Former Miami Hurricanes WR may have shut down CFP chances for former team

On rivalry weekend, a former Miami Hurricane may have just slammed one of Miami's last doors to the College Football Playoff. Isaiah Horton, who began his career in orange and green, caught three touchdown passes for No. 10 Alabama in a 27-20 Iron Bowl win at Auburn on Saturday night. The WR finished with five receptions for 35 yards, all three scores coming in the red zone, as Ty Simpson went 19 of 35 for 122 yards and those three touchdowns to Horton.

Horton's third touchdown, a fourth-and-2 grab from the Auburn 6-yard line with 3:50 remaining, broke a 20-20 tie and effectively saved Alabama’s season.

The victory pushed Alabama to 10-2 overall and 7-1 in SEC play and clinched a spot in next week's SEC championship game in Atlanta against No. 4 Georgia, a team the Crimson Tide already beat 24-21 in Athens in September. In a 12-team College Football Playoff that heavily values conference champions and top-tier SEC temas, that keeps Alabama firmly in the postseason mix (no matter what happens next week).

Miami Hurricanes also took care of business

The Hurricanes did their part earlier in the day, racing past No. 22 Pittsburgh 38-7 to finish the regular season 10-2 and 6-2 in the ACC. Carson Beck threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns on 23-of-29 passing. Freshman Malachi Toney caught 13 passes for 126 yards and a score and added a touchdown pass of his own as Miami closed the year with four straight wins.

But the ACC help that the Canes needed never came. Virginia and Duke both clinched spots in the ACC championship game on Saturday, locking Miami out of Charlotte despite its 10-2 finish. With Miami officially eliminated from the ACC title game, an at-large CFP berth is its only hope.

Alabama wins Iron Bowl, increasing CFP chances

Alabama at 10-3 with an SEC title game loss would still be favored over a 10-2 Miami that never reached its conference championship. The Tide probably won't be penalized for losing on championship weekend.

WR Isaiah Horton's college football journey

Horton signed with Miami out of Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and spent three seasons in Coral Gables, gradually earning more snaps before entering the transfer portal and committing to Alabama in December 2024.

Horton played in four games and caught one pass for six yards, preserving his redshirt in his true freshman season. In the following year, Horton appeared in all 13 games and made two starts, finishing with 13 receptions for 168 yards and one touchdown. 2024 was his real jump. Horton played in 12 games with four starts and ranked second on the team in receptions (56) and third in receiving yards (616), adding five receiving touchdowns. Across three seasons at Miami (2022–2024), Horton totaled 70 receptions for roughly 790 yards and six touchdowns.