND). Going to be a tough one

Wake Forest beat them in the ACC Championship Game last year in mine lmao

UAB and USF fighting for a playoff spot, App State as well. BYU undefeated gonna be a helluva championship weekend

[Tearz49ers]

Just those big three names on the Miami offense to contend with, easy money right?

[Soapy]

JJ 'done done it all' Dunnigan

[YaBoyRobRoy]

I honestly never thought Miami would bounce back after that loss to Wake Forest but they beat everyone after that point (besides ND). Going to be a tough one

Wake Forest beat them in the ACC Championship Game last year in mine lmao

UAB and USF fighting for a playoff spot, App State as well. BYU undefeated gonna be a helluva championship weekend

Yeah this is the most fun part of the season, every game matters at this point!

Just those big three names on the Miami offense to contend with, easy money right?

no problem right? Just exactly what you look for when you're building an elite offense.

JJ 'done done it all' Dunnigan

[YaBoyRobRoy]

2026 ACC Championship
#7 MIAMI (9-3, 7-2) vs #4 CALIFORNIA (11-1, 8-1)
12/12/26 • 12:00 PM • 38° • 5% CHANCE OF RAIN
Bank Of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC



No. 4 California overcame a disastrous start, forced five turnovers and rallied past No. 7 Miami 31-28 in the ACC Championship on Saturday night, capturing the ACC title and punching its ticket to the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history.

The Golden Bears trailed 14-3 after the opening quarter and appeared to be on the wrong side of a potential shootout. Instead, Cal's defense completely changed the game — and no player was more responsible than linebacker Tristan Jernigan.

Jernigan intercepted Miami quarterback Darian Mensah three times in the first half alone, as he threw 5 on the day, one too many mistakes to overcome in a game that came down to the final minutes.

For the first 15 minutes, it was all Hurricanes.

Mensah immediately found his rhythm, engineering two touchdown drives in the first quarter. Mark Fletcher Jr. capped the first with a 3-yard touchdown run before Mensah connected with Elija Lofton for a 5-yard score.

Cal managed only a 52-yard field goal from Towns McGough, and Miami carried a 14-3 advantage into the second quarter.

Everything changed when Mensah threw his first interception, and Cal's offense finally began to capitalize. McGough connected from 27 yards out, then after his second interception, quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele found Adam Mohammed for a 14-yard touchdown to pull the Golden Bears within one. A third interception led to Sagapolutele hitting senior receiver Ian Strong for a 10-yard touchdown, and the Golden Bears converted the ensuing two-point attempt to take a 21-14 lead.

In the third quarter Sagapolutele was hit as he threw and was intercepted by Miami cornerback OJ Frederique Jr. A few plays later Malachi Toney caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mensah. Following a three and out by Cal, Heisman finalist Cam Vaughn broke free for a 62-yard touchdown catch and run, restoring Miami's lead and sending the game into the fourth quarter with the Hurricanes ahead 28-21.

With the championship hanging in the balance, Sagapolutele delivered when Cal needed him most.

The sophomore quarterback finished 25-of-39 for 262 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Chase Hendricks for a 15-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Then with 3:33 left in the game, California's defense continued to make plays forcing yet another interception, this time by linebacker Aaron Hampton.

McGough then added a 21-yard field goal with 1:17 remaining to put Cal ahead 31-28.

Miami had one final opportunity, but Cal's defense closed the door as Mensah took a deep shot and was intercepted by safety Cam Sidney.

The Golden Bears entered the night ranked No. 4, faced the No. 7 team in the country and came away with an ACC championship after overcoming a two-touchdown deficit.

Now the question is no longer whether Cal belongs in the playoff conversation. It's where the Golden Bears will be seeded.

At 12-1, with an ACC championship and wins like this on the résumé, Cal has made a compelling case for one of the top seeds in the College Football Playoff.

Miami, meanwhile, is left to wonder if they still have a shot at a playoff spot. The Hurricanes had a chance to take down a top-four opponent and potentially play their way into the playoff. Instead, five turnovers turned a promising championship performance into a devastating defeat, their fourth of the season.



















STATS

► Show Spoiler

Code: Select all

BOX SCORE

TEAM		1	2	3	4	FINAL
MIAMI		14	0	14	0	28
CALIFORNIA	3	18	0	10	31


GAME STATS

MIAMI		STAT		CAL
13	      1ST DOWNS		20
41	     TOTAL PLAYS	69
304	      TOTAL OFF		372
108            RUSH YDS		110
7.2	      YDS/RUSH	 	3.7
196	      PASS YDS		262
7.5	      YDS/PASS		6.7
2/6	    3RD DOWN CONV.	6/14
5	      TURNOVERS		1
16:38	       T.O.P.		31:22


PLAYER STATS

CALIFORNIA

QB J. SAGAPOLUTELE • 25/39, 262 YDS, 3 TD, INT, 4 CAR, 20 YDS
RB A. MOHAMMED • 25 ATT, 85 YDS, 18 REC YDS, REC TD
WR I. STRONG • 7 REC, 73 YDS, TD
TE D. THOMAS • 6 REC, 75 YDS
WR C. HENDRICKS • 6 REC, 37 YDS, TD
LB T. JERNIGAN • 8 TKLS, 3 TFL, SACK, 3 INT

MIAMI

QB D. MENSAH • 16/26, 196 YDS, 2 TD, 5 INT
RB M. FLETCHER JR • 11 ATT, 44 YDS, TD, 4 REC, 35 YDS
WR C. VAUGHN • 6 REC, 49 YDS
WR M. TONEY • 3 REC, 100 YDS, TD
TE E. LOFTON • 2 REC, 10 YDS, TD
CB O. FREDERIQUE JR • 6 TKLS, TFL, INT

[YaBoyRobRoy]

2026 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK


CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• North Dakota State beats #15 UNLV, wins Mountain West title in their first FBS season

• #2 BYU remains undefeated with 45-28 win over #5 Texas Tech

• #18 USF likely punches their playoff ticket with win over #14 UAB in American Championship

• #12 LSU upsets #6 Oklahoma to win SEC title, 21-17

• #1 Indiana takes care of business in 44-29 rout of #11 Penn State

• #20 Appalachian State wins Sun Belt title over Southern Miss

• Buffalo blows by Ball State 41-17 to win the MAC Championship

• Washington State defeats Boise State 33-31 to win PAC-12

• Liberty wins C-USA Championship with thrilling 42-41 overtime win over Missouri State

CFP TOP 25 RANKINGS

01. Indiana (12-1, 8-1 Big Ten Champions)
02. BYU (13-0, 9-0 Big 12 Champions)
03. CALIFORNIA (12-1, 8-1 ACC Champions)
04. Ohio State (10-2, 7-2 4th in Big Ten)

05. Texas Tech (11-2, 8-1 Big 12 Runner Up)
06. USC (9-3, 6-3 5th in Big Ten)
07. Oklahoma (10-3, 7-2 SEC Runner Up)
08. Oregon (10-2, 7-2 3rd in Big Ten)
09. Notre Dame (9-3)
10. Miami (9-4, 7-2 ACC Runner Up)
11. LSU (10-3, 6-3 SEC Champions)

12. Penn State (9-4, 8-1, Big Ten Runner Up)
13. USF (11-2, 7-1 American Champions)
14. Virginia (9-3, 6-3 4th in ACC)
15. Tennessee (8-4, 5-4 6th in SEC)
16. UAB (11-2, 7-1 American Runner Up)
17. Ole Miss (8-4, 6-3 3rd in SEC)
18. UNLV (10-3, 7-1 Mountain West Runner Up)
19. Appalachian State (12-1, 7-1 Sun Belt Champions)
20. NC State (8-4, 7-2 3rd in ACC)
21. Duke (9-3, 6-3 6th in ACC)
22. South Carolina (8-4, 5-4 7th in SEC)
23. Washington (8-4, 5-4 8th in Big Ten)
24. North Dakota State (11-2, 7-2 Mountain West Champions)
25. Houston (8-4, 5-4 5th in Big 12)

Dropped From Rankings: #25 Kentucky








PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

NATIONAL

OFF: Ben Ford, WR #82, Boise State
vs Washington State (L 31-33) -- 9 rec, 148 yds, 2 TD

DEF: Tristan Jernigan, LB #32, CALIFORNIA
vs Miami (W 31-28) -- 8 tkls, 1 sack, 3 TFL, 3 INT


ACC

OFF: Cam Vaughn, WR #17, Miami
vs California (L 28-31) -- 6 rec, 49 yds, 64 rush yds, rush TD

DEF: Tristan Jernigan, LB #32, CALIFORNIA
vs Miami (W 31-28) -- 8 tkls, 1 sack, 3 TFL, 3 INT



HEISMAN FINALISTS

01. Cam Vaughn, WR #17, Miami -- 105 rec, 1364 yds, 14 TD, 64 rush yds, rush TD
02. Byrum Brown, QB #17, Auburn -- 3719 pass yds, 24 TD, 5 INT, 566 rush yds, 14 rush TD
03. John Mateer, QB #10, Oklahoma -- 3224 pass yds, 21 TD, 8 INT, 708 rush yds, 16 rush TD
04. LJ Martin, RB #4, BYU -- 194 car, 1224 yds, 24 TD, 206 rec yds, 2 rec TD

[Baze]

What a way to head into the CFP. Congrats on the conference championship!!

[YaBoyRobRoy]