Pittsburgh and SMU entered the Associated Press Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Polls on Sunday. If the College Football Playoff rankings include Pittsburgh and SMU on Tuesday, that should help Miami. CFP Committee Chair Hunter Yurachek stated Miami was hindered by two losses to unranked teams.
If SMU moves into the CFP rankings on Tuesday, only the Miami loss to Louisville will be to an unranked team. Pittsburgh moving into the CFP Rankings would also benefit Miami. Miami finishes the season at Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Pittsburgh is 24th and SMU 25th in both polls. Miami, SMU and Pittsburgh can all earn ACC Championship game berths with wins on Saturday. Miami needs a win over Pittsburgh and a lot of help. Pittsburgh needs a win and an SMU or Virginia loss to earn an ACC Championship Game berth.
SMU needs to win, or losses by Duke, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh and Virginia to earn an ACC Championship game berth. There are four different scenarios involving at least three other teams for Miami to earn an ACC Championship Game berth.
BREAKING: College Football AP Poll🚨https://t.co/UNsQMYjyio pic.twitter.com/MX3sHbfcGq
— On3 (@On3sports) November 23, 2025
Miami could have Catch-22 versus Pittsburgh
Miami has to win at Pittsburgh to keep alive its long-shot hopes for an ACC Championship Game berth and for a potential CFP spot. The game at Pittsburgh is somewhat Catch-22 for Miami. A Miami win over Pittsburgh on Saturday would likely knock the Panthers out of the rankings.
The additions of Pittsburgh and SMU in the polls give the ACC four ranked teams. Georgia Tech is 23rd in the AP Top 25 and 19th in the USA Today Coaches poll. If the ACC is going to earn two CFP berths, Miami will need to be selected as an at-large team. Four ranked teams should help the perception of the ACC.
A win over Pittsburgh would improve Miami to 2-1 versus teams in the rankings this week. Notre Dame is 2-2 versus ranked teams in 2025. That includes a win over Pittsburgh and a loss to Miami. Miami needs to get closer in the CFP rankings for the committee to directly compare their resumes.