A recurring theme occurred once college football play culminated. For the second consecutive year, the twelfth ranked Hurricanes find themselves in a familiar position, which is on the outside, looking in regarding participating in the Atlantic Coastal Conference Championship game.
Coming off a dominant performance against the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Miami Hurricanes once again fell short of their conference appearance goals.
The latest CFP rankings have DROPPED 📊🏆
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 3, 2025
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This weekend's championship matchup will be between conference leaders, the Duke Blue Devils and the Virginia Cavaliers. A few months ago, the Canes' chances of entering into the ACC Championship game seemed certain. Losses against the Louisville Cardinals and SMU Mustangs, all but, sealed the fate of the 2025 Miami Hurricanes.
It is extremely bizarre how the Hurricanes could potentially pursue playing in the College Football Playoffs, despite being void of playing in their own conference championship. The ACC Conference has yet to receive acclaim in the same way that other conferences are perceived.
Because of the unfavorable perception of the conference, there are no other programs besides the twelfth ranked Miami Hurricanes becoming considered for the upcoming college football playoff tournament. One could conclude that the Canes' strength of schedule and quality opponent wins helped the program receive a potential playoff nod.
Are the Miami Hurricanes back? When all the dust settles in the other collegiate championship games this upcoming weekend, the fate of the Canes will become determined. The positive way of viewing a potential disappointment if the Hurricanes cannot participate in the College Football Playoff is the program has hope that the breakthrough regarding the playoff tournament is not "far beyond the horizon."
Sadly, those two nail-biting losses against the Canes' conference foes, has played a significant role as to why the Miami Hurricanes football program find themselves in the same familiar scenario as last season. When one factors in the bright future the Canes have moving forward, the Miami Hurricanes have proven to many that they are just on the brink of something special.