CORAL GABLES, Fla. — On Tuesday morning, Miami’s head coach Mario Cristobal made a strong case for his team’s inclusion in the College Football Playoff lineup. He urged the selection committee to consider the objective results and facts as they deliberate whether the Hurricanes deserve a spot in the 12-team postseason bracket.
The Hurricanes, currently ranked 14th with a record of 10-2 and 6-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, are vying for one of the at-large bids. They face competition from several other candidates, including SEC contenders Alabama, South Carolina, and Mississippi, all of which concluded their seasons with 9-3 records.
During his weekly talk show on WQAM, Miami’s main radio station, Cristobal pointed out the team’s success this year. “We won 10 games this year and not many teams have,” he remarked. He emphasized that their two losses were narrow, each decided by only one possession, implying that their performance differs significantly from the 9-3 profiles of other candidates.
The committee is set to release its penultimate rankings on Tuesday evening, which will likely provide insights into the teams expected to be in contention for the final playoff spots announced on Sunday. This weekend, the outcomes of various conference championship games—including Clemson vs. SMU in the ACC and Georgia vs. Texas in the SEC—will greatly influence the playoff landscape. For Miami, however, there are no further opportunities to enhance their postseason narrative.
Cristobal argued that “the awards should go to the teams that are actually winning the games, not the ones that are politicking themselves out of losses.” His team’s credentials include a strong opening win against Florida, leading the nation in both yards and points per game, and having quarterback Cam Ward—a Heisman Trophy candidate—who topped the nation with 36 touchdown passes. Notably, they also remained undefeated at home. Their two close losses at Georgia Tech and Syracuse were by a total of only nine points.
While Miami has showcased impressive statistics, critics point out that the Hurricanes did not compete against any ranked teams during the weeks of their games, and their defense faced challenges, conceding at least 31 points in five of their last eight games.
Despite these defensive issues, Miami ranks among only seven teams in the nation listed in the top 25 for both yards gained and yards allowed, joining the likes of Indiana, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and Texas.
“Go to the facts,” Cristobal reiterated, emphasizing the importance of recognizing teams for their victories on the field. The outcome of the playoff selection and rankings remains to be seen as the college football season approaches its dramatic conclusion.
