Speaking on ESPN's College GameDay on Saturday, Nick Saban said Miami would be "one of the most dangerous teams in the playoff" if the Hurricanes can claw their way into the 12-team College Football Playoff field. For a 9-2 team still fighting for an ACC title shot and an at-large bid, it was as strong an endorsement as any Miami fan could ask for.
Nick Saban says Miami will be one of the most dangerous teams if they make the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/Lh7OSM8Ltx
— Grant Speaks (@GrantSpeaks1) November 29, 2025
No. 12 Miami Hurricanes are still alive in the CFP race
Saban's praise came as No. 12 Miami prepared for a pivotal road trip to No. 22 Pitt, a game with both ACC and CFP stakes. The Hurricanes sit 12th in the latest CFP rankings and are the highest-ranked ACC team.
"If Miami finds their way into the playoff, they will be one of the most dangerous teams in the playoff," Saban said, citing the combination of transfer quarterback Carson Beck, a veteran offensive line, high-end skill talent and a defense he believes is built for January.
In his first season after transferring from Georgia, Beck has mostly returned to the form he was in back in 2023. He led Miami to a season-opening 27-24 win over Notre Dame, then helped the Hurricanes roll No. 18 South Florida 49-12 and outlast rival Florida State 28-22 on the road.
Miami's resume is not spotless. A stunning 24-21 home loss to Louisville, in which Beck threw four interceptions, and a 26-20 overtime defeat to SMU in Dallas complicated Miami's path to Charlotte and the ACC title game. But they have responded with three straight double-digit wins, including last week's 34-17 road victory at Virginia Tech, to stay firmly in the mix.
The comments from Saban were nice, but at the end of the day it is going to be left in the hands of the CFP committee.