At the end of Alabama's 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, lead ESPN College Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit said he thinks Miami is in the College Football Playoff and that the committee will decide on the last spot between Alabama and Notre Dame.
The College Football Playoff committee has said since the initial 2025 rankings were released that Miami beating Notre Dame would matter if they were three spots apart in the rankings. Alabama might drop two spots after the convincing loss to Georgia.
Miami was ranked 18th in the initial 2025 College Football Rankings released in Week 10. CFP Committee chair at the time, Mack Rhoades, stated that they wanted to see more consistency from Miami offensively. Miami has played more consistently over the past four games and moved up to No. 12 in the CFP rankings.
Georgia held Alabama to 209 total yards and -3 rushing in the SEC Championship Game. Saturday was the fifth consecutive game against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Alabama scored under 30 points. Miami has scored at least 34 points in its last four games.
Kirk Herbstreit said he thinks Miami will be in & that the debate would come down to Alabama versus Notre Dame. pic.twitter.com/jBkYGnuRQI
— Grant Speaks (@GrantSpeaks1) December 7, 2025
Alabama might lose a CFP spot to Miami after a rough loss against Georgia
"I personally think Miami is going to be in...I think BYU's loss a second time to Texas Tech could ultimately impact them. I think the discussion is going to be 'Bama and Notre Dame...that's what they are going to have to weigh...and look at all the things you look at...It's going to be an interesting discussion, I am sure, in that room."ESPN CFB analyst Kirk Herbstreit
BYU is 11-2 with both of its losses to Texas Tech. Texas Tech beat BYU 29-7 on Nov. 8. Miami and Notre Dame are nearly identical in the ESPN Football Power Index and other metrics. Coaches and media members other than Herbstreit have stated the case for Miami to make the CFB.
The four major professional sports leagues in North America have head-to-head as a tiebreaker. Mario Cristobal made the rounds this week on multiple local and national shows to make the case for the Hurricanes making the CFP. On nearly every one of those shows, the hosts said why play the games if head-to-head doesn't matter.