Miami Hurricanes one of 46 FBS teams still alive in CFP per ESPN
ESPN’s College Football Playoff Eliminator has declared that all but 46 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision have no chance to make the Playoff. Thankfully the Miami Hurricanes are one of the 46.
The Miami Hurricanes moved up to number 16 in the College Football polls this week. The Hurricanes had dropped into the twenties after losing to LSU in the season opener. Miami is 15th in the ESPN Football Power Index.
The Miami Hurricanes are one of eight ACC teams still in the playoff mix. Four of those teams are in the Coastal Division. The other three besides the Hurricanes are Duke, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Boston College who is one of Miami’s two ACC crossover games this season in addition to Florida State is also still considered a contender in the College Football Playoff. Miami hosts the Seminoles October 6 and plays at the Eagles October 26.
The Hurricanes three-game winning streak since the season-opening loss to LSU, the Tigers 4-0 start, their win over Auburn after they defeated Miami and the Hurricanes insertion of N’Kosi Perry at quarterback are all reasons that the Hurricanes playoff hopes are trending up. ESPN summarized Miami’s chances.
"“Redshirt freshman N’Kosi Perry took over for Malik Rosier at QB, throwing for 224 yards and three touchdowns against FIU. He’s the future. And perhaps the future is now for the Hurricanes, whose path in the ACC looks manageable.”"
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The College Football Playoff has yet to include a Group of Five or a two-loss Power Five team. Miami got close to the playoff last season before late-season collapses against Pittsburgh, and Clemson. Even if they had defeated Pittsburgh a one loss Miami team would have been difficult to receive a bid over one-loss Alabama.
ESPN Staff Writer Mitch Sherman wrote up the rules on who is in and who is out of the playoff picture.
"“So a few ground rules: Every Group of 5 team with a loss is eliminated. That includes an independent like BYU. After the CFP selection committee speaks on Oct. 30, we’ll see about any remaining Group of 5 unbeatens. For now, let’s just say it doesn’t look good.Every Power 5 team with one loss or fewer is still alive. Even the aforementioned Hokies. And Maryland, which lost to Temple. And Texas and Minnesota, which lost to Maryland. You get the point….A single two-loss team has escaped elimination.”"
Miami is favored in every game this season according to the FPI. That included the loss to LSU. The FPI gives the Hurricanes a 2.4 percent chance to win out and a 14.8 percent chance to win the ACC. Clemson is the prohibitive favorite to win the conference at 70.8 percent.
Perry could be just the push the Hurricanes need to take their offense to the next level. If Miami can be more consistent on offense, the odds of them reaching the playoff is much greater. The Hurricanes also have a mediocre strength of schedule the remaining for 2018. The FPI ranks Miami’s schedule 45th.
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The goal in 2018 is the same as it was in 2017, win the ACC Coastal Division, get to the Conference Championship game and go from there. This season the task of getting to the playoff is a bit more difficult than 2017. Miami now has to win out to truly be a realistic CFP contender.