Carson Beck Leads Miami Into Title Clash Amid Eligibility Debate

When the Miami Hurricanes storm the field at Hard Rock Stadium tonight, all eyes will be on Carson Beck—the 23-year-old quarterback whose journey through college football has become a story of resilience, controversy, and a touch of modern-day spectacle. Beck, now in his sixth and final year of NCAA eligibility, will lead Miami against the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship. But as much as the game itself has captured national attention, it’s Beck’s unique status as a student-athlete—or, depending on whom you ask, a full-time football professional—that’s sparked heated debate from Coral Gables to college campuses nationwide.

Beck’s college football odyssey began back in 2020, when the four-star recruit from Jacksonville, Florida, enrolled at the University of Georgia. He was part of the Bulldogs’ national championship teams in 2021 and 2022, and though he never quite cemented himself as the starting quarterback, he contributed in meaningful ways. The 2024 season, however, brought heartbreak: a season-ending UCL injury to his right elbow during the postseason. It seemed, for a moment, that his college career might end there. Beck initially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, but with a final year of eligibility—thanks in part to the NCAA’s COVID-19 relief policy—he made the bold decision to transfer to Miami as a graduate student.

“Obviously, I’ve been working towards other degrees now that I’ve gotten to Miami, but 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 title game. His honesty about his academic status has been both lauded and lampooned, especially after he confirmed, with a smile and a laugh, “No class. I graduated two years ago.” According to ESPN and other outlets, Beck completed his undergraduate degree at Georgia in August 2024. Then, as a graduate transfer, he enrolled in additional degree programs at Miami. Reporter Tim Reynolds confirmed that Beck “got three A’s at Miami last semester. Yes, he took classes.”

But here’s where things get interesting. Miami’s spring semester resumed the week of January 13, 2026, yet Beck did not enroll in any new classes. “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 clarified. Beck himself echoed this, saying, “No class. I graduated two years ago.” The NCAA’s rules permit athletes who have not exhausted their eligibility to compete after graduation, provided they’re enrolled as graduate students. In Beck’s case, he fulfilled these requirements for the fall and is now simply riding out his eligibility—not as a traditional student, but as a quarterback with a singular focus: winning a national title.

And what a ride it’s been for Miami, a team that squeaked into the playoff as the No. 10 seed. Many doubted their chances after a 10-2 regular season, but a crucial head-to-head victory over Notre Dame punched their ticket. Beck’s leadership and experience—he’ll be making his 55th college appearance tonight—have been invaluable to the Hurricanes’ Cinderella run. For context, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, didn’t appear in his 55th combined college and pro game until midway through his rookie NFL season. That’s the level of experience Beck brings to the table.

Yet, the conversation around Beck hasn’t been limited to his on-field exploits. The revelation that he’s not attending classes this spring, despite being on the roster, has ignited debate about the true nature of college athletics in 2026. Social media erupted after Beck’s comments, with some fans lamenting, “College football is dead,” while others shrugged it off as business as usual. Beck, for his part, hasn’t tried to hide the reality. “I live at the football team’s facility,” he admitted. “That’s about it.”

The financial side of Beck’s story is equally eye-opening. Miami is paying him an estimated $3.1 million in NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) money this season, according to On3, while some reports suggest the figure could be as high as $4 million. This arrangement has allowed Beck to operate as a de facto professional football player while still technically enrolled in college. “Students pay to learn. In Beck’s case, the school is paying him $4 million to play football,” one columnist wrote. “Would you go to class?” It’s a fair question, and one that speaks volumes about the evolving landscape of college sports.

Beck isn’t alone in this new era. Indiana’s starters, including quarterback Fernando Mendoza, are also seasoned veterans—most between 22 and 25 years old, many of whom aren’t attending spring classes either. The NCAA’s COVID-19 relief policies, coupled with the explosion of NIL deals, have blurred the lines between student and athlete more than ever before. For Beck, the focus has been singular: “Rather than put his nose into a textbook, Beck has spent his time by putting his nose into a playbook.”

Still, the NCAA’s eligibility rules remain clear. Beck’s redshirt year in 2020, combined with the blanket COVID-19 waiver, granted him two “free” years on top of the standard four years of eligibility. As long as he was enrolled as a graduate student in the fall, he was eligible to play in tonight’s championship game. Whether or not he finishes his graduate degree is irrelevant to his eligibility status. The rules, for now, are on his side.

As the Hurricanes prepare for what could be their first national title since 2001—or Indiana’s first ever—Beck’s story serves as a microcosm of the shifting priorities in college sports. Is he the last of a dying breed, or the prototype for a new generation of full-time college athletes? That’s a question fans and administrators will be debating long after the final whistle blows.

For now, though, the spotlight remains on Beck and his Miami teammates as they chase history at Hard Rock Stadium. The action is just heating up, and with Beck calling the shots, anything feels possible for “The U.”