Quarterback Carson Beck, defensive lineman Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, right tackle Francis Mauigoa and wide receiver Malachi Toney were all included in the ESPN "CFB Player Rank: The top 50 players in the 2025-26 playoff."
Beck is 46th, Mesidor 31st, Mauigoa 19th, Toney 15th and Bain is ninth in the ESPN ranking of the top 50 players in the College Football Playoff. Mauigoa was named first-team All-American by the Associated Press earlier this week and Bain and Toney earned spots on the second-team.
Max Olson of ESPN points out that Beck returned for his sixth season of college football and another chance to play in the playoff. Olson noted that Beck is second nationally, completing 74.7 percent of his pass attempts, helped Miami defeat four ranked opponents and has the top QBR in the ACC.
Mesidor is also in his sixth season of college football. In his fourth year with Miami, Bain and Mesidor provide Miami with arguably the best edge rushing tandem nationally. Mesidor has 52 tackles, and per Bill Connelly of ESPN, set career highs with 12 tackles for loss, 10 run stops, seven sacks, 42 pressures and a 13.9 pressure rate.
Highest Graded Players in the College Football Playoffs⭐️ pic.twitter.com/hjj3nzf5lO
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 16, 2025
Mauigoa has started all 38 of his games for Miami over the past three seasons at RT. Per Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, Mauigoa has the third-highest Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade nationally at 88.8. Mauigoa earned the ACC Jacobs Pass Blocking Trophy.
The freshman sensation
With 84 receptions, Toney is one behind Xavier Restrepo for the Miami single-season record. Toney has already set the Miami single-season freshman reception and yardage (970) records. Toney and teammate C.J. Daniels are tied for the ACC lead in 2025 with seven touchdown receptions in 2025.
In addition to earning second-team All-American, Toney was the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Toney was the top freshman nationally in receptions, receiving yards and TD catches.
Because of double teams, Bain has produced 37 tackles, 7.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in 2025. Bain received a 93.1 overall grade, 92,3 pass rush grade and an 87,4 run defense grade from PFF. Per David Hale of ESPN, Bain was first in the ACC with 48 pressures and 18 stops at or behind the line of scrimmage.
If Miami is going to win its CFP first-round game at Texas A&M on Saturday, it will need Bain, Beck, Mauigoa, Mesidor and Toney to perform at high levels. Being ranked in the top 50 players in the CFP by ESPN is an honor and shows the respect the Miami players have earned throughout the season.