A new college football season is approaching, and one of the most significant moves of the offseason involved Carson Beck, who made headlines by transferring from the Georgia Bulldogs to the Miami Hurricanes. After playing last season under Kirby Smart, the QB now finds himself under the leadership of Mario Cristobal — two coaches with extensive experience at the collegiate level.
Both Cristobal and Smart spent time together in Tuscaloosa, serving in different roles on the Alabama Crimson Tide coaching staff. It’s a notable detail, as they share a common blueprint when it comes to leading a team.
This is something Carson Beck clearly noticed once he began his transition to Miami — a program aiming to establish itself as a serious contender for the National Championship Game starting in Week 1.
“I think, I mean obviously coach Cristobal was at Alabama with coach (Nick) Saban, as was coach Smart,” the QB said via On3.com. “A lot of those guys that are in that tree, they run their practices the same exact way. It’s the same intensity. It’s the same practice script.”
Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Miami Hurricanes waits to enter the field before the start of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Hard Rock Stadium on October 08, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
“I remember last night I’m going over the script of what we’re going to do throughout the practice, the plays, the different periods,” Beck also added about similarities between both programs. “It was literally like copy and paste, you know what I’m saying? So I’m sure there’s a lot of schools around the country that their fall camp all looks the same.”
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Hurricanes HC Mario Cristobal provides major injury update on Carson Beck ahead of the 2025 NCAAF season
Carson Beck’s early steps in Miami
Last season in the NCAAF didn’t end on the best note for Beck with the Bulldogs, as an unfortunate elbow injury during a crucial game against Texas brought his campaign to an early close.
After undergoing surgery and making the important decision to join the Hurricanes during the last Transfer Portal window, the quarterback has already shown flashes of his talent during practices in Miami — something he says is feeling just right.
“You have all your indy stuff and your half-line, your 7-on-7 run, all that stuff. Then you get into your team period in the later half,” Beck said. “It was great work. You’re down here in the Miami sun. It gets hot out there, but I think we were working. I think we had a really good practice.”
The first challenges for Cristobal and his Hurricanes
- vs Notre Dame, August 31st
- vs Bethune-Cookman, September 6th
- vs USF, September 13th
- vs Florida Gators, September 20th
- vs Florida State, October 4th
