I’ve never been a huge football fan. You can start tracking your points against me now. But it’s true. Despite living in the great state of Ohio and having friends who attended the Ohio State University, I can’t seem to understand the sport. What’s fun about tackling people with your body and running across a field?
This week, however, football caught my eye. How so? Because faith was brought to the forefront of the picture. Recently, Miami Football’s public faith didn’t just take me back, but it also encouraged me. Because when a national championship run hits the newsstands, it doesn’t just spotlight talent; it magnifies culture.
Picture this: You’ve just won the biggest game of the year, and one of your lead quarterbacks speaks openly about his faith. Then, the team huddles around him and prays together after a pivotal win. The focus isn’t on football or even the teammates. The focus is on their God.
But in an era where public faith is often discouraged or privatized, these moments are intentionally visible and interesting. Are these moments real or just for show? Are they really glorifying God or bringing attention to themselves and their team? Moreover, why are these moments resonating so strongly right now, especially with Gen Z?
A Foundation of Faith Off the Field
The Miami Football team hasn’t won the national championship yet, but they are preparing for the game mentally, physically, and spiritually. In a recent interview on Instagram, one of their leading quarterbacks shared his faith. The team was then later seen praying together after their previous win.
The Canes Football page, the official IG of the University of Miami Hurricanes Football team, posts frequently, occasionally allowing players to speak openly about their faith without being prompted. While UM is a private, secular research university and not a Christian school, we’re seeing success framed with humility rather than entitlement.
According to Carson Beck, playing football while being in college is hard work, but relying on the Lord is how he makes it through: “Throughout this year, the biggest thing that God has taught me is just to trust in Him and His plan.” Beck shared these words amid the Fiesta Bowl spotlight on January 8th, and continued to share his words through open and recent media interviews.
After going through injury rehab that left him in a brace in March, Beck said focusing on his identity in Christ is what allowed him to navigate life’s most difficult question marks. And Beck isn’t the only one. Fellow quarterback Franc Mauigoa recently reported to Accessthewalk that God’s plan is better: “God gives His best battles to His best warriors. If somewhere you’re like confused on what your purpose is, just know to lean back on God. He’s always there for us and is always our helper.”
As a team, Miami is known for praying after wins and losses. Their faith is presented as grounding, not performative. And as Mauigoa notes, “Sometimes, when we get confused, we just need to sit there and talk to God. Show me what to do and what your will is. More than ever, it’s a plan that’s better than what we think.” Not only that, but CBN reported their head coach giving credit to God after advancing to this most recent championship game:
“The big man upstairs. Thank God for everything. Always. First and foremost. Always. Always.”
While this faith culture isn’t a new phenomenon in sports, it feels different in today’s cultural climate. And honestly, it feels right.
Faith and College Athletics
College football has long included visible faith expressions from painted faces to prayers in public. Individuals like Tim Tebow, Patrick Mahomes, and Christian McCaffrey are a few who come to mind when it comes to "tebowing.”
What’s shifted, however, is that social media is recently making many of these private moments public. Things like opening prayers or pauses during the middle of challenging games are being televised. Often, athletes even control their own narratives—especially Gen Z athletes. Why?
Gen Z athletes tend to reject institutional pressure, embrace authenticity, and speak openly about mental, emotional, and spiritual grounding. According to Harvest, Greg Laurie’s blog, Gen Z is hungry for God and becoming more and more religious.
Again, while Miami University isn’t a Christian University, it appears that they are producing many Christians of strong faith and resilience. Miami is the home to more than 25 student organizations related to religion, spirituality, and meaning-making, including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and secular groups.
UM isn’t operating in a vacuum: They have active Christian campus ministries and faith-based student organizations such as Cru and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, to name a few. But the difference is that these faith expressions are genuine. Not built or based on appearance, but authenticity and vulnerability.
As a result, many athletes grow through peer-led groups, voluntary prayer circles, and local campus ministries rather than official athletic programs. Players like Beck and Mauigoa are just two members who make up a strong team of believers from varying religious backgrounds. And when faith participation is student-led, not institutionally enforced, beautiful faith often results.
Standing Firm for Christ On and Off the Field
Like me, maybe you don’t like football. Maybe it even bores you to death. But here’s why this matters. This matters because for Gen Z, faith often functions as an anchor during pressure. It’s not a shortcut, and it’s not for show, but it’s a framework for handling it. And I applaud each of these men for sharing their faith. It’s not on me to judge or articulate if it’s honest faith or not. That’s between them and the Lord.
What I do know is that we need to encourage them in this bold faith. Keep the prayers going. Keep giving glory, credit, and honor to God. Keep praying publicly and privately. In wins and losses. Be a model to others.
Because these faith actions aren’t about winning favor with God. They’re about learning to ground yourself in His truth (win or lose), having and expressing gratitude, and keeping the right and humble perspective.
Today, it really doesn’t matter if you like football or not. But what does matter is the state of your heart. We might be tempted to assume XYZ when we see athletes praying. But what might we be missing by doing that? Are we uncomfortable with public faith because of coercion fears, or because belief itself feels unfamiliar now? These are healthy questions and fears, I believe we can all wrestle with.
As I close my laptop for the day, an IG reel of this football team pops up on my screen. They’re praying in a huddle after losing a game. And instead of judging them or the game, I smile.
Win or lose, these athletes are modeling something rare: identity rooted beyond outcome. Maybe the story isn’t about whether faith belongs in football, but whether we still recognize and validate faith when it shows up. Quietly, humbly, and authentically.
A Prayer to Play for the Glory of God
Dear Jesus,
When we see faith events in the news, it reminds us that our job isn’t to judge. If people see you because of prayer in football, then so be it. Align our hearts and minds with yours as we continue to trust you, and be with these believers as they take a public stand for their faith.
In Jesus’ Name we pray.
Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Norm Hall / Stringer
