Miami’s CFP Case: Dan Radakovich Makes His Pitch, and the Numbers Back Him Up
As the College Football Playoff committee prepares to lock in its final rankings, Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich is making sure the Hurricanes aren’t forgotten in the shuffle. And he’s not just talking - he’s pointing directly to the scoreboard.
In his weekly newsletter, Radakovich, who spent four years inside the CFP committee room himself, reminded everyone of a key data point that’s hard to ignore: Miami beat Notre Dame. Not in some throwaway midseason game.
In Week 1. Under the lights at Hard Rock Stadium.
Final score: 27-24. That win kickstarted what’s turned into a strong season for the Hurricanes - and Radakovich wants to make sure that moment still matters when the committee makes its final call.
“I served on the CFP committee for four years, so I know firsthand what a difficult job it is,” Radakovich wrote. “You spend weeks ranking teams, discussing strengths and weaknesses, parsing through data points and - most importantly - watching games.
Remember those two-loss teams I mentioned? We beat one of them.”
That “one of them” is Notre Dame, currently sitting at No. 9 in the CFP rankings, while Miami checks in at No. 12.
Both teams are 10-2. But only one of them won the head-to-head matchup - and that’s the part Radakovich is underscoring.
The Case for the Canes
Let’s break this down. Miami and Notre Dame have identical records.
But Miami owns the head-to-head win. That alone should carry weight - and in many past cases, the committee has said as much.
When resumes are close, head-to-head is supposed to be a tiebreaker. So why is Notre Dame ahead?
Miami’s resume is more than just one marquee win. The Hurricanes have been dominant down the stretch.
They’ve won their last four games by a combined score of 151-41. That’s not just winning - that’s controlling games on both sides of the ball.
Defensively, Miami ranks 12th in the country in total defense. Offensively, they’re 29th.
That kind of balance is what you want to see from a top-tier team. And eight of their 10 wins have come by 17 points or more.
That’s not squeaking by - that’s imposing your will.
What’s Next?
Neither Miami nor Notre Dame is playing this weekend. The Hurricanes didn’t qualify for the ACC Championship Game, and Notre Dame, as an Independent, doesn’t have a conference title to chase.
So the resumes are locked. No more chances to impress.
No more statement wins to be made.
That puts the spotlight squarely on the committee. They’ve honored head-to-head results in the past. Will they do it again?
Radakovich clearly hopes so. And given his experience inside that room - knowing how the conversations go, how the decisions are made - his words carry weight.
He’s not just advocating for his team. He’s reminding the committee of its own standards.
Bottom Line
Miami beat Notre Dame. The records are the same.
The Hurricanes have been dominant lately, and they’ve got the statistical profile to back it up. If the committee is serious about rewarding head-to-head wins and strong finishes, Miami has a legitimate case to move up.
Now it’s up to the committee to decide if that Week 1 win still matters in Week 14. Radakovich believes it should.
And honestly? He’s got a point.