It's pretty much do-or-die time for the Miami Hurricanes after losing to the SMU Mustangs for their second loss of the season.
With a 6-2 overall record and just a 2-2 record against ACC opponents, things have gone far from perfectly for head coach Mario Cristobal and the Canes. However, when the College Football Playoff Committee released its first ranking of the season, Miami still had a glimmer of hope.
Okay, stick with me here, but because the committee ranked the Pitt Panthers in the Top 25, it gives the Hurricanes a chance for an at-large bid, relying on the fact that Miami can beat Pitt in a couple of weeks alongside another team that the Canes already defeated...
Initial 2025 CFP rankings
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Ole Miss Rebels
- BYU Cougars
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Oregon Ducks
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Texas Longhorns
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Utah Utes
- Virginia Cavaliers
- Louisville Cardinals
- Vanderbilt Commodores
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- Miami Hurricanes
- USC Trojans
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- Michigan Wolverines
- Missouri Tigers
- Washington Huskies
- Pitt Panthers
- Tennessee Volunteers
In bold are the three teams that matter most in this equation: the No. 18 Miami Hurricanes (obviously), the No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (who Miami already beat), and the No. 24 Pitt Panthers (who Miami and Notre Dame have yet to play).
While the Fighting Irish aren't in the ACC with the Canes and the Panthers, the win that Miami earned over Notre Dame is one of the few things still keeping the team's head above water in the rankings.
In two weeks, the Fighting Irish will play the Panthers, giving Notre Dame another chance at beating a top-25 team, which would in turn make Miami's win over them look even better. Then, in Week 14, the Canes play Pitt themselves, which could give Miami yet another chance for a ranked win (if Pitt is still in the Top 25).
So, with the strength of schedule argument playing a factor, alongside the head-to-head win over Notre Dame, the first CFP rankings of the year didn't actually spell complete disaster for Miami's postseason hopes.
Yes, it's a far stretch, but a far stretch is better than not stretching at all. This week, Miami faces unranked Syracuse in a matchup that should be a get-right game for the Canes. If it isn't, this "winning" formula would be all for naught.