SoFla Guide Editors
The top-ranked Miami Hurricanes are dressing like it’s 2001 again. Miami hosts Pitt today at Hard Rock Stadium in the home version of its 2001 championship throwback uniforms, and the question hanging over Miami Gardens is simple: can the Canes look the part and play the part while protecting that No. 1 ranking?
Orange, white and a whole lot of nostalgia
The program confirmed on Thursday, October 22, that it will wear the home 2001 throwbacks against Pittsburgh, according to the USA TODAY Network’s Florida coverage via AOL.
So what will you see? ESPN described the home look as orange jerseys with white pants and white helmets, plus green accents on the sleeves and a five-stripe pattern running down the jersey and pants. If you were around for that era, you probably just got a little misty. If you weren’t, ask your tío. He has opinions.
These uniforms have been a while in the making. Miami and adidas unveiled the 2001 throwback collection in September to mark the 25th anniversary of the 2001 national championship season, Yahoo Sports reported through Jerseys On SI. The Miami Hurricanes Football account on X officially revealed the uniforms on September 21.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Jerseys On SI report, the collection has two looks: an orange jersey with white pants and a white jersey with green pants. Both carry a gold “2001” tag on the back collar, a small detail that collectors and longtime fans will absolutely be zooming in on.
As for the road version with the white jersey and green pants, a game date for it reportedly had not been announced as of the September reveal, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jerseys On SI and Canes Warning. So if you’re hoping to see that combo in person, stay tuned.
The Canes are No. 1, and the coach doesn’t care
Miami walks into this one unbeaten. The Hurricanes are 6-0 overall and 4-0 in ACC play, according to Sports Illustrated’s On SI, while Pitt arrives at 5-2 and 2-2 in the conference.
The rankings back up the record. Yahoo Sports reported that Miami received 40 of 69 first-place votes in the AP Poll to claim the top spot, and the Canes are also No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
Just don’t expect head coach Mario Cristobal to frame that No. 1 on his office wall. Speaking about rankings, Cristobal was blunt, according to The Miami Hurricane:
“I think we have a good enough sample size of 2026 to know that [rankings] are absolutely insignificant and irrelevant with the changing of the guard from week to week.”
Translation: the poll is nice, the next snap matters more. Cristobal also described his team’s grind-it-out approach, telling The Miami Hurricane: “We just kept playing, we just kept battling, and we just found a way.”
History is on Miami’s side in this matchup, too. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series against Pittsburgh 30-12, according to On SI. Of course, history doesn’t tackle anybody, and Pitt didn’t make the trip to Miami Gardens to pose for throwback photos.
How to watch and what’s at stake
Here’s what you need to know, per On SI:
- When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, at noon ET
- Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
- TV: ESPN
A noon kickoff in Miami Gardens means one thing for anyone heading to the stadium: hydrate, wear sunscreen and maybe rethink the full-sleeve vintage Starter jacket you’ve been saving since high school. The throwbacks are on the field, not necessarily required in the stands.
For South Florida, this is a fun one. A No. 1 ranking, an unbeaten record and a uniform designed to honor one of the most beloved teams in program history, all on a Saturday afternoon at home. The throwbacks will grab the attention before kickoff. Whether the Canes are still sitting at No. 1 when the next polls come out depends entirely on what happens once the ball is in the air.
