Miami Lands at No. 53 in All-Time College Football Playoff Rankings - But That Feels Low
The Miami Hurricanes are heading into the College Football Playoff with a 10-2 record, a top-10 efficiency rating, and a defense that’s looked like it belongs in a title game. But according to a newly released all-time CFP team ranking, they’re sitting at No. 53 out of 64.
That’s right - 53rd. And if you’re a Hurricanes fan, you’re probably doing a double take.
The list, which ranks every team to ever make the College Football Playoff, places the 2025 Hurricanes between the 2024 Indiana Hoosiers and this year’s Texas A&M squad. For a team that’s been one of the most complete units in the country this season, that’s a placement that’s going to raise some eyebrows in Coral Gables - and maybe beyond.
Why the Low Ranking?
At the heart of the ranking is a familiar narrative for Miami: inconsistency in big moments. The Hurricanes were rolling early and late in the season, but a midseason stumble - including turnover-heavy losses to Louisville and SMU - hurt their standing.
In those games, quarterback Carson Beck struggled mightily, and the offense couldn’t get out of its own way. The defense kept things competitive, but the team as a whole didn’t respond well when the pressure ratcheted up.
That’s the knock. And it’s not entirely unfair - Miami hasn’t yet proven it can win the kind of tight, high-stakes games that define the playoff.
But even with those blemishes, it’s hard to look at this team and not see a higher ceiling than No. 53.
The Case for the Canes
Let’s start with the defense. It’s been one of the most aggressive, disciplined units in the country.
From the front seven to the secondary, Miami has the kind of personnel that can disrupt even the most balanced offenses. They’ve shown they can make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks and force offenses into uncomfortable spots.
That alone gives them a fighting chance against anyone in the bracket.
On the other side of the ball, when things are clicking, this offense hums. Carson Beck, despite the rough patches, has had stretches of high-level efficiency, and Malachi Toney has emerged as a game-breaking weapon on the outside. When they’re in rhythm, this unit can go toe-to-toe with anyone.
The question - and it’s a fair one - is whether they can string together four quarters of that kind of football when it matters most. That’s what separates good playoff teams from great ones.
Who’s Ranked Ahead?
What really jumps off the page is some of the company Miami finds itself behind. Teams like 2024 Arizona State (who bowed out in the quarterfinals), 2014 Florida State (blown out 59-20 by Oregon), and 2018 Notre Dame (lost 30-3 to Clemson) are all ranked higher.
Those are teams that, once they hit the playoff stage, got exposed in a big way. Miami hasn’t even taken a playoff snap yet, and they’re already being grouped with squads that were clearly outmatched.
Even within the 2024 and 2025 playoff field, Miami is looking up at a long list of teams:
- No. 9: 2024 Ohio State (10-2)
- No. 16: 2025 Indiana (13-0)
- No. 22: 2025 Ohio State (11-1)
- No. 23: 2024 Oregon (13-1)
- No. 25: 2024 Notre Dame (11-2)
- No. 30: 2025 Texas Tech (11-1)
- No. 32: 2025 Oregon (11-1)
- No. 33: 2025 Georgia (12-1)
- No. 34: 2024 Georgia (11-3)
- No. 36: 2024 Texas (13-3)
- No. 39: 2024 Penn State (13-3)
- No. 47: 2025 Ole Miss (11-1)
- No. 50: 2025 Texas A&M (11-1)
- No. 51: 2024 Tennessee (10-3)
- No. 52: 2024 Arizona State (11-3)
That’s a deep list, and it reflects how the expanded playoff field has changed the landscape. More teams are getting in, and the rankings lean heavily toward the four-team era, where selection was more exclusive and the bar to entry was higher. That context matters - and it’s part of why Miami’s ranking may look lower than expected.
Group of Five Teams in the Mix
Even among Group of Five programs, there’s one notable team ahead of Miami: 2021 Cincinnati, who went 13-1, beat Notre Dame, and earned a semifinal shot against Alabama. That Bearcats team was well-coached, disciplined, and earned its place. But it’s still a reminder that Miami, despite its talent and pedigree, still has work to do to prove it belongs among the CFP elite.
Other G5 teams like 2025 Tulane, 2024 Boise State, and 2025 James Madison are all ranked below Miami - as they should be - but it underscores how the rankings are less about potential and more about what’s already been proven.
A Chance to Rewrite the Narrative
The good news for Miami? These rankings aren’t set in stone.
As noted, the list is a snapshot - a pre-playoff look at where each team stands heading into the postseason. And Miami has a golden opportunity to climb that ladder, starting with a first-round matchup against Texas A&M.
Win that game, and the conversation changes. Make a deep run, and suddenly No. 53 starts to feel like a distant memory.
For now, the Hurricanes are sitting in a spot that doesn’t quite reflect the talent they’ve put on the field or the upside they bring into the playoff. But the postseason is where reputations are made - and Miami’s chance to prove the doubters wrong is right in front of them.