The Miami Hurricanes’ College Football Playoff quarterfinal clash against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve wasn’t just a showcase of athletic prowess—it was also a spotlight on the personal lives and off-field stories swirling around quarterback Carson Beck and his former girlfriend, ex-Miami basketball star Hanna Cavinder. As confetti rained down on the eve of 2026, the intersection of sports, celebrity, and social media was on full display, captivating fans far beyond the gridiron.
Carson Beck’s journey to this high-stakes playoff moment has been nothing short of dramatic. After five years with the Georgia Bulldogs—where he backed up during the team’s national championship runs in 2021 and 2022—Beck made headlines with his transfer to Miami in early 2025. The move, which surprised many in the college football world, was reportedly influenced in part by his relationship with Hanna Cavinder. The couple had publicly celebrated Beck’s arrival in Coral Gables, even posting a video together holding up the signature Miami “U” symbol. For a brief moment, it seemed like a storybook transition: Beck, the promising quarterback, and Cavinder, the social media-savvy basketball star, taking on Miami together.
But as 2025 unfolded, the fairytale took a turn. In April, Hanna Cavinder announced on social media that she and Carson Beck had broken up. The news sent shockwaves through both college football and basketball circles, especially as rumors swirled about the reasons behind the split. Some speculated about infidelity on Beck’s part, but Cavinder set the record straight in a candid vlog with influencer Kai Trump and her twin sister, Haley. “Nobody likes him,” Hanna stated. “I broke up with him and all this cheating s*** came out, I had no idea. I didn’t break up with him because he was cheating, I broke up with him because of who he was.”
The breakup became fodder for social media, sports talk shows, and even locker room banter. Adding to the drama, shortly after Beck’s move to Miami, his luxury vehicles—a Lamborghini and a Mercedes—were stolen from the home he was sharing with Cavinder. The cars were never recovered, compounding the off-field distractions for the newly minted Hurricanes quarterback.
Through it all, Beck remained mostly silent about the split, even as Cavinder’s comments went viral. It wasn’t until an October 1, 2025, feature interview with ESPN’s Andrea Adelson that Beck addressed the situation. He spoke candidly about the challenges of navigating a public breakup while trying to focus on football and recover from an elbow injury suffered during the SEC Championship game the previous season. “You make mistakes as a person, but it sucks that you have to go through something like that with someone that you care about, and now it’s all over the Internet,” Beck told ESPN. “Half of what you see in the media is true, half of what you see is not true. So, people pick their side of the story and run with it. The people that know the truth know the truth. But it’s been difficult.”
Beck also confirmed in that interview that he hadn’t spoken to Cavinder since the breakup, emphasizing his focus on personal growth and soul searching. “It sucks that you have to go through something like that with someone that you care about, and now it’s all over the Internet,” he reiterated, highlighting the mental toll of living life under the microscope of college sports fame.
Meanwhile, Hanna Cavinder has charted her own course following the split. No longer playing basketball at Miami, she’s turned her attention to entrepreneurial ventures and social media, closing in on one million Instagram followers. On New Year’s Eve, she and her twin sister Haley posted a stylish Instagram reel, transitioning from gym wear to dazzling party outfits to ring in 2026. The caption—"NYE OOTN"—and the sisters’ glamorous ensembles quickly garnered attention, with Hanna in a burgundy sequin gown and Haley in a silver satin two-piece. The Cavinder twins’ ability to command the spotlight, both on and off the court, remains as strong as ever.
As the Hurricanes took the field at the Cotton Bowl, the Beck family was also in the limelight. Carson’s sister, Kylie Beck, who left Georgia after a season as a Bulldogs cheerleader, turned heads in Texas with her Miami-themed outfit. Sporting a custom skirt and a vibrant top in Hurricanes colors, Kylie cheered on her brother from the stands, her support unwavering through a season marked by both triumph and turmoil. "Howdy Texas," she posted, embracing the playoff atmosphere and showing that family loyalty runs deep, even as the spotlight burns bright.
For Carson Beck, the 2025 season has been a testament to resilience. Despite the off-field noise and personal setbacks—including the highly publicized breakup and the theft of his cars—he has led Miami to the College Football Playoff, earning respect from teammates and fans alike. His journey from Georgia backup to Miami starter, and now playoff quarterback, is a narrative filled with unexpected twists, personal growth, and a relentless drive to succeed.
The Hurricanes’ matchup with Ohio State at the Cotton Bowl is still unfolding, and the outcome remains uncertain as of press time. On the field, Beck’s focus is clear: to deliver for his team and prove that he belongs among college football’s elite. Off the field, his story—intertwined with that of Hanna Cavinder—serves as a reminder of the pressures and scrutiny faced by today’s student-athletes. Both Beck and Cavinder have confronted adversity in the public eye, each handling the aftermath in their own way.
As 2026 begins, the intersection of sports, celebrity, and social media shows no signs of slowing down. Whether it’s the Cavinder twins dazzling on Instagram, Kylie Beck’s show-stopping game day looks, or Carson Beck’s determination to rise above the noise, the stories behind the athletes continue to capture the imagination of fans everywhere. The Cotton Bowl quarterfinal may be the headline event, but the real drama—and inspiration—often plays out far from the field.
With the playoff action ongoing and both the Hurricanes and Buckeyes battling for a spot in the semifinals, all eyes remain fixed on Dallas. For Carson Beck and those closest to him, the new year offers a chance for fresh starts, new opportunities, and perhaps, a little less drama—at least until the next viral post.
