Miami finished the regular season with four consecutive wins which included a 38-7 win at 22nd-ranked Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Hurricanes have provided the College Football Playoff committee with the consistency they were told they needed after the overtime loss at SMU on November 1.
Miami looked far better on Saturday than Alabama or Oklahoma. Oklahoma needed a stop on fourth down and two yards to go with 1:16 left, with LSU driving on its 29-yard line to preserve a 17-13 win. The Sooners have 58 and 45-yard touchdown passes in the second half in the win over the 7-5 Tigers.
Auburn was driving on Alabama, trailing by seven in the final minute. Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman fumbled on the Alabama 20-yard line with 33 seconds remaining in the game and Deontae Lawson recovered for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama led 17-0 in the second quarter before Auburn rallied. Auburn kicked two field goals in the final 4:06 in the first half and Malcolm Simmons returned an interception 64 yards for a TD to cut the Alabama lead to 17-13 a minute into the second half.
It's a good thing none of the committee members who thought Miami's offense was so bad vs. SMU that they warranted a No. 18 ranking are watching Oklahoma play.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) November 29, 2025
For all the discussion about Carson Beck's interceptions hindering Miami, the pick-six thrown by Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson almost lost the game for the Crimson Tide. After an Alabama field goal extended their lead to 20-13, Jeremiah Cobb had a two-yard run with 11:43 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 20.
Alabama and Auburn remained tied until Simpson threw his third TD pass of the game to former Miami Hurricane Isaiah Horton on fourth and two from the Auburn six for the game-winning TD. Auburn fumbled on its next possession and was not able to score on the final drive of the game.
Oklahoma outgained LSU 393-198 and still needed a fourth-down stop on its own side of the field to preserve the win. LSU and Oklahoma were tied at three at halftime, despite the Sooners outgaining the Tigers 155-66. LSU took the lead in the third quarter following a four-play 33-yard drive.
Zavion Thomas had a one-yard TD reception from Michael Van Buren for the only LSU TD of the game. Oklahoma did not score until QB John Mateer had the first of his two TD passes to Deion Burks with 1:47 remaining in the third quarter.
The @CFBPlayoff is honoring the H2H between Oklahoma and Alabama in a game OU was outgained by nearly 200 yards, but the H2H between Miami and Notre Dame in a game Miami never trailed is basically irrelevant. Got it.
— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) November 30, 2025
Mateer had the game winner on a 58-yard pass to a wide-open Isaiah Sategna with 4:16 remaining. LSU was stopped at the Oklahoma 29 on the subsequent drive before two kneel-downs. Oklahoma finished the regular season 10-2 with losses to Texas and Mississippi.
Oklahoma had marquee wins over Michigan and at number four Alabama. Alabama also finished 10-2 with losses to 5-7 Florida State and Oklahoma. Miami is one of the plethora of 10-2 teams, which also includes Notre Dame, whom the Hurricanes defeated 27-24 in the season opener.
Miami outscored its final four opponents 151-41. The Hurricanes have been dominant in the last four games, were in complete control and never seriously threatened. Miami had its case to the CFP committee. Mario Cristobal said in his post-game press conference after Pittsburgh that Miami passed the eye and field test.