Miami Carries the ACC’s Playoff Hopes as CFP Sticks with 12-Team Format
The College Football Playoff is staying at 12 teams - at least for now. That decision, confirmed as the dust settles on the 2025 season, has major implications for conferences across the country. And for the ACC, it puts the spotlight squarely on one team: Miami.
The Hurricanes were the conference’s lone representative in the CFP this past season, sneaking in as a 10-seed and making a run all the way to the national championship game. It was a breakthrough moment for a program that’s been chasing a return to national prominence for years - and now, they might be the ACC’s only realistic shot at staying in the playoff picture next season.
A Tug-of-War Between Power Conferences
Before we get into Miami’s path forward, it’s worth understanding how we got here. The SEC and Big Ten - the two most powerful leagues in college football - couldn’t agree on how to expand the CFP beyond 12 teams.
The SEC pushed for a 16-team format, one that could’ve included guarantees for conferences like the ACC. But the Big Ten wasn’t satisfied with that.
They wanted to go even bigger - a 24-team playoff by the end of the decade.
That proposal didn’t sit well with the SEC, which feared that a larger bracket could dilute the strength of its top-tier programs or open the door for more upsets. In the end, with no consensus reached, the 12-team model will remain in place for 2026.
That decision leaves the ACC in a precarious position. Without a guaranteed spot or expanded access, the conference’s best - and maybe only - chance at sending a team to the playoff is to produce a clear-cut champion that can compete on the national stage. Enter Miami.
Hurricanes Rise Amid ACC Chaos
This past season was chaotic for the ACC. The conference’s tiebreaker system came under fire after a logjam at the top of the standings created confusion and controversy.
Duke, of all teams, emerged from the mess, thanks to a tiebreaker that didn’t prioritize win totals or national rankings. But the Blue Devils did the league a massive favor by upsetting Virginia in the conference title game - a result that cleared the way for Miami to be the ACC’s lone CFP selection.
It was a strange turn of events, but Miami took full advantage. And now, with the playoff format locked in, the Hurricanes know exactly what they need to do to get back: win the ACC. No drama, no tiebreaker chaos - just win the conference outright.
That’s something Miami hasn’t done since joining the ACC in 2004. But next season, they’ll enter as the odds-on favorite. With a talented roster, a proven coaching staff led by Mario Cristobal, and the momentum of a deep playoff run, the Hurricanes are positioned to make a statement - both for themselves and for the ACC.
Betting Markets Back the ‘Canes
The sportsbooks are already taking notice. FanDuel has Miami tied with Texas A&M for the 9th-best odds to win the national championship in 2026.
At -1600, they’re the only ACC team listed among the top 20 contenders. That’s not just a nod to their talent - it’s a reflection of how the rest of the country views the ACC’s strength (or lack thereof).
In short, the path is clear: if Miami wants to get back to the playoff, they’ll likely have to do it alone. And if the ACC wants to remain relevant in the CFP conversation, it’s going to need the Hurricanes to carry the banner once again.
Cristobal’s program has a chance to not just win, but to lead. A conference title would be historic for Miami - their first in the ACC - and it would send a loud message that the road to the playoff, at least for one more year, still runs through Coral Gables.