Miami and UCLA are separated by three spots in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, but the difference between their resumes is more complicated than their records suggest. The undefeated Bruins climbed to No. 4 on Tuesday, while the Hurricanes dropped from No. 1 to No. 7 following their loss at Notre Dame.
Rather than arguing that the committee got it wrong, comparing the programs through its four stated evaluation principles offers an interesting look at how both teams reached their current positions.
Strength of schedule: Miami has faced tougher competition
Miami holds a substantial advantage in schedule difficulty. ESPN's Resume SP+ analysis ranks the Hurricanes' schedule 35th nationally, compared with 92nd for UCLA. The same evaluation places Miami fourth nationally in overall resume strength, one spot ahead of the Bruins.
Miami's best victory came against No. 13 Wake Forest, which is 8-1 following six consecutive victories. The Hurricanes defeated the Demon Deacons 33-20 on the road and also earned a 41-13 road victory over Clemson, which has improved to 6-3. Miami's only loss came against No. 5 Notre Dame, which improved to 8-1 with Saturday's victory.
UCLA's best victory came against No. 16 Oregon, a 6-3 team that just defeated Ohio State 41-28. The Bruins won 17-15 at Autzen Stadium. UCLA also defeated Wisconsin (6-3) by 10 points and Minnesota (5-4) by 14.
Head-to-head competition: No direct comparison exists
Miami and UCLA have not played each other this season, so the committee's head-to-head metric cannot separate them.
Common opponents: Neither team has faced the same opponent
The third metric also provides little assistance. That places additional importance on schedule difficulty, quality victories and the next piece of criteria we're about to get into.
Other relevant factors: Both teams have overcome major injuries
Both teams have lost important offensive players.
Miami was without Malachi Toney against Notre Dame after he suffered a high ankle sprain during practice last Wednesday. Toney had recorded 73 receptions for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns through eight games. Mario Cristobal said Toney's surgery went well and suggested he could return about four weeks after the procedure. His potential availability during the postseason could influence how the committee evaluates Miami moving forward.
UCLA faces a different challenge after losing starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to a serious knee injury during its Oct. 10 victory at Oregon. Iamaleava is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
The Bruins have responded by winning four consecutive games with Ty Dieffenbach directing the offense. Against Minnesota, Dieffenbach threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns on just eight completions.
Miami has a potential offensive boost coming if Toney returns, while UCLA has already demonstrated it can win without its starting quarterback.
What does the comparison tell us?
The committee has reasonable evidence for its ranking. While Miami would most likely be favored in a potential matchup between the two teams, there isn't enough tangible evidence to argue that these rankings are a serious error.
More importantly, there is plenty of football remaining. Miami finishes against Duke, Virginia Tech and Boston College, while UCLA faces Illinois, Michigan and No. 18 USC. Those games, along with potential conference championship appearances, will define both teams before the final rankings on Dec. 6.
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