What are the Miami Hurricanes College Football Playoff Metrics?

The Miami Hurricanes passed ACC Rival Clemson in the College Football Playoff rankings and moved up to the second-ranked team in the country.

The win over Virginia this past week showed the Miami Hurricanes mettle and ability to come back. Clearly, the College Football Playoff committee was impressed. The move up is important for the Canes. It gives them more room based on what happens the last two weeks.

CFP Committee Chair and Former Miami Hurricanes Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt were impressed by the Hurricanes twice coming back from 14 point deficits. The committee felt like it was enough separation for the Hurricanes to pass Clemson. He told ESPN that the Hurricanes had the qualities of a championship team.

Fans and the media often want to see dominance, but Miami has shown the ability to win the close games. Their win over Syracuse and Clemson’s loss to the Orange finally paid dividends for the Hurricanes. Although Miami defeated Syracuse at home and the Tigers lost to them on the road.

The Hurricanes have a lot of metrics in their favor as the committee has two more meetings before determining who the four teams are that make the College Football Playoff in two weeks. A lot can happen this weekend and in the Conference Championship games a week from Saturday.

Canes Warning examined earlier this week what happens to the Miami Hurricanes if they lose one of their final two games? Moving up to number two should make a huge difference. It would be difficult to keep a one-loss Miami Hurricanes out of the playoff.

Related Story: Can one loss Miami Hurricanes make College Football Playoff?

The task in front of the Hurricanes is simple, if difficult. Win out and they are all but guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff. They will have plenty of things in their favor even with a loss.

Clemson is the only team in the top 25 with more wins against ESPN’s top 48 in the Football Power Index than the Hurricanes.

Canes Warning examined Miami’s metrics earlier this week.

"“Miami currently ranks first in ESPN’s Strength of Record, is 12th in the mothership’s Football Power Index and game control and currently have the nation’s 32nd toughest schedule. The ACC Championship game against Clemson is likely to boost their SOS. That is the same for the other teams that will be competing in a conference championship game.”"

Their SOR likely doesn’t have a bearing on the committee’s decision but it should prove that Miami’s play on the field has spoken for them.

With many of the College Football Contenders playing big rivalry games this weekend against other ranked opponents, Miami cannot afford a letdown against Pittsburgh.

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Win convincingly on the road and UM should stay second in the College Football Playoff when the penultimate rankings come out next Tuesday.