College football analyst includes Miami and USF in CFP bracketology

Andy Staples pushed Miami into his top four and put USF in the No. 12 spot.
Bethune-Cookman v Miami
Bethune-Cookman v Miami | Leonardo Fernandez/GettyImages

On3’s Andy Staples pushed Miami into his top four after Week 2, slotting the Hurricanes No. 3 in his updated College Football Playoff projection — and he put USF in the 12-team field after the Bulls got ranked wins over Boise State and Florida. If you haven't been paying attention, No. 18 USF travels to Coral Gables to take on No. 5 Miami Saturday, Sept. 13.

The Hurricanes outlasted then-No. 6 Notre Dame 27–24 in Week 1 on a late Carter Davis’ 47-yard kick and followed with a 45–3 tune-up against Bethune-Cookman, where Carson Beck opened 15-for-15 to set the program’s single-game consecutive completions mark.

Staples also left room to dream big in Tampa. After USF beat Florida, he’s ready to speculate about a Bulls playoff path — and it’s not far-fetched if they back it up in Miami. USF thumped then-No. 25 Boise State 34–7 and then shocked No. 13 Florida 18–16 on Nico Gramatica’s walk-off.

ESPN’s bowl projections also elevated the Bulls as the Group of Five favorite after Week 2, slotting them at No. 12 with first-round trips to Georgia/Oregon depending on the analyst.

Miami Hurricanes remaining schedule

  • Sat, Sept. 20 — Florida
  • Sat, Oct. 4 — at Florida State
  • Fri, Oct. 17 — Louisville
  • Sat, Oct. 25 — Stanford
  • Sat, Nov. 1 — at SMU
  • Sat, Nov. 8 — Syracuse
  • Sat, Nov. 15 — NC State
  • Sat, Nov. 22 — at Virginia Tech
  • Sat, Nov. 29 — at Pittsburgh

USF Bulls remaining schedule

  • Sat, Sept. 20 — South Carolina State
  • Fri, Oct. 3 — Charlotte
  • Fri, Oct. 10 — at North Texas
  • Sat, Oct. 18 — Florida Atlantic
  • Sat, Oct. 25 — at Memphis
  • Thu, Nov. 6 — UTSA
  • Sat, Nov. 15 — at Navy
  • Sat, Nov. 22 — at UAB
  • Sat, Nov. 29 — Rice