Let’s get right to the controversial call: It was correct. The Miami Hurricanes aren’t getting hosed. They’re actually getting helped. They’re getting all benefit of the doubt from the latest College Football Playoff rankings by moving up two spots this week to No. 13. That means they’re right on the edge of qualifying for the 12-team playoffs, maybe, sort of, depending on how their troublesome ACC situation plays out. Maybe you want to put them in no matter what. Maybe you believe since Miami beat Notre Dame it should be ranked above Notre Dame despite what’s played out beyond that game. Maybe, too, I could be more of a homer and blindly bang the Hurricanes’ cause because it would be good fun for everyone around town if they made the 12-team college playoff. But, sorry, Miami’s two losses against unranked Louisville and Southern Methodist can’t be swept under the turf. One loss was forgivable. Everyone can have an off day. But that second bad day against a middling team? Miami can’t make that SMU loss go away by arguing, politicking, underlining that opening win against Notre Dame, showing its good television appeal or humming loudly when the facts are laid out before it. It does help Miami’s cause that the first question posed on the ESPN show announcing Tuesday’s rankings was comparing them and Notre Dame. It means they’re the hot-button team and the committee was reminded of it. “Miami has lost to two, unranked teams,” Committee chair Hunter Yurachek said. “Notre Dame has lost to two teams in our top 13.” That’s the right answer. After losing to Miami by three points in the opener, Notre Dame lost by one point to undefeated and third-ranked Texas A&M. End of discussion, especially in a program where coach Mario Cristobal is constantly saying, “We always talk the truth.” The truth is Miami dug this hole for itself. It should be thankful the committee made it the highest-ranked ACC team despite being tied for fourth place in the conference. How is Miami ranked ahead of 9-1 Georgia Tech? What’s the logic there? That Miami has the better roster on paper? That it shouldn’t have lost those two games it actually, you know, lost? That no one should even think that, as of today, Miami won’t qualifying for the ACC championship Game much less have a chance to win it? Let’s make this as simple as possible: Miami needs help from here. A lot of help, too. It wasn’t the Hurricanes fault they’ve played a cushy schedule with Florida and Florida State having down years and their ACC schedule not having the best teams on it. It’s their fault for not taking full advantage of that schedule with those two losses. It obviously needs to win the two, remaining games at Virginia Tech on Saturday and at Pittsburgh the following weekend. It also needs a tangled web of help to get into the ACC Championship game, because the winner is guaranteed a playoff spot. The starting point toward for Miami would be Georgia Tech losing at Pittsburgh and SMU losing one of its final two games against Louisville and Cal. The real shame is Miami, at its best, looks like it can play with anyone. You saw that team against Notre Dame and for a half against both Florida and Florida State. You then saw it again for a full game last Saturday in the 41-7 win against North Carolina State. You just haven’t seen it enough this season. Maybe that’s to be expected with so many players coming in through the transfer portal and a new defense that’s started to show how dominant it can be. Can Miami close the season that way to give themselves a chance to be helped? Probably. Virginia Tech is 3-7. Pitt just lost to Notre Dame by 22 points. Can Miami get some help by getting in the ACC championship game or having enough teams lose in front of them in the rankings? That’s trickier. There are some hard questions for the committee starting with the SEC getting five teams in the playoffs as things now stand. But Miami moving up two spots this week to 13th and still on the outside looking in on the playoffs isn’t an issue, though. It’s the right call.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/18/dave-hyde-polls-got-it-right-now-can-miami-get-enough-help/
