Losses by previously undefeated BYU and Tennessee on Saturday allowed Miami to move up one spot to eighth in the third release of the 2024 College Football Playoffs on Tuesday night. Miami moved up coming off of its bye week. Wake Forest is at Miami on Saturday and the Hurricanes are at Syracuse on November 30.
Miami was first in the initial release of the 2024 College Football Playoff rankings on November 5. After losing to Georgia Tech on November 9 Miami dropped to ninth in the rankings. Despite being ranked eighth Miami would currently be the third seed as the highest-ranked team in the ACC.
Miami is higher ranked than SMU, but the Mustangs lead the ACC with a 6-0 record. SMU is 13th in the CFP rankings. Clemson finished their ACC schedule and is 8-2 overall and 7-1 in the ACC. The Tigers are 17th in the CFP rankings. Miami is 9-1 overall and 5-1 in the ACC.
Based on the current rankings Miami would get a bye in the first round and play the winner of 11th seed Georgia at sixth-seeded Penn State in the quarterfinals in likely the Peach Bowl. The SEC Champion is expected to play in the Sugar Bowl, Big 10 in the Rose Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl likely the Big XII or Group of Five Champion,
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— ESPN (@espn) November 20, 2024
If Miami wins versus Wake Forest and Syracuse in the final two games of the regular season they will earn a berth in the CFP. If Miami loses either of those games they would be out and have a difficult case for the CFP. Clemson would earn an ACC Championship Game berth if Miami loses one of its last two regular season games.
Miami likely needs to at least make the ACC Championship Game to have a chance at earning a CFP berth. The top five conference champions earn a berth in the CFP. Winning out and winning the ACC Championship should be the goal to guarantee themselves a berth in the CFP and a first-round bye.