[1] Kaaya was named the Hurricanes starting quarterback as a true freshman over Jake Heaps by head coach Al Golden on August 24, 2014.
Miami finished the 2016 season with a 9–4 record and a win over West Virginia in the 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl.
Kaaya was named bowl MVP and became Miami's all-time leader in nearly every passing statistic, including yards.
On January 2, 2017, Kaaya announced that he would be entering the 2017 NFL draft rather than returning to Miami for his final season of eligibility.
[19] Kaaya's mother, Angela Means, is a vegan cook and former actress, who is best known for her role as Felisha in the 1995 classic film Friday as well as Veda in House Party 3 and Aunt Vanessa in the TV series Cousin Skeeter.
[20][21] His father Brad Kaaya Sr. coached him in Pop Warner football and is a former screenwriter who wrote for the film O and the TV series Cousin Skeeter, Damon, and MADtv.