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What goes into funding student organizations? How SAFAC functions

Ashley Sewall
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What goes into funding student organizations? How SAFAC functions

The Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee, is responsible for setting the guidelines on what will be funded to student organizations and how money will be distributed among them. 

For most students, the inner-workings of SAFAC are a mystery. How much money do they have to offer and who makes the tough decisions on finalizing a budget? 

Every academic year, all full-time undergraduate students pay the Student Activity Fee, a one time $174 payment that supports the more than 300 registered undergraduate student organizations. Some of this money goes directly to large organizations, like Hurricane Productions and Student Government, but most of the fee goes to SAFAC to be re-distributed. 

This year, SAFAC is operating with a budget of $1.4 million, that can be allocated across various categories to organizations, including travel, food, t-shirts, speaker fees, decorations and more. Within each category a limit is imposed, for example a $5,000 maximum can be requested to cover speaker costs and student organizations can spend up to $10 per member on food.

Regardless of the number of members or role on campus, all student organizations have the opportunity to earn the same amount of funding. However, academic organizations, like honor societies, are often the highest requesters. 

“SAFAC’s purpose is to be equitable,” said SAFAC Chair Doménica Núñez del Arco Abad, a senior studying business analytics and computer science. “We try to make sure that you both have the opportunities to spend the student activity fee,”

SAFAC is currently composed of 16 undergraduate students – 10 delegates and 6 executive board members – and two faculty advisors who meet weekly to review budgets.

SAFAC will not fund legal fees, tailgate items, live animals, taxes, motorized vehicles, alcohol and more. The full guidelines are available at saso.studentaffairs.miami.edu.

These guidelines are subject to change every year, reflecting higher prices of goods and services or what was requested most frequently by organizations. In previous years, the cost allotted to flights and food has increased as a reflection of transportation.

“[Creating the guidelines is] a very rigorous process, it takes a couple of months,” said Núñez del Arco Abad. “We take input from the committee, from the SAFAC e-board, from SAFAC advisers and from the community.”

This year the organization also hosted a town hall to hear feedback from student leaders.

UM cost of attendance jumps nearly $4,000, students will pay $97,774 next year

Mel Tenkoff
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UM cost of attendance jumps nearly $4,000, students will pay $97,774 next year

By: Mel Tenkoff & Jaslyn Troung

The University of Miami will cost students living on campus $97,774 for the 2025-2026 school year, a more than 4% increase from the year prior. 

The cost of attendance for 2024-2025 on-campus students was $93,892, according to the University’s online cost of attendance page, reflecting a $3,882 uptick. 

Those living off campus are expected to spend another $1,000 in living expenses. 

The cost of attendance has increased across nearly all categories, including tuition, fees, on campus meal plans and housing, books and personal expenses. The only category that equals last year’s amount, is loan fees with an estimated cost of $38. 

Tuition, totalling $63,452, is the sharpest increase by category, climbing over $2,500, or 4.5%, from last year. This price is approximately $1,500 more than MIT’s, which is ranked second in the nation according to the annual U.S. News and World Report, while UM is ranked 63rd. 

UM’s tuition falls within the range of other private universities, including Boston University with an annual tuition of $66,670 and Syracuse University at $63,710.

“The cost of attendance currently posted on the website for the 2025-26 academic year is an estimate to assist incoming students as part of their admissions process,” University of Miami Communications said in a statement to The Miami Hurricane. “The University’s tuition will not be finalized until later this year.” 

Most universities implement incremental rises in tuition or living expenses to reflect inflation, though a 4% increase falls on the high side of this. 

From the 2020-2021 academic year to the 2025-2026 academic year, the cost of attendance jumped 30%, from $75,240 to $97,774. Had the 2020-2021 cost of attendance increased only due to inflation, the total cost would have been approximately $89,714 by January 2025 according to calculations made by The Hurricane using the most recent measures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Even though the recent rise of 4% in cost of attendance coincides with expected annual increases that universities implement, some students are still concerned about the price they have to pay. 

Gabriella Cowly, a sophomore studying philosophy, added her perspective about the approximated raise in tuition.

“It’s definitely debatable,” Cowly said. “While I think the education is great, especially with my own experiences with my professors and classes, I do think that there should be a limit to how much education should be.”

The next highest price hike is in the food and housing category, with nearly $1,000 increased for both on and off campus students. Undergraduate on campus residents will pay an estimated $24,742, while off campus students will pay $25,636.

A likely contribution to the rise of housing prices is the construction of the second phase of Centennial Village and current costs of the Ibis and Coral Residential Colleges.

The older Mahoney-Pearson Residential Colleges, built in the 1950s and 60s, currently costs $10,540 per academic year for a double occupancy room and $16,390 for a single room. Meanwhile, the newer residential colleges cost $13,500 for a standard double room and $18,000 for a single room.

“Yes, 100% living in Miami makes this school more expensive compared to others,” Cowly said. “I think it’s definitely a factor of why people choose to come to UM or not.”

UM must honor Title IX policies adopted under Trump’s first administration

Keira Faddis
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UM must honor Title IX policies adopted under Trump’s first administration

Higher education institutions will be required to revert back to or maintain the Title IX policies established under President Donald Trump’s first presidency, following a mandate from the U.S. Department of Education. 

In a “Dear Colleague” letter, the Department of Education announced the government would be enforcing the 2020 Title IX rule that limits the definition of “sex” to male and female. This opposes the 2024 changes Joe Biden had attempted to adopt that expanded the policy to be more inclusive to members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Biden’s adjustment to the policy would have expanded the definition of discrimination to include exclusion or harassment due to one’s gender identity and sexual orientation.

As a private institution receiving federal funding, the University of Miami is required to comply with Title IX regulations. But, because Florida joined in an initial lawsuit against Biden’s rewrite, the policy was on hold for the state and never adopted at the University of Miami. The Education Department’s announcement guarantees Biden’s policy will not be enacted at UM. 

“This puts transgender and LGBTQIA+ individuals at more of a risk and makes them far more vulnerable,” said Nicole Kujas, the membership co-coordinator of It’s on Us, a student ambassador program at UM bringing educating students on sexual misconduct. “They’re already more vulnerable to sexual assault and sexual harassment, and it lessens their protection.”

The Trump administration revision, written by former Education Secretary Betsey DeVos in 2018 and enacted in 2020, will once again limit schools’ liability in sexual misconduct cases and require live hearings where accusers and the accused of misconduct would be allowed to cross-examine one another through an advisor or lawyer. It will provide more protections for individuals accused of sexual assault, providing a presumption of innocence for those students.

Kujas said the reverted Title IX policies “can potentially discourage students from reporting their sexual harassment, as it may cause them to be fearful of having to encounter their assaulter in a live setting.” 

It’s on Us believes that changes to Title IX demonstrate the need to continually bring attention to and educate students on sexual misconduct topics on college campuses.

Title IX, which was enacted in 1972, prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs and activities that receive federal funding.

In the more than 50 years since its enactment, Title IX’s enforcement has evolved in regards to how schools handle cases of sexual harassment and assault. 

Prior to the announcement from the DOE, a federal judge in Kentucky blocked Biden’s rule from taking effect. The judge determined that the increased transgender students’ protections were unconstitutional, which stopped the enforcement of the revisions. 

In response, the Department of Education, under the Trump administration, mandated that all federally funded educational institutions return to the Title IX policies implemented during Trump’s first presidency. 

The revision on Jan. 31 also narrows the definition of sexual harassment to mean conduct that is “subjectively and objectively offensive and is so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from the recipient’s education program or activity.” 

It’s a problematic approach, Kujas explained. 

“One of the most concerning parts is that sexual harassment and assault look differently on different people, and it shouldn’t have to be ‘so severe and pervasive’ to be considered sexual harassment.”

The letter also states that the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights answers to President Trump, because “he alone controls and supervises subordinate officers who exercise discretionary executive power on his behalf.” 

Ongoing sexual misconduct investigations will be “immediately reoriented to comport fully with the requirements of the 2020 Title IX Rule,” according to the “Dear Colleague” Letter. This would require investigations to potentially obtain a higher standard of proof, known as “clear and convincing evidence” of sexual misconduct, as outlined in DeVos’s rules. 

Tips and tricks for choosing housing and saving money as a ‘Cane

Sophia Metzner and Jamison DeLaine
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https://open.spotify.com/episode/61OE7TZ1zz1m5QtwSmCV0e?si=a2NurRo_RPSxISN78kig8w

This week, News Host Sophia Metzner discusses UM housing with sophomore Sophia and A&E Host Jamison Delaine gives her tips on saving money as a UM student.

Financial success of UHealth continues to benefit UM and Miller School of Medicine

Casey Servatius
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Financial success of UHealth continues to benefit UM and Miller School of Medicine

UHealth, the University of Miami’s Health System, receives $175 million of funding from the National Institution of Health, the highest amount in Florida, making $5.2 billion in revenue in the fiscal year of 2023. Such high funding has created opportunities for 1,300 clinical trials and early access for all patients to new treatments and preventative medications according to the UHealth website. 

The health system has maintained direct affiliation with UM’s Miller School of Medicine, and developed close ties with the university’s undergraduate public health sciences department. Their financial success directly benefits the University of Miami. 

According to UM’s presidential financial report of 2023, UHealth helped bring in 63.2% of UM’s operating revenue in the fiscal year. Hospitals and clinics brought in $2,578.6 million and medical professional practice contributed $698.2 million.

“What we know today is the institution we call the University of Miami cannot be successful if the health system isn’t successful,” President of UM and CEO of UHealth Joe Echevarria said in a roundtable with student media on Nov. 20, 2024. 

The University’s dependence on UHealth is possible because of its financial success. This is ensured by bringing UHealth to its full potential before working on other projects for the University.

“So there was an early focus on the health system because it needed some development, but now it’s humming,” Echevarria said. “Because it’s humming, we now can do more things.”

Echevarria also emphasized the importance of utilizing already existing university resources to support UHealth and any future changes that may be implemented. The university wants the health system to remain an asset for students.

“There’s lots of revenue opportunities for the institution that don’t involve raising prices for students,” Echevarria said.

UHealth is a resource for pre-med students to get volunteer hours or for research. Since The Lennar Foundation is located right next to campus, it is very accessible to undergraduate students who may want to work there.

Madison Perrin, a freshman studying health sciences at UM, expressed an interest in taking advantage of possible openings available for pre-med students at UHealth.

“If there is an opportunity to shadow a doctor or even to just volunteer there I would love to do that,” Perrin said. “I didn’t really know it was offered or available. I applied to the Baptist Health Doctors Hospital so I’m waiting to see if I get that.”

UHealth’s dedication to their research department has helped the UM Miller School of Medicine rise to #44 on the U.S. News and World Reports rankings of Best Medical Schools: Research as of 2023. The Miller School has been able to provide research to UHealth in order to further develop clinical trials.

The University’s health system has also been experiencing an upward trend in net patient service revenues, which increased by 11.3% in 2023. 

UHealth plans to collaborate with their larger number of patients by opening a new medical center in Downtown Doral where they will host local weekly clinics in underserved neighborhoods in Miami. They have also committed to collaborating with Jackson Health System, Mount Sinai Medical Center and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. 

These organizations aim to meet the health needs of Miami-Dade County more extensively by improving access to healthcare, financial stability and chronic disease treatment.

Casey Servatius

Casey Servatius

Casey Servatius

The rising cost of eggs and the political blame game

Melody Royaee
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The rising cost of eggs and the political blame game

A dozen eggs cost $5.61 at the Publix on Monza Avenue across from campus as of Sunday, Feb. 2. 

That same carton of eggs would have cost just $1.96 five years ago according to the latest Consumer Price Index. The average price of eggs in the US is up 186% since February 2020. 

“A dollar just doesn’t go as far as it used to. It’s sad. It’s disheartening,” said Brayan Alvarez, a Coral Gables resident of twelve years. “I can’t imagine what this does to people who can barely make ends meet.”

“It’s ridiculous. Miami is an expensive city, everyone knew that coming to school here. We shouldn’t have to pay so much for groceries on top of everything else,” said Jordan Katz, a sophomore majoring in biology. 

The main culprit of egg price increases is that the U.S. is still reeling from a catastrophic outbreak of bird flu. The virus, known as H5N1, has infected or killed about 136 million birds since first reported in January 2022. 

Under USDA policy, if a bird tests positive for the virus, the farmer has to kill the entire flock as a precaution. Given the prolonged duration of this outbreak, some farmers have reportedly had to cull their flocks multiple times.

As a result, major cities including Miami, Denver, Chicago and Los Angeles are experiencing egg shortages. 

“We are currently experiencing difficulty sourcing eggs that meet our strict animal welfare standards. For now, we’re limiting purchases to 3 cartons per customer,” says a sign affixed to the egg refrigerator at the Whole Foods on Red Rd. 

The USDA reports that prices will likely increase another 20% by year’s end, as no viable solution to the bird flu crisis has been presented. The issue then is simply one of supply and demand. 

Still, high prices of eggs and other everyday essentials became a Republican rallying cry during the 2024 election cycle. 

“When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one,” Trump pledged on the campaign trail repeatedly. 

According to an AP study of more than 120,000 voters last fall, 7 in 10 reported being “very concerned” about the price of food and groceries. Sticker shock at the supermarket evidently contributed to Trump’s victory.

President Trump and the new GOP-led Congress have not yet issued or passed any specific policy to reduce food prices. “Prices are going to come down, but it’s going to take a little bit of time,” Vice President JD Vance said in a Jan. 26 interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” He gave no further details.

In fact, economists and food industry executives say that Trump’s tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, implemented on Feb. 1, will cause an immediate spike in meat, fruit and vegetable prices. Trump argues that such levies will protect American companies from foreign competition and incentivize consumers to buy U.S. products.

“Any increase in expenses in the form of a tariff subsequently serves as a ‘food tax’ on consumers for imported products and is not a workable solution,” said National Grocers Association spokesman David Cutler in an interview with Reuters.

Democratic lawmakers and media critics disapprove of Trump’s still unfulfilled campaign promise of a hasty return to cheap eggs.

“Perhaps if we were dealing with undocumented Guatemalan chickens, President Trump would find time to address the bird flu issue,” one USA Today commentator wrote.

More than 50 student organizations demand protection of DEI services

Jenny Jacoby
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More than 50 student organizations demand protection of DEI services

More than 50 student organizations have signed onto a petition demanding the University of Miami protect diversity, equity and inclusion programs amid changes brought about by the Trump Administration. 

Several organizations have directly emailed top University officials including President Joe Echevarria, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Alison Mincey, interim Provost Willy Prado and Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement Patricia Whitely. 

Others have posted personal organization statements on Instagram, drawing students to a Change.org petition. The petition demands the administration publicly acknowledge the removal of DEI resources, physically reinstate DEI resources on campus if they cannot be made available online and engage with students and faculty in an open forum.

The unusual collaboration among student organizations, from cultural, to academic, to athletic, is a result of an executive order passed by President Donald Trump requiring all federally funded education institutions to eliminate any race or gender-based programs. 

“Institutions of higher education have adopted and actively use dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of so-called ‘diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or “diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility” (DEIA),” Trump wrote in the order.

The order also instructed federal agencies to identify up to nine organizations for a possible civil rights compliance investigation, this includes schools with endowments of more than $1 billion. This is part of a “strategic enforcement plan” implemented by the Trump Administration to identify and go after diversity programs.

UM is one of 131 institutions that could be subject to investigation, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Following the announcement, all websites related to DEI programs or resources at UM were taken down, showing nothing more than a “Web Site Under Construction” alert. 

In a statement to the student body Monday afternoon, top University officials emphasized their support for all students without clarity on how diversity services and programs would continue in the wake of a potential investigation.

“External circumstances may shift, but our focus has long been on delivering results and having a positive impact on each other and on those around us,” the statement said.

It fell far short of what student leaders had expected to hear. 

“The University’s message leaves important questions unanswered, particularly regarding the reorientation of DEI resources and the specific rationale behind this shift,” several student organizations associated with the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Sciences announced in a public statement.

The letter assured the “reorientation” of websites was part of a response to adjust the University’s diversity framework that had already been years in the making. In 2018, UM began the process of looping its DEI initiatives under the umbrella name “culture of belonging.” University leaders previously had communicated at a student roundtable that they thought this name change would shield them from investigation threats.

At the opening ceremony of Black Awareness Month on Monday, Feb. 3, Whitely addressed the audience reassuring that all diversity services are maintaining administrative support. These services seemingly include the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, LGBTQ+ Student Center and Office of Disability Services, among others.

“We are going to continue to support you, and all of our services. We are obviously monitoring the direction of the federal government, but it is our top priority – and I want everyone to know this – to maintain our services, our programs and our facilities that help celebrate all students,” she said. 

Several other higher-education institutions have also preemptively begun backing away from DEI wording. Northeastern University similarly removed DEI websites, prompting concern from students. 

Academic institutions are hoping to be spared an investigation and potential loss of federal funding if found in the wrong, though the exact consequences of non-compliance are not yet clear. 

For student leaders at UM, the biggest offense has been the lack of transparency throughout the process. 

“While we acknowledge and support the proactive protection of federal and state funding for research efforts, we cannot ignore the hardships that underrepresented communities are experiencing right now and how removing these resources without transparency is harmful, no matter the intent,” the organizations’ statement said.

Krystina Slanker is one of many students that has benefited from cultural student organizations on campus. Slanker has Asian roots but was adopted from Russia into a Jewish family and raised in South Florida. UM gave her the opportunity to explore the multilayer parts of herself and connect more with the Asian community through the Asian American Students Association.

“No matter what, you need resources, you need a community, everybody needs a support system, and this is what I firmly believe in,” she said. 

As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, the petition has nearly 700 signatures. 

Miami WBB falls to Georgia Tech in 77-66 heartbreaker

Sarah Landau
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Miami WBB falls to Georgia Tech in 77-66 heartbreaker

While the Hurricanes seemed to be back in action after kicking off a two game win streak last week, they fell victim to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in a 77-66 loss on Sunday in Coral Gables, FL. 

The Hurricanes entered the first quarter with high energy but were unable to close out on shooters on the perimeter of the arc. Both teams went back and forth answering shots, and the quarter ended with the Yellow Jackets leading 16-15.

Though the Hurricanes hung in with Georgia Tech throughout the majority of the first half, Miami’s shots were significantly more rushed and not set up than that of the Yellow Jackets. 

The Yellow Jackets kicked off the third quarter with a ten point unanswered scoring run, taking Georgia Tech to a 47-34 lead. 

In an attempt to stage a comeback and switch up the lineup, Head Coach Tricia Cullop decided to put both powerhouse forwards, Natalija Marshall and Cameron Williams, on the court at the same time. While this strategy proved to work as they cut down the deficit and got the score to 57-51 (GT) to end the half, it was not enough to secure the victory for the Hurricanes.

Miami entered the fourth quarter with ferocity and discipline that allowed it to close the score gap to four points (63-59 GT). Yellow Jacket Freshman Dani Carnegie got hot in the final minutes of the game and buried Miami’s shot at a comeback win.

While the ‘Canes played their hearts out on the court throughout the game, this loss was especially painful as it was their first loss to Georgia Tech of their last seven matchups. The Hurricanes were outscored by the Yellow Jackets in every quarter, so the combination of their shots not dropping and having 16 turnovers created a bleak outcome for Miami.

Although Miami did not pull out the win in the end, Cameron Williams had a win of her own with her outstanding performance. She tallied 12 points and 16 rebounds, seven of them being offensive rebounds. Her key shot following allowed her to aid her teammates with putbacks that helped them stay in the game for a majority of the afternoon.

The Hurricanes look to redeem themselves as they head on the road to face Duke on Sunday.

Natalija Marshall scores last-second three to seal comeback win over Virginia

Regina Potenza
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Natalija Marshall scores last-second three to seal comeback win over Virginia

Entering the fourth quarter, the Miami Hurricanes had not held the lead over the Virginia Cavalier since the beginning of the first quarter. UM Coach Trisha Cullop realized UVA was picking on Miami’s shorter players. Cullop told forwards Natalija Marshall and Cameron WIlliams, “Suck it up. If you can stay in for the next seven minutes, I think we are going to win.” 

With 10 seconds left in the game, all the fans in the Watsco Center were standing and chanting as the ‘Canes trailed UVA by one point. Then, Marshall hit her second three-pointer of the night to push the ‘Canes into the lead. With three seconds to go, Hanna Cavinder took a defensive charge to secure Miami the 77-74 win.

This win empowered the ‘Canes as UVA’s leading scorer of the night, Latasha Lattimore, played for the ‘Canes last season under former UM coach Katie Meier. At the beginning of the game, Lattimore’s presence seemed to rattle the Hurricanes. Miami took an early lead two minutes into the first quarter, until Lattimore subbed into the game. Lattimore immediately blocked a shot by her former teammate Jasmyne Roberts, then led Virginia on a scoring run to take the lead, which they held onto until the fourth quarter. 

When asked about the players feelings surrounding Lattimore’s return to the Watsco, Cullop announced, “We want players who want to be here and, you know, we’ve got a whole locker room full of people that want to be Miami Hurricanes, and I am really proud of them.” 

Miami was down 15 points during the second quarter, and the fans sat in their seats dejected as hope for a comeback win continued to dwindle. According to Cullop, the only reason Miami stayed in the game was Haley Cavinder’s offensive plays throughout the first two quarters. Cullop said, “For the first half, she really carried us.” Cavinder ended the night with 22 points and 10 assists. 

The ‘Canes are now on a two-game win streak, and Cullop credits the back-to-back wins, and the fourth quarter comeback against UVA, to Marshall’s game play, saying, “She’s a difference maker.” Marshall was out for three games prior to UM’s current win streak, all of which the Hurricanes lost. Upon her return, the ‘Canes defeated SMU 70-63, then UVA. Cullop described Marshall’s presence as an intimidation factor when playing games, saying, “There’s a reason why every time we were on the road, the visiting team’s coach staff watched us get off the bus to see if she was on it.”

With SMU, Stanford, and Cal additions to the ACC, only the top 15 of 18 teams in the conference will make it to the ACC tournament. After Thursday’s win against UVA, Miami moved up the ACC rankings three spots to #11.

Miami will play Georgia Tech at home on Sunday, February 2nd at 2 p.m. Georgia Tech is ranked eighth in the ACC with a 5-4 conference record.

Men’s tennis gets back in the win column with dominant display over USF

Sebastian Font
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Men’s tennis gets back in the win column with dominant display over USF

After a winless away trip in New York, Miami’s men’s tennis team headed back home to steady the ship against the University of South Florida. And that’s exactly what the ’Canes did, advancing to 4-2 on the year after beating the USF Bulls 5-2 on Friday at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

Miami immediately jumped ahead by winning the double point in a commanding fashion with wins on all three courts.

Nacho Serra Sanchez and Leonardo Dal Boni defeated Hugo Car and Tom Pavlekovich Smith, 6-4, before Martin Katz and Antonio Prat followed suit in a 6-4 win against Elijah Cham and Stepan Mruzek to secure the doubles point. Mehdi Sadaoui and Jules Garot took down Ben Hudson and Ettore Danesi, 6-3, on court three.

Sophomore Leonardo Dal Boni saves the ball over the net. // Photo Credit: Bella Ochoa

Dal Boni secured the second point for the Hurricanes with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Gughi Verdese. Serra Sanchez extended the lead to 3-0 after a similarly dominant 6-4, 6-3 win over Danesi.

Prat continued his excellence for the Hurricanes, as he clinched the match for Miami with a 6-0, 7-5 win over Cham.

Despite the match being clinched, all the remaining games were allowed to finish which resulted in USF picking up two points with wins from Mruzek and Hudson over Garot and Sadaoui.

Senior Martin Katz aims to serve against USF. // Photo Credit: Bella Ochoa

The ’Canes finished strong, as Katz beat Car 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 to secure the final point of the match.

With this 5-2 win over USF, Miami will look to keep the momentum going as it hosts UCF at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center on Feb. 7 at noon.

Miami remains winless in ACC in loss to Virginia

Ali Campbell
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Miami remains winless in ACC in loss to Virginia

Coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to California, the Miami Hurricanes returned home to face the Virginia Cavaliers in another ACC matchup at the Watsco Center. The result was the same, as Miami fell 82-71, suffering their 10th straight loss on the season.

Early in the contest, the Hurricanes looked determined to win their first ACC game of the season, with five different players scoring to give Miami a 14-9 lead early. However, Virginia fired back with a 14-0 run, knocking down four straight three-pointers to give it a 23-14 lead with seven minutes to go in the half. 

Senior Brandon Johnson was able to weather the storm for a bit, knocking down his second three-pointer of the night to stop the run. But the Cavaliers continued to score efficiently, notching a 13-point lead before a late bucket from senior Matthew Cleveland cut the deficit to 11 going into the half at 40-29. 

Senior guard Matthew Cleveland shooting a shot in the air during the UM Men’s Basketball game vs the Virginia Cavaliers at the Watsco Center on Jan. 29, 2025. Photo Credit: Heather Suarez, Contributing Photographer

Out of the break, Miami once again looked determined, cutting the lead down to three at 47-44 with the help of scoring from four different Hurricanes. Freshman Austin Swartz knocked down a pair of three-pointers to play a key role in keeping Miami within striking range, but the Hurricanes could not close the gap and failed to lead at any point during the second half.     

It was the passing and the off-ball movement of the Cavaliers that posed the most challenges for Miami. Virginia’s Isaac McKneely and Taine Murray combined for 46 points on 17-of-29 shooting from the field, draining 10-of-18 shots from behind the arc, which proved to be too much for the Hurricanes. Sophomore Blake Buchanan dominated the paint, recording 16 points and nine rebounds. The Cavaliers shot 45.8% from beyond the arc as a unit, in comparison to just 31.6% by Miami. Unforced errors were also key in the loss, with Miami turning the ball over 11 total times in the contest.   

The University of Miami’s Spirit Squad performing during the UM Men’s Basketball game vs the Virginia Cavaliers at the Watsco Center on January 29, 2025.

Cleveland poured in 27 points to give him his eighth 20-point game of the season and to lead all players in points. Johnson was the only other Hurricane to reach double figures, totaling 13 points of his own, going 4-of-8 from the field to record his second-straight 10-point game of the season. 

Miami looks to end their 10-game losing streak on Saturday when it hosts the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Watsco Center at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.      

Several incoming ‘Canes move up in final recruiting rankings

Shea Mcdonald
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The Miami Hurricanes football 2025 recruiting class just got a little bit better in the eyes of scouts as several players saw their rankings increase in the most recent 247 recruiting rankings. 

Most notably, Hayden Lowe, the edge rusher out of California that Miami flipped from USC, was one of 10 new five-star recruits in the final rankings. Lowe finished as the number 2 rated edge rusher in the class after dominating the Navy All-American bowl, earning the honor as an “Alpha Dog” for his work in the practices. The 16th ranked prospect in this class, Lowe is the Canes’ highest rated recruit in the 2025 class. Lowe, who 247 likens to Kayvon Thibodeaux, dominated his senior season with 16 sacks and 59 total tackles, 18 of which were for a loss. His combination of burst and power at 6-5, 250 pounds could make him a high-level contributor for Miami. After landing five-star and third-rated defensive lineman Justin Scott in last year’s class, the Canes’ again land a big name in the defensive trenches. 

He wasn’t the only notable name to get a boost in the final rankings. One of high school’s most prolific passers, Luke Nickel, will finish as a four-star. The quarterback out of Alpharetta, Georgia, posted 44 touchdowns to seven interceptions and a QBR of 139.4 his senior year, earning the designation as a MaxPreps First-Team All-America on his way to a state championship in 2024. Nickel is expected to succeed Carson Beck as Miami’s starting QB in 2026. He draws some similarities to Beck as a great field general who can pick apart defense when on schedule and in rhythm. Joining Nickel will be his brother, tight end Jack Nickel, who is transferring in from UAB. With Carson Beck’s status for the spring game up in the air, it will be interesting to see how much Nickel will play.

Kellen Wiley, a linebacker out of Seffner, Florida, also moved up to be a four-star. Wiley, with the physicality and instincts to make run fits while also being able to drop into coverage, has the potential to be both an off-ball and on-ball linebacker. His senior year he totaled 75 tackles, 13 for loss, with seven sacks as well.

Miami at the end of the recruiting season finishes with the best class in the ACC for the third straight year and the 12th best class in the nation. Their 23 four-star recruits rank fourth in the nation and are five more than anyone else in the ACC. With the fifth-best transfer class on top of this and the spring window still yet to come, the Canes’ could climb even higher in the coming months. As for now, though, they have a promising future to build on the success of last year into something potentially more.

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