Miami has one game left in its regular season, and they are in a good position to make their first trip to the College Football Playoff. If they win their regular-season finale against Syracuse and the ACC title game against SMU, they are a lock for a playoff berth and almost certainly assured a first-round bye.
After Indiana and Alabama suffered defeats last weekend, the Hurricanes moved up to No. 6 in this week’s College Football Playoff ranking. Miami is projected to be the No. 3 seed, which would give them a first-round bye. The Hurricanes would play in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.
Miami’s potential ACC championship foe, SMU, is ranked ninth.
If the Hurricanes lose to Syracuse, they may have an outside chance at the playoff if certain dominos were to fall their way. If UM loses, Clemson advances to the conference title game. But if the Tigers lose to rival South Carolina and to SMU, they would not make the playoffs with four losses. The Hurricanes could potentially sneak in with two losses as an at-large team, though it would be an unlikely scenario.
Here are the complete College Football Playoff rankings entering the final week of the regular season:
1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Penn State
5. Notre Dame
6. Miami
7. Georgia
8. Tennessee
9. SMU
10. Indiana
11. Boise State
12. Clemson
13. Alabama
14. Ole Miss
15. South Carolina
16. Arizona State
17. Tulane
18. Iowa State
19. BYU
20. Texas A&M
21. Missouri
22. UNLV
23. Illinois
24. Kansas State
25. Colorado