“I have no social media on my phone, so I’m kind of just in my own little bubble. I think it’s better that way to be completely honest, but it’s impossible not to see… obviously, I see it, and it is what it is. People have their opinions, and all I can do is continue to do what I do,” he said, per SiriusXM NFL Radio on X.

The former Georgia Bulldogs player, who most recently played for the Miami Hurricanes and reached the National Championship Game, is aiming to take the next big step in his career. Could he finally be drafted by an NFL team?

Beck’s stellar season at Miami

In his lone season with the Hurricanes, Carson Beck revitalized the program by leading them to a remarkable 13-3 record. Throughout the 2025 season, Beck was a model of efficiency, setting a school record with a 72.4% completion rate while throwing for 3,813 yards and a career-high 30 touchdowns.

In the highly anticipated CFP National Championship against Indiana, Beck showed immense poise under pressure, completing 19 of 32 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown. Although the Hurricanes narrowly fell 27-21, Beck’s leadership and precision throughout the year cemented his legacy as one of the most impactful transfers in Miami history.

Criticism surrounding Beck

Carson Beck faces several criticisms as he enters the 2026 NFL Draft process. Scouts have pointed out his limited athletic upside and a tendency to struggle when the pocket collapses, often seeing his mechanics falter under heavy interior pressure. Additionally, while his overall accuracy is high, analysts and pundits have critiqued his lack of elite arm strength on deep balls following his 2024 elbow surgery.

Other quarterbacks to watch in the upcoming Draft

The quarterback class for the 2026 NFL Draft is led by Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), the consensus top pick after his national title run. He is followed by Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a polished pocket navigator, and Penn State’s Drew Allar, who boasts the highest physical ceiling despite injury concerns.

Rounding out the top tier are the aforementioned Beck and Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), a gritty passer known for his aggressive downfield shots.

Geno Smith has made it clear he wants to make things right with the Jets. However, the Jets are still looking for younger options. Connor Hughes of SNY reported that the team tried out Drew Allar from Penn State last week. Allar is recovering from a broken ankle, but seems to be almost ready to come back.

Last Sunday, the Jets also reportedly had some work done with Carson Beck. Allar and Beck are two of the biggest names in the quarterback position ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re projected to go high on the draft, which gives the Jets hope.

Drew Allar’s draft projection

Drew Allar falls into the classic label of ‘Day 2 Guy’. This means he is projected as a second or third round pick. Allar is viewed as a high-upside, though boom-or-bust quarterback. Still, he’s seen as a raw prospect.

He has elite arm talent, size (6’5″, 228 lbs), and he fits the prototypical pocket-passer frame. The Jets could eye him as a possible pick at either the 33rd overall or 44th overall selection. The Jets have no third round pick, so if they want Allar, they must take him in the second round.

Carson Beck’s draft projection

Beck’s projection is similar to Allar’s, meaning he should get drafted in the second or third round according to multiple projections. However, he is seen as a less-upside prospect than Allar, but a more mature one. Beck was the runner-up in College Football last season, guiding Miami to the National Championship, but losing to Indiana.

What this means is that Beck is more polished and “NFL-ready” than Allar, he has a higher floor. However, Allar has a higher ceiling if developed properly. Whether the Jets pull the trigger on one of them remains to be seen, but they should back up Smith, at least in the begining.

The rumors are starting to heat up for two reasons. New head coach Todd Monken said there’s open competition for the QB1 job, and the other is because Monken and Beck go way back, and the relationship might play a factor. Beck himself said it.

When asked if he would like getting drafted by the Browns, Beck said, “That would obviously be super cool. Any team that’s going to draft me, I’m super grateful for the opportunity, but if coach Monken were to be my coach again, obviously I really enjoyed him being my coach at the University of Georgia, and what I was able learn from him there. So, I’d be super stoked.”

Beck had his best college season in 2025

In six college seasons, Beck passed for 11,725 yards with 88 touchdowns and 32 interceptions. He had plenty of ups and downs, hence the six collegiate seasons. Beck acknowledged that, “Obviously, it feels like I was in college forever, but again, everybody’s path is different. I’m truly blessed and grateful that my path went the way it did.”

After spending five years at Georgia, Beck transferred to Miami (FL). He guided the Hurricanes to the National Championship game in a losing effort to the Indiana Hoosiers. Still, he led the ACC in completions (338), pass completion percentage (72%), and passer rating (157).

Beck’s projection for the 2026 NFL Draft

According to NFL Mock Draft Database, Beck is ranked 99th on the board. This puts Beck as a late third-round to early fourth-round pick, this also leaves Beck as the No. 6 quarterback in his class.

Shedeur Sanders was scheduled to become the QB1 of the Browns, but Beck’s arrival could make the QB competition all the more wide open. Beck has worked with Monken and that instantly puts him in a good position to compete. Also, second-year QB Dillon Gabriel is also on the roster trying to elevate his stock.

There are a couple of plays Miami can look back on and blame for the 27–21 loss to Indiana in the biggest game of the 2025 college football season. There is no use crying over spilled milk, though, and Cristobal reminded Beck and company of that with his postgame comments. Still, he couldn’t help but feel like the night could’ve ended differently.

“Like to have that last one back,” Cristobal admitted about Beck’s game-sealing interception during his postgame media availability.

“But again, a lot of the plays made throughout the course of the year from the guys up here on stage to the guys in that locker room got us here to this moment and gave us an opportunity all the way to the end. So, proud of him.”

CJ Daniels sends message to Beck

It’s been a roller coaster of a year for Beck. From suffering a UCL injury that had many questioning whether he’d ever be able to throw a football as accurately again, to leading a storied college football program all the way to the national title game. Obviously, the ending is what fans across the nation will remember, but the journey deserves as much recognition.

On that note, wide receiver CJ Daniels voiced a heartfelt comment about his quarterback. “The whole world wrote him off,’’ Daniels admitted. “He got us here.” Beck didn’t quite get to complete his redemption arc, but he put the NCAA on notice, and he now has a chance to make the NFL after showcasing his leadership and skillset in college football’s biggest stage.

With zeros on the clock, crimson confetti raining down at Hard Rock Stadium, and the visiting team—despite having more fans in attendance—celebrating in Miami Gardens, Beck walked off the field, as the walls closed in on his college football career. Even for an experienced quarterback like Beck—who many wonder how he is still playing college football— it was a lot to process in the flesh. Now, the graduate transfer has broken his silence with a sincere statement.

“It really hurts,’’ Beck admitted after the game, via The Miami Herald. “It’s hard the way it ended. It’s really tough — especially to battle the way we did in the second half after not coming out too strong in the first half.

“But for a group that faced adversity early on and battled our way back to even have a chance to win the game at the end says a lot about this team. Just super proud of these guys and super thankful for them.”

Beck thanks the ‘U’

Though it didn’t end the way Beck and the University of Miami hoped, there’s plenty for the school in Coral Gables to be proud of. For the seasoned college football quarterback, the Hurricanes allowed him to reconnect with himself and the sport after going through a tough final semester with the Georgia Bulldogs.

“For me, my entire life changed. I was in a really dark place and trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel was a difficult thing,” Beck admitted on his personal journey. “Just a lot going on mentally, physically and emotionally.

“To be able to fight through the roller coaster that life is, I really couldn’t have done it without all these people around me. This university truly saved me and helped me rebuild into the man I am today. It hurts really bad, but it was a hell of a season.”

Thanks to Beck, the ‘U’ is back

At the end of the day, Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers got their movie-like ending to the 2026 NCAA campaign. Meanwhile, Beck and the Hurricanes must deal with the sorrow of coming just short of the finish line. However, there is nothing left for Miami to prove.

The Canes shocked the nation when many didn’t believe they even deserved to make the postseason. Instead, Miami tuned out the noise, went to work, and engaged in a showdown for the ages against Indiana, one of the best-built rosters in recent college football history.

There is plenty to like about the Hurricanes going forward, with Malachi Toney set to become one of the biggest names in the sport. While Beck will not be around Coral Gables to see it or be a part of it, his impact won’t be taken for granted. After getting so close yet so far, Miami will only feed off this feeling—and make no mistake: The U will be back in full gear when fall comes around in 2026.

For the first time in over 20 years, Miami is playing for a national championship in college football. It’s safe to say that under Mario Cristobal, the ‘U’ is back. Or better yet, the ‘U is Beck’, as the hope in Coral Gables lies in the hands of their experienced signal caller.

In his first — and last — year in Miami, Beck has had a season for the ages. Now, fans believe Beck can take the program back to college football’s promised land. However, if anything were to happen to Beck, Cristobal and company are confident the team can rally behind its backup.

Emory Williams is listed as the second-string quarterback for the Hurricanes. A redshirt sophomore, Williams was a three-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. Completing the depth chart will be true freshman Luke Nickel, a four-star talent out of Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia. Nickel has a lone pass attempt in the 2025 NCAA season, and it was on an incompletion.

A look at Williams’ journey

Throughout his time in Coral Gables, Williams played the most in the 2023 NCAA season, though he served as a backup to Tyler Van Dyke. Since, Miami has enrolled star transfer quarterbacks in back-to-back years, causing Williams’ appearances to be even more sporadic.

However, anything can happen in college football, and the backup may have to jump into the action. At Hard Rock Stadium—where Tua Tagovailoa was once dubbed a franchise QB—Williams may be called upon to repeat Tagovailoa’s National Championship heroics, when he entered as a backup to lead the Alabama Crimson Tide to a championship in 2018.

Beck vs. Mendoza

Still, barring a disaster or an injury crisis, Beck will not leave the field at Hard Rock Stadium during the National Championship Game. Neither will Indiana send in Fernando Mendoza’s backup quarterback on the Hoosiers depth chart, unless it’s the only option left for the school in Bloomington.

It’s Beck vs. Mendoza, Cignetti against Cristobal, and the ‘U’ up against the ‘IU’. This one is for all the marbles, as Miami and Indiana square off for college football’s ultimate trophy—along with significant prize money for the winner.

Beck’s student-athlete status made waves all over the nation after the 23-year-old quarterback admitted he hasn’t been taking classes in Miami as of late. Beck graduated from his undergraduate degree in August 2024. Back then, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart took to his social media to congratulate Beck for his academic accomplishment.

Therefore, when Beck transferred from Georgia to Miami, the quarterback did so as a graduate transfer in the NCAA. Arriving at the school in Coral Gables, Beck enrolled at other degrees in Miami, though he issued a very honest confession about them. “These programs take a little longer than just a year to finish. Obviously, I’m not enrolling again next semester. I’ll be done after this season,” Beck told reporters ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Did Carson Beck stop taking classes?

The answer to that question is very simple: no. Beck has still attended classes during his stay in the University of Miami. According to reporter Tim Reynolds, Beck has not only attended classes last semester, but he has done great in them, too.

“Carson Beck got three A’s at Miami last semester. Yes, he took classes. Miami classes resumed last week. Guys who are leaving college – graduating, going to the NFL, whatever – didn’t have to enroll this spring just because the CFP final is in the spring semester,” Reynolds stated on his X account

Beck’s journey

Beck enrolled at the University of Georgia ahead of the 2020 NCAA season. Since then, the four-star recruit out of Jacksonville, Florida has been through the wringer. Despite being part of the Bulldogs’ national championship teams in 2021 and 2022, as well as a strong 2023 campaign, Beck struggled to cement himself as the starting quarterback in Athens in 2024.

Suffering a season-ending UCL injury to his right elbow during the postseason ultimately spelled the end of Beck’s time at Georgia. He initially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft but later chose to use his final year of eligibility by entering the college football transfer portal. Recently, Beck revealed a key reason why he joined the Hurricanes, a move that paid dividends as it has clearly revitalized his career.

That decision led Beck to cross paths with Miami—and ever since, The Magic City has watched “The U” rise back toward the top. Whether Beck has attended classes or not is the least of Miami’s concerns, though the situation has sparked significant debate across the college football landscape.

Both quarterbacks may have been the primary reasons their teams reached this stage, leading many to begin wondering whether the future of both Mendoza and Beck could lie in the NFL once this season comes to an end.

While there has been no official confirmation regarding this situation—understanding that the focus is squarely on what may happen in today’s final—it is expected that both Fernando Mendoza and Carson Beck will declare themselves eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft.

There is plenty of talk surrounding projections, and the Hoosiers’ leader and reigning Heisman Trophy winner is expected to be a high draft pick, even with the chance of being selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick. Beck’s fate, for now, remains to be seen.

The Heisman Trophy is well deserved

Fernando Mendoza solidified his place in college football history by becoming the first Indiana Hoosier to win the Heisman Trophy, delivering a season for the ages in 2025.

Leading Indiana to a perfect 15-0 record and a No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, Mendoza showcased elite precision and playmaking ability. He finished the campaign with 3,349 passing yards, an incredible 41 touchdowns against only 6 interceptions, and a dominant 90.2 Total QBR.

Beck emerging as a big name

Carson Beck has once again placed himself firmly in the first-round conversation for the 2026 NFL Draft after a resurgent senior season at Miami. Commanding the Hurricanes‘ offense with veteran poise, Beck displayed the elite accuracy and processing power that scouts have long admired.

He capped off the campaign with 3,581 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, all while maintaining an efficient 81.4 Total QBR. Having led Miami to the national title game, his ability to perform on the biggest stages has solidified his status as one of the premier pocket passers in this class.

The quarterback’s arrival in Miami, where he acknowledged he’s been having a standout season, became one of the biggest moves of last college football offseason. And, in his own words, one of the people responsible for his departure from the Bulldogs has a name: Mario Cristobal.

“It’s been unbelievable,” Beck said via On3.com. “Almost exactly a year ago, I made a decision to come to this university. I remember me and Coach Cristobal talking on the phone for the first time. I was sitting in Jacksonville in my house in my room, and I just had a big smile on my face and he had a big smile on his face. He said let’s get to work. I believed in his vision. I believed in what he’s been able to build here and add on to the culture of what Miami is.

“Man, what an unbelievable year. It was never easy. It was never perfect. There were a lot of ups and downs. There was a lot of adversity that not only I faced individually, but that we faced as a team. We really banded together and showed that we believe in connection; that we just don’t fake it. This team is really a family.”

Beck’s breakout season in Miami

In his standout 2025 season with the Miami Hurricanes, Carson Beck revitalized his draft stock by throwing for 3,581 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. His impressive 81.4 QBR and veteran leadership were the driving forces behind Miami’s deep postseason run, proving he remains one of the most efficient signal-callers in the nation.

When and where the National Championship Game will be played

The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship will take place on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET, featuring a historic matchup between the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers and the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes. Notably, this game marks the first time in the modern playoff era that a team—the Hurricanes—will play for the national title in their own home stadium.

Coming off a breakout season with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ty Simpson declared for the NFL Draft. However, in today’s college football landscape—where NIL deals reign supreme—nothing is ever set in stone. On that note, the Hurricanes aren’t throwing in the towel and are making an all-out push to land the star, who would be a redshirt senior in 2026.

According to a report by The Next Round on X, Miami is offering Simpson $6.5 million to take over the reins following Beck’s imminent departure. The Tennessee Volunteers and Ole Miss Rebels are also reported to have submitted an offer for the former Alabama star. However, he may not be as inclined to joining a fellow SEC opponent of his alma mater.

As it stands, Simpson is not guaranteed to be a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, so playing one final year of college football could be a wise move. Of course, there’s a risk-reward balance to that decision, but the $6.5 million could prove crucial if Simpson decides to take a U-turn in his career.

Is Beck declaring for the NFL Draft?

Though the sixth-year quarterback hasn’t publicly declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, there’s little question about his path forward. The Georgia transfer initially declared for the 2025 Draft but opted out to play his final year of eligibility in Coral Gables—well, technically Miami Gardens. On January 19, Beck will step onto the college football stage for the last time, and it will be on the sport’s biggest stage. He can go out with a bang—or a heartbreaking loss.

Regardless, one thing is certain: his draft stock has experienced a miraculous rise after his heroic playoff performances. Had it not been for the controversial decision by the Selection Committee to send Miami over Notre Dame into the Playoffs, Beck may have gone undrafted. Now, he has a legitimate shot at making an NFL roster ahead of the 2027 season.

Transfer QBs are running college football

For the second straight season, all four programs in the College Football Playoff Semifinals featured an experienced transfer quarterback under center. The National Championship will be decided between Fernando Mendoza and Carson Beck, the two players combine for a total of nine seasons in college. This statistic paints a crystal-clear picture of the state of NCAA football.

Transfer signal-callers run the show, and every program has seemingly learned that lesson. Now, the Hurricanes are looking to repeat the formula that’s led them to their best college football season in decades.

Mario Cristobal guided his Hurricanes to a 12–2 overall record and into the semifinals following a thrilling quarterfinal matchup. There, Miami delivered a decisive 24–14 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes on December 31, knocking out the defending champions.

On the other side, the Rebels didn’t let the entire saga surrounding former head coach Lane Kiffin distract them, and they made a strong statement in the bracket. To reach this stage, Ole Miss pulled off a dramatic 39–34 win over Georgia in what has been one of the most thrilling games of this CFP.

What happens if Miami defeats Ole Miss in the 2026 Fiesta Bowl today?

If Miami defeats Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl, the Hurricanes will officially punch their ticket to the 2026 National Championship Game, marking their first appearance on the sport’s biggest stage since 2002. Their opponent would be Indiana or Oregon, who face off in the Peach Bowl on Friday.

This historic win would validate Mario Cristobal’s vision for the program, proving that “The U” is back as a dominant force and setting the stage for a winner-take-all showdown for the title.

What happens if Miami and Ole Miss tie today?

If Miami and Ole Miss remain tied at the end of regulation, the game enters a do-or-die overtime period where each team gets one possession on offense and one on defense. The team that scores the most points wins the game. If the game is still tied after an overtime period, there will be another overtime period. In the event of a second overtime period, teams will have to run a 2-point conversion play after a touchdown. If a third overtime is required, teams will run alternating 2-point plays, instead of starting another drive at the opponent’s 25-yard line.

What happens if Miami loses to Ole Miss?

If Miami loses to Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl, its historic underdog run comes to a heartbreaking end just one step short of the title game. A loss would eliminate the Hurricanes from the College Football Playoff, officially ending their season and shifting the focus toward a top-ten finish in the final rankings and the momentum of Mario Cristobal’s best season yet in Coral Gables. In this case, it would be the Rebels who reach the Natty to take on the Hoosiers or Ducks at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

When and where will Miami and Ole Miss play?

The Miami Hurricanes and the Ole Miss Rebels will face off in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday, January 8, 2026. The game will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. local time)