Mario Cristobal isn’t mincing words anymore - and he’s not leaving Miami’s College Football Playoff case up for interpretation either. After a one-on-one with Andy Staples earlier this week, Cristobal went on record with a clear message: the Hurricanes should be ranked ahead of Notre Dame. And he’s not just making noise - he’s pointing directly to the scoreboard.
Right now, Miami sits at No. 12 in the rankings, three spots behind No. 9 Notre Dame.
But here’s the kicker: Miami already beat the Irish, 27-24, in a physical, down-to-the-wire battle back on August 31st. For Cristobal, that head-to-head win isn’t just a footnote - it’s the headline.
“We did a better job,” he said, making it clear that in his view, results on the field should still mean something in the playoff conversation.
And if you’ve been watching this Miami team closely, there’s a case to be made. The Hurricanes have grown week by week, sharpening their identity on both sides of the ball.
They’ve leaned into a tough, physical brand of football - a style that travels well in November and December. More importantly, they’ve shown they can win tight games under pressure, a trait that tends to carry weight with the CFP selection committee when it comes time to separate contenders from pretenders.
Notre Dame, to be fair, has its own set of credentials - big wins over USC and Pittsburgh jump off the page. But Cristobal’s argument isn’t about tearing the Irish down. It’s about making sure the Hurricanes get credit for what they’ve already done - including beating the team ranked ahead of them.
This public push from Cristobal isn’t just about rankings, either. It’s a statement of intent.
Miami isn’t content to be on the outside looking in anymore. This is a program that believes it's ready to step back into the national spotlight, not as a nostalgic nod to the past, but as a legitimate player in the playoff race right now.
Whether the committee agrees is still up in the air. But one thing’s for sure - Cristobal has put the conversation on notice.
Miami’s not just knocking on the door. They’re demanding it be opened.
And with the final stretch of the season upon us, the playoff picture just got a lot more interesting.