Miami's Tough Road to the College Football Playoff
Current Standing and Challenges
The Miami Hurricanes have climbed to the 13th spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. This is a step up from last week, but their path to the ACC Championship Game remains uncertain. Even if they secure a spot, their chances of making the College Football Playoff as an at-large team are slim.
To finish the regular season with a 10-2 record, Miami needs to win their remaining games against Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh. However, even this might not be enough. They'll need a lot of chaos and some common sense from the playoff committee to get a shot.
Committee's Criteria and Controversies
The committee seems to value 'quality losses' over 'quality wins'. Committee chair Hunter Yurachek stated that Miami's losses to unranked teams are holding them back. But is this fair?
Miami's losses are to Louisville and SMU, both ranked in the top 35. Meanwhile, other teams in the top 10 have losses to unranked teams as well. It's confusing why Miami is being treated differently.
Quality Wins vs. Quality Losses
Quality wins should matter more than quality losses. Consider the top teams:
- Oregon hasn't beaten a ranked team yet.
- Notre Dame's best win is against USC.
- Alabama's best wins are against Georgia and Tennessee.
Miami's best win is against Notre Dame, but they're still ranked behind them. It doesn't make sense. The committee is missing the mark here.
Head-to-Head Debate
The committee seems to be avoiding a head-to-head debate between Miami and Notre Dame. They claim they won't compare the two teams because they're not in the same tier. But if Miami keeps winning, they could climb the rankings and force that debate.
The committee needs to recognize that Miami beat Notre Dame on the field. That should count for something.
Frustration and Fairness
It's frustrating to see the committee move the goalposts week after week. They say they value certain things, but their actions don't always match their words. It's time for them to step up and make the right calls.
Miami deserves a fair shot, and the committee needs to recognize that.
