Miami could become College Football Playoff regulars with Heather Dinich of ESPN reporting that expansion to a 24-team postseason could be coming. The 12-team College Football Playoff contract expires after the 2025-26 season.
In a meeting today in Charlotte, power conference commissioners saw a presentation from the Big Ten on a 24-team playoff format, sources tell @YahooSports.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 18, 2025
Officials agreed to keep further exploring formats beyond 12. SEC officials, as they have said publicly, support 16.
Recent rankings for Miami
Miami has been in the top 18 in each of the College Football Playoff rankings released during the past two seasons. The Hurricanes were in the top 12 of the 2024 CFP rankings until dropping to 13th when Arizona State won the Big XII Championship Game.
Under Mario Cristobal, Miami should remain in the top 24 teams nationally annually. Miami has been ranked in 30 consecutive Associated Press Top 25 polls that began with the 2024 preseason rankings. That is the longest streak for Miami in the polls since they were ranked for 108 consecutive weeks from 1998 through 2006.
Miami is currently just on the outside looking in as the 15th-ranked team in the CFP Rankings ahead of the third 2025 release on Tuesday night. Miami needs several teams ranked in front of them to lose in the final two weeks of the regular season to secure a CFB berth.
Miami is set up for future success
Miami has signed a top-15 class in each of the first four classes signed under Mario Cristobal. The 2026 Miami class is currently ranked 11th by 247Sports. Cristobal is among the best program builders in college football, balancing his roster with freshmen signees and transfers.
Several players on the 2025 Miami roster are multi-year starters who have signed with the Hurricanes out of high school. Miami has supplemented the roster with key players like quarterback Carson Beck, wide receiver C.J. Daniels and several key defensive starters.
Miami has been close to making the 12-team CFP in each of the past two seasons. The next step for Miami is to consistently finish inside the top 10. When the playoff expands, Miami should easily qualify nearly every season. As long as Mario Cristobal is the head coach, Miami should continue to have a top 15 roster nationally.