Miami’s season is off to a remarkable start. The Miami Hurricanes sit at No. 2 in the country, enjoying one of their best campaigns in years with a roster built to compete for a College Football Playoff spot.
Fourth-year head coach Mario Cristobal, known for his relentless recruiting drive, is finally seeing his vision take shape at his alma mater. But here’s where things get interesting. The current college football landscape runs on NIL money, and Miami has built one of the strongest NIL programs in the nation through Canes Connection.
Advertisement
MORE: Ty Law Sees Something GOAT-like in Drake Maye That Patriots Fans Will Love
That foundation could soon get a massive boost from an unexpected source.
Dana White, UFC’s CEO and president, recently appeared on The 3 Knockdown Rule Podcast. When the conversation turned to potentially making a substantial donation to Miami’s NIL funds, his response had Hurricanes fans buzzing.
Advertisement
“More than likely, the answer is yes! I went to my first game, the Notre Dame game, and I met everybody. I think I’m getting positioned to get hit up for a donation. I see the writing on the wall,” Dana White said. “You know what’s funny is that I’m a huge Boston fan, the Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox, I’ve never been a fan of a college team, so this is my first college experience, and yeah, I’m really looking forward to it.”
Consider what Dana White’s involvement could mean. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his fortune at approximately $500 million, with an annual salary hovering near $20 million. A contribution from someone with that kind of financial capacity would be genuinely significant for Miami’s program.
Advertisement
UFC CEO Dana White watches the fight between Cub Swanson (red gloves) and Billy Quarantillo (blue gloves) at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The timing couldn’t be better for Hurricanes supporters. After navigating years of inconsistency, 2025 feels different. Miami remains unbeaten at 6-0 and sits among just 11 perfect teams remaining nationally.
Following their second bye week in three weeks, the Hurricanes return to face Louisville on Friday night. A win over the 4-1 Cardinals would preserve their top ranking and deliver a critical ACC victory on their path to the playoffs.
—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead—
WEDNESDAY ROUNDUP:Dodgers flex on Brewers, ripping Dallas Cowboys is still fun, and more
NFL:Stephen A. Smith rips Dallas Cowboys’ struggling defense for repeated failures
NBA:Draymond Green makes wild partying admission about early career
CBB:Preseason AP Top 25 rankings revealed for 2025 women’s college basketball season
VIRAL:Best college basketball player names for the 2025-26 NCAA season
SPORTS MEDIA:Skip Bayless rips ‘fraudulent’ Buffalo Bills after NFL Week 6 debacle