Which games this week could help Miami Hurricanes’ College Football Playoff case?
The Miami Hurricanes moved up to No. 13 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, still leaving them on the outside looking in of the 12-team playoff field barring them winning the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.
So with that, Miami (8-2, 4-2 ACC) is still looking for outside help to get a playoff berth in addition to handling its own business the final two weeks at Virginia Tech on Saturday and Pittsburgh on Nov. 29.
Here’s a look at eight games on Saturday that could sway things for Miami, including which teams Hurricanes fans should be cheering for in each matchup.
Missouri at No. 8 Oklahoma (noon, ABC): Oklahoma’s upset win against Alabama last week was not good for Miami. Now, the Hurricanes need the Sooners to lose at least one of their final two games against lesser opponents — either Missouri on Saturday or LSU on Nov. 29, both at home.
Louisville at SMU (noon, ESPN2): This factors into Miami’s hopes to reach the ACC title game. UM needs SMU to lose at least one of its final two games — either Saturday against Louisville or next weekend against Cal.
No. 15 USC at No. 7 Oregon (3:30 p.m., CBS): Miami should be pulling for Oregon here, as a USC loss gives the Trojans three defeats on the season and all but knocks them out of the at-large conversation. Plus, a USC loss theoretically weakens the resume of Notre Dame as that’s the Fighting Irish’s best win of the season.
Syracuse at No. 9 Notre Dame (3:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock): It’s highly unlikely that Syracuse beats Notre Dame. But if nothing else, this game will be another data point comparing the Hurricanes and Fighting Irish — beyond UM’s head-to-head win against Notre Dame — since Miami beat Syracuse 38-10 on Nov. 8.
Kentucky at No. 14 Vanderbilt (3:30 p.m., ESPN): Miami moved ahead of Vanderbilt in the rankings this week but the Commodores getting a third loss — either here or against Tennessee next week — would ensure they stay behind the Hurricanes.
Duke at North Carolina (3:30 p.m., ACC Network): This game is purely for Miami’s thin hopes to reach the ACC title game because, yes, a five-loss Duke team is still involved in that race. Miami’s path to Charlotte, North Carolina, includes either Duke losing one of its final two games (against North Carolina and Wake Forest) and/or Virginia losing to Virginia Tech next weekend.
Pittsburgh at No. 16 Georgia Tech (7 p.m., ESPN): This one is twofold. A Georgia Tech win eliminates Miami from any path to make the ACC Championship Game. It would also set up a battle next week of one-loss teams in Georgia and Georgia Tech. Miami has to beat Pittsburgh next weekend anyway to stay alive, so a Panthers win would be ideal.
No. 11 BYU at Cincinnati (8 p.m., Fox): BYU is the flimsiest of the one-loss teams ahead of Miami in the rankings. The Hurricanes would benefit from BYU losing either this week or during their regular-season finale against UCF on Nov. 29.
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