Miami got the first result it needed with Texas Tech defeating BYU 34-7 on Saturday in the Big XII Championship Game. BYU was No. 11 in the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday and Miami was No. 12. The expectation is that Miami will move ahead of BYU in the CFP rankings.
Texas Tech earned a blowout win over BYU for the second time in less than a month. The Red Raiders also defeated the Cougars 29-7 on Nov. 8. BYU is 11-2 ahead of the CFP bracket being released on Sunday.
If Miami moves up in the CFP rankings, it would be one spot behind Notre Dame, which is No. 10 entering championship weekend. The CFP committee has stated that if Miami and Notre Dame were within three spots, the Hurricanes' win over the Fighting Irish would be discussed.
Miami moving within one spot of Notre Dame should magnify the Hurricanes' win over the Fighting Irish. Miami and Notre Dame are nearly even in the ESPN Football Power Index and other major metrics sites.
I’ve learned today that ND fans think BYU losing is a good thing… odd they’re rooting for the exact same thing Miami fans are
— Mike Ryan (Ruiz) 🙌🏽 (@MichaelRyanRuiz) December 6, 2025
Potential impact of other championship game outcomes for Miami
Shortly after Texas Tech's win over BYU, the SEC Championship Game between Alabama and Georgia kicked off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. A convincing win by Georgia would potentially help Miami and Notre Dame in their quests for a CFP berth.
Duke plays Virginia in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte and Indiana and Ohio State meet in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis in the primetime title games on Saturday night. A Duke win could completely cost the ACC any berth in the playoff.
Duke would improve to 8-5 with a win over Virginia. James Madison, who won the Sun Belt on Friday night to improve to 12-1, is No. 25 in the CFP rankings. No. 20 Tulane improved to 11-2 by winning the American on Friday night. James Madison and Tulane would be higher-ranked conference champions than Duke.
Duke would almost definitely lose out to James Madison and Duke for a CFP berth. Miami could earn a berth regardless of the outcome of the ACC Championship Game. BYU losing convincingly was the result Miami needed the most. A blowout win for Georgia over Alabama would also help.