The Miami Hurricanes are eyeing their first-ever College Football Playoff (CFP) appearance, and Tuesday’s release of the season’s initial rankings offers them an optimistic start. The Hurricanes came in at No. 4 overall and secured the No. 3 seed in the projected bracket, keeping them firmly in the mix for a playoff run as they aim for their sixth national title.
This seeding distinction occurred because Ohio State, although ranked No. 2 in the CFP rankings, dropped to the No. 5 seed behind Miami, Georgia, and BYU. The difference here is that only conference champions receive the top four seeds, and Oregon is currently projected as the Big Ten champion, which altered the seeding landscape. As a result, Miami now holds the No. 3 seed, positioning them to face the winner of a potential first-round game between Alabama and Texas.
The committee’s rankings reveal that Miami, the projected Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion, sits third among the conference champions, trailing behind the Big Ten and SEC winners. While Miami was expected to rank behind these powerhouse conferences, there was concern that BYU, with its undefeated record and strong wins over SMU and Kansas State, might edge them out. Fortunately, Miami was able to maintain its third seed and avoid a matchup with the No. 5 seed, which would have been a tougher path in the playoffs.
Looking ahead, there’s a full month of football remaining before the final CFP rankings on December 8. For Miami, the road to the playoffs will require winning each remaining game, as they need to keep their one-game-at-a-time mentality to solidify their playoff standing. As things stand, the initial rankings favor Miami, but they will need to keep their momentum to secure their place in the postseason.
