Miami Cracks Top 12, But the CFP Door Is Still Just Ajar
Miami wrapped up its regular season with authority, steamrolling Pitt and making a loud final statement. But as the dust settles, the Hurricanes find themselves in a familiar - and frustrating - position: on the edge of the College Football Playoff picture, sitting at No. 12 in the latest rankings. Close enough to see the bracket, but not quite safe inside.
Let’s break down where things stand, what’s working for Miami, and what still needs to fall into place.
Where Miami Lands in the Latest CFP Rankings
The fifth set of CFP rankings dropped Tuesday, and there were no major surprises at the top. Ohio State held firm at No. 1, with unbeaten Indiana right behind at No.
- Georgia and Texas Tech round out the top four - all still in line for those coveted first-round byes in the 12-team format.
The next tier is where things get interesting. Oregon leads the second group at No. 5, followed by Ole Miss, Texas A&M (who slipped from No.
3), Oklahoma, Alabama, and Notre Dame. BYU and Miami round out the top 12, with the Hurricanes checking in as the highest-ranked ACC team.
That’s a big deal. But it’s also a precarious place to be.
Miami vs. Notre Dame: Still No Love from the Committee
The biggest talking point for Miami fans continues to be the committee’s refusal to give the Canes credit for their head-to-head win over Notre Dame. Both teams are 10-2.
Both have comparable resumes. But for the fifth straight week, the Irish remain ahead in the rankings.
This time, though, there was a glimmer of hope in the committee’s language.
When CFP Chair Hunter Yurachek spoke with Rece Davis after the rankings were revealed, he didn’t shut the door on Miami’s case. Asked whether the Notre Dame-Miami debate was settled, Yurachek said the committee will “re-rank the top 25 teams” after the championship games and “we’ll see where they fall.”
Translation: nothing is set in stone. The final weekend still matters - and for Miami, that’s both a lifeline and a warning.
What Miami Needs to Get In
Let’s be clear: Miami’s in the mix, but the margin for error is razor-thin. Here’s what has to happen for the Hurricanes to feel good about hearing their name on Selection Sunday.
1. Stay Ahead of Texas and Other Lurkers
Texas is right behind Miami, but the Longhorns have a big problem: they lost to Florida, a common opponent Miami beat. That gives the Hurricanes a strong comparative edge - and unless chaos erupts, Texas likely can’t leapfrog them without some serious help.
Still, this is the CFP committee we’re talking about. Miami can’t afford to give them a reason to second-guess that head-to-head logic.
2. Hope for a Shakeup in the 8-11 Range
This is where things get dicey. Notre Dame is sitting at No. 10, occupying the final at-large slot. Alabama and BYU are lurking just ahead of Miami, and all three schools could be vulnerable depending on how championship weekend plays out.
For Miami to move up, they’ll likely need at least one - maybe two - of those teams to take a hit. And not just lose. Lose convincingly enough that the committee has no choice but to slide them down.
The Bottom Line
Miami did its part in the regular season finale. Now, the Hurricanes are scoreboard-watching like the rest of us. They’re in the top 12, but barely - and with the committee showing a willingness to overlook head-to-head results, nothing is guaranteed.
Championship weekend is going to be pivotal. If the right teams stumble, Miami could find itself punching a ticket to the CFP. If not, they’ll be left wondering what more they could’ve done.
One thing’s for sure: the Canes are close. Now, they just need the door to open a crack wider.