Miami Hurricanes Stuck at No. 12 as Playoff Picture Tightens Ahead of Championship Weekend
Two straight 10-2 seasons. Two years in a row on the outside looking in. For the Miami Hurricanes, the script feels all too familiar-and it's playing out again as Championship Weekend looms.
Despite a strong season, Miami finds itself stuck at No. 12 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The Canes didn’t budge this week, even as the teams around them shuffled positions in a chaotic final stretch.
With limited time and even fewer opportunities left, their path to the Playoff is now almost entirely out of their hands. Simply put, they need help-specifically, losses from Alabama and/or BYU-to have a shot at sliding into contention.
Let’s break it down.
The Rankings Shake-Up: Who Moved and Who Didn’t
While Miami stood still, the rest of the board was anything but static. Utah took the biggest tumble, falling to No. 15 after a tough loss.
Texas, meanwhile, surged to No. 13 thanks to a statement win over Texas A&M-who themselves now sit at No. 7.
That result gave the Longhorns one of the most impactful jumps of the week and further complicated the logjam in the 10-2 crowd.
Notre Dame’s drop to No. 10 and Alabama’s climb to No. 9 were two of the more eye-opening developments. Alabama, now ahead of both BYU (No. 11) and Miami, continues to benefit from strength of schedule and late-season momentum-two things the committee clearly values.
Here’s how the current top 15 shakes out:
- Ohio State (12-0)
- Indiana (12-0)
- Georgia (11-1)
- Texas Tech (11-1)
- Oregon (11-1)
- Ole Miss (11-1)
- Texas A&M (11-1)
- Oklahoma (10-2)
- Alabama (10-2)
- Notre Dame (10-2)
- BYU (11-1)
- Miami (10-2)
- Texas (9-3)
- Vanderbilt (10-2)
- Utah (10-2)
What stands out here is just how crowded the field is with 10-2 teams-and how Miami, despite a consistent season, hasn’t been able to leapfrog any of them. The committee’s message is clear: wins matter, but quality wins matter more.
Miami’s Steady Climb-And Sudden Stall
To be fair, Miami has done a lot right this season. They climbed from No. 18 in Week 1 to No. 12 by Week 4-and they’ve held that spot ever since.
But the plateau is telling. While other programs have picked up marquee wins or surged late, Miami’s résumé hasn’t shifted the committee’s perception.
Here’s a look at their ranking progression:
- Week 1: No. 18
- Week 2: No. 15
- Week 3: No. 13
- Week 4: No. 12
- Week 5: No. 12
The Canes have been consistent, but in a season where chaos has reigned, consistency might not be enough.
What Needs to Happen
With no more games to play before the final rankings, Miami’s Playoff hopes rest on the performances of others. Alabama and BYU are the biggest dominoes. If either team stumbles this weekend, the door could open-just slightly-for Miami to sneak in.
But that’s a big “if.” Alabama is trending upward, and BYU has been one of the most efficient teams in the country. Miami’s best-case scenario might require both to lose, and even then, there’s no guarantee the committee would vault the Hurricanes into the top four-or even the top six.
The Committee’s Role
The 2025-26 College Football Playoff Committee features a mix of athletic directors, former coaches, and football minds, including:
- Hunter Yurachek (Arkansas AD, Committee Chair)
- Chris Ault (Former Head Coach)
- Troy Dannen (Nebraska AD)
- Mark Dantonio (Former Head Coach)
- Jeff Long (Former Committee Chair)
- Ivan Maisel (Sportswriter)
- Chris Massaro (MTSU AD)
- Mike Riley (Former Head Coach)
- David Sayler (Miami of Ohio AD)
- Wesley Walls (CFB Hall of Famer)
- Carla Williams (Virginia AD)
- Mark Harlan (Utah AD)
This group has emphasized strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and late-season momentum throughout the year. That doesn’t bode well for a Miami team that’s been solid-but not spectacular-in recent weeks.
The Bottom Line
The Hurricanes have done just about everything they could this season. But in a year where 10-2 records are the norm, not the exception, they’re caught in a numbers game that may not fall their way. Championship Weekend is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent memory-not because Miami is playing, but because their future depends on what happens elsewhere.
For now, all the Hurricanes can do is watch, wait, and hope that the chaos of college football still has one more twist left.