It feels like it's been the longest week ever in Miami Hurricanes football. That's usually the case when a top team falls from the undefeated ranks, and it's a good thing that they play football tomorrow.
And tomorrow brings the start of a new season for the Hurricanes and, in essence, the start of the playoff season. Miami cannot afford another loss and still be in a position to make the 12-team bracket without needing some help. As of today, the Hurricanes still control their destiny and that's why Danny Kanell said on the Cover 3 podcast that he still believes in Miami's chances to win it all.
Last year Notre Dame lost to NIU and made it the title. Ohio State lost to a bad Michigan team. Why would one loss change the way most thought about Miami just one week ago?? https://t.co/B1edyQ5eOW
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) October 23, 2025
"I still think the Miami Hurricanes can win the national championship. They're 16-to-1. I don't think it's crazy. This was a team that, just a week ago, we're all like, 'they look different, they have creatures'," Kanell said. "I know it wasn't a great performance, but it was Carson Beck's worst performance of the year. If he just cleans up half of those, which I do think he can, I still think there could be some value to buy low on the Hurricanes."
Can Miami still get a first-round bye?
We'll get more clarification on where Miami truly stands in a couple of weeks when the first College Football Playoff rankings are released, but right now the Hurricanes would have to win the ACC to get a bye. But in order to win the ACC, they'll have to get some help from the teams above them.
More importantly, Miami just has to keep winning. That starts with Saturday's game where the Hurricanes will be big favorites against Stanford, and it will need to continue next week on the road against SMU, which would give Miami a chance to knock off one of those teams ahead of it in the conference standings.
Miami has six ACC games remaining and that's a positive because a 7-1 conference record is still likely to get the Hurricanes into the ACC championship game. Get into the conference championship game and MIami is a lock to make the playoff bracket. Win the conference and the Hurricanes are going to get the first-round bye.