Now that the dust has settled just a bit, it is full-steam ahead to the College Football Playoff for the Miami Hurricanes. Miami was the last at-large team to make the field, beating out the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the last spot in. They may have had identical records. Miami might have had worse losses, but the Hurricanes owned the head-to-head from way back in Week 1. They earned their spot.
When asked about Notre Dame's odd decision to sit out bowl season, Mario Cristobal was pure class.
"I would say first and foremost, I wouldn't comment on anybody else's situation because you never know. You never know exactly what's up. I have too much respect for football and for Notre Dame to comment on their situation. As it relates to us, we haven't been faced with that situation. We don't ever expect, want to, or really would allow that situation to happen."
And while that last bit could be seen as a dig at Notre Dame, he immediately clarified his comments.
"But again, that's not a comment in any way, shape, or form, as it relates to them. You just don't know what each program is going through. Some programs lose a coach. Sometimes, you're going to be down a ton of players and people have to make a decision. But yeah, I don't want to comment on anybody else's stuff because again, that's just not my place, and it would be disrespectful."
We have to give Cristobal a ton of respect for how he handled addressing that hard-hitting question.
I thought Cristobal did a nice job making sure not to disrespect Notre Dame but also relaying his point of how UM would handle it. https://t.co/5CWMQHal3o pic.twitter.com/R1mVJcushp
— Will Manso (@WillManso) December 8, 2025
Let's unpack this further in terms of what it means for Miami moving forward, and Notre Dame as well.
Mario Cristobal was pure class in addressing last playoff team in question
At this time of the year, it is mostly all about how my team is better than yours. However, Cristobal was able to handle a difficult topic with tremendous grace, perspective, and conscientiousness. He firmly understands that every team and every situation is different. That being said, you do have to love that Cristobal said he would never put his team in that situation. Just look at what happened last season...
Miami finished the regular season with the same record it did a year ago in 10-2 overall and 6-2 in ACC play. Miami's two losses a year ago to Georgia Tech and Syracuse kept them out of the playoff. They still went on to play then-Big 12 runner-up Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. It was a close game, but at least Miami had the self-respect to play in a bowl game Notre Dame thinks it is way better than.
For years, being in the ACC has not been to the Hurricanes' benefit. Despite having a handful of excellent teams, it has never won the league it joined way back in 2004. At one point in time, Miami did operate as a national independent before becoming a member of the old Big East and having a ton of success there. Miami made it in by the skin of its teeth, but it was not giving anything like others were.
Overall, Miami has a decent shot of knocking off No. 7 Texas A&M in College Station before potentially taking on No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. From there, if the team catches lightning in a bottle, it could go on a run like Notre Dame of last season did, maybe all the way to the national championship, which will be at Hard Rock Stadium. As for Notre Dame, they might pull back just a bit...
Football is a gladiator sport, one where attempting to be finesse does not usually work out in the end. Whenever a team or a program decides to be reluctant about playing hard, or even at all, it typically comes back to haunt them. Simply put, Miami will gain from playing in the playoff, whereas Notre Dame is not going to give itself more chances to improve because of the bowl practices if gave up on.
For now, Miami is pulling in the same direction, whereas Notre Dame seems to be creating fractures.