ESPN betting analyst Stanford Steve Coughlin discussed the possibility of Miami earning a College Football Playoff berth with the ACC Champion being left out during an appearance on the Pat McAfee show on Wednesday.
The scenario of Miami earning a CFP berth over the ACC Champion would involve multiple factors. Duke would almost certainly have to be the ACC Champion. If Duke beats Virginia, North Carolina and Wake Forest in its final three games, they will earn an ACC Championship Game berth.
Duke would have to be behind two non-power four conference champions in the final College Football Playoff rankings to not earn a berth. Twenty-fourth-ranked South Florida is the only non-power conference team in the CFP Rankings released on Tuesday.
Stanford Steve stated that the chance of two non-power conference champions earning a CFP berth over the winner of the ACC was minute. South Florida is currently in a four-way tie for second in the American Athletic Conference at 4-1. Navy leads the AAC with a 5-1 record.
"They brought it up on the show last night..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 12, 2025
There's a minute possibility that Miami could make it as an at large and the ACC Champion could be left at home" ~ @StanfordSteve82 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/TNKsKKrn7Q
ESPN college football analyst Heather Dinich brought up the possibility of the two non-power conference champions earning CFP berths. The second with South Florida would have to be James Madison. The Dukes are currently 24th in the Associated Press Top 25 and 24th in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Dinich pointed out the poor strength of schedule for James Madison. The Dukes lead the Sun Belt with a 6-0 record, but have the 115th-ranked SOS in the ESPN Football Power Index. South Florida is 25th, Duke 45th and James Madison 48th in the ESPN FPI.
The potential for Miami to earn a CFP berth is still strong if the Hurricanes win out. Several teams ahead of Miami in the CFP rankings will be underdogs in at least one of their three remaining regular-season games. If all of those teams lose, barring other chaos, Miami should earn a CFB berth.