Miami QB Mensah Leads Comeback Win Over Clemson

New Hurricanes QB Darian Mensah shines in 2025 upset of Tigers

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:37pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting the dynamic action and strategic elements of a college football game, without any identifiable players or teams.A cubist interpretation of the key plays and strategic adjustments that led to Miami QB Darian Mensah's comeback victory over Clemson in 2025.Today in Miami

In a 2025 matchup, then-Duke quarterback Darian Mensah led his Blue Devils team to a 46-45 comeback victory over Clemson. Mensah, who is now the starting QB for the Miami Hurricanes, had an impressive performance, throwing for 4 touchdowns with no turnovers and averaging 8.8 yards per pass attempt. He connected with transfer wide receiver Cooper Barkate for 127 yards and a score.

Why it matters

Mensah's strong outing against a top ACC opponent like Clemson has Miami fans excited for the upcoming season. As the new starting QB for the Hurricanes, Mensah's ability to lead a comeback win and make key plays will be crucial for Miami's chances of winning the ACC and contending for a national championship.

The details

Mensah had an efficient and productive day against the Tigers, completing passes at a high rate and finding his top target Barkate for big gains. He showed the ability to make adjustments at the line, hit receivers in stride, and deliver accurate deep balls. While he did have one errant throw that nearly resulted in an interception, Mensah otherwise avoided mistakes and led his team to victory.

  • The game took place in 2025 when Mensah was the quarterback for the Duke Blue Devils.
  • Mensah will be the starting QB for the Miami Hurricanes in the upcoming 2026 season.

The players

Darian Mensah

The new starting quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes, who previously played at Duke University and led the Blue Devils to an upset victory over Clemson in 2025.

Cooper Barkate

A wide receiver who transferred to Miami to play with Mensah, and was a top target for him in the 2025 game against Clemson, catching 6 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown.

Mario Cristobal

The head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, who brought in Mensah and Barkate to bolster the team's offense for the 2026 season.

Shannon Dawson

The offensive coordinator for the Miami Hurricanes, who will work closely with Mensah to maximize the new QB's skills and lead the Hurricanes' attack.

Cam Ward

The previous starting quarterback at Miami, whose skills were not as well-suited for the Hurricanes' offense as Mensah's are expected to be.

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What they’re saying

“Get Mensah as comfortable in the offense as possibly as quickly as possible. Miami starts off with four cupcakes but there's no reason to stumble around and lose confidence before a tough game against Clemson.”

— Justin Dottavio, Author

“Barkate is a high football IQ player and him joining Toney in that regard is quite the problem for DC's in 2026. Barkate fakes a stalk block before ripping open and running a fade. This is a WIDE OPEN easy TD for Mensah and the kind of communicating and adjusting necessary to win the natty.”

— Justin Dottavio, Author

What’s next

Miami will need Mensah and Barkate to continue building chemistry and timing in the offseason to be ready for a tough ACC schedule, including an early-season matchup against Clemson.

The takeaway

Mensah's comeback win over Clemson in 2025 demonstrated his ability to lead an offense, make key plays, and win against top competition. If he can translate that success to Miami, the Hurricanes could be poised for a big season and a run at the ACC title and College Football Playoff.