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Why Miami Can Return to Glory, Complete College Football Playoff Storybook, Run to National Championship
The Miami Hurricanes were ranked 18th when the College Football Playoff Selection Committee revealed its first set of rankings on Nov. 4, laying out a daunting path for the two-loss ACC team to reach the CFP. But Miami remained focused on each opponent, and after racking up wins and slowly climbing the rankings, Mario Cristobal’s team received the final bid for the 2025-26 CFP field, landing at No. 10 in the committee’s final rankings. Simply making the bracket meant Miami made school history with its first appearance in the College Football Playoffs, but after two rounds of play, expectations were adjusted dramatically. This isn’t a Miami team that’s happy to compete for titles — this is a group that can fulfill Cristobal’s wildest signing hopes and win the school’s first national championship since 2002. And while such a suggestion may have been considered crazy when the first rankings were released on Nov. 4, it’s undeniable now that Miami undoubtedly has a good chance of winning it all. The Hurricanes are the betting favorites in the College Football Playoff Fiesta Bowl semifinal against Ole Miss, and oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook have Miami listed at +340 to win it all, third on the board behind only Indiana and Oregon. Before we get into some of the more tangible reasons why Miami could be the last team standing this season, it’s worth mentioning the ways that history and circumstance are setting up what could be a true storybook for a program that weaves together decades of stories in college football history. Miami, of course, hasn’t been on such a big stage with title opportunities this close since a controversial pass interference penalty against Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game at the Fiesta Bowl in 2001-02. The Hurricanes got a taste of redemption by eliminating the Buckeyes in the quarterfinals, and now they can complete the cleanup with a win at Glendale in the semifinals. Winning the semifinals would also represent one of the biggest single nights in Miami football history, as the Hurricanes would be competing for the national championship in their backyard, on their home turf, with Hard Rock Stadium set to host the title game on Jan. 19. This team has played and won in Blacksburg, Pittsburgh, College Station and Dallas since their last home game in 15th place. moment of all time for Miami football, and given what we’ve seen from this team and what’s to come, it’s absolutely the expectation. So, with vibes properly addressed, let’s address the more football-specific reasons why Miami can win its next two games and capture the national championship. More CFP predictions: Why Ole Miss can win it allThe best defensive front is still standing With 12 sacks in its two College Football Playoff victories, Miami has now jumped to No. 1 in the nation in sacks (46) and defensive pressures (220), maintaining a top-10 pressure rate (40.5%) on the season. Mario Cristobal built this team’s identity along the trenches with elite talent on both lines of scrimmage, but the wins against Texas A&M and Ohio State were notable for the way the defense consistently won snaps with pressure on the quarterback on key downs but also routine run stops that prevented both opponents from getting into any kind of rhythm on offense. Texas A&M had just 89 rushing yards on 35 attempts (2.54 yards per attempt) in the 10-3 first-round victory, and then Ohio State managed even less with 45 yards on 24 attempts (1.88 yards per attempt). Although the Buckeyes wanted to be more balanced, they were forced to throw the ball 35 times to compensate for their struggles on the ground and the early deficit created by Miami’s hot start. That’s the recipe for success with a group packed with game-changing talent from top to bottom. Reuben Bain has long been a Miami leader, the local blue-chip star whose talent was evident from day one. He’s backed up that talent with a tireless work ethic that shows with his pass rush, and even when teams are dedicating extra blockers, he consistently struggles to get the quarterback off his mark. Of course, teams can’t devote too much attention to Bain, because on the other side is Akheem Mesidor, who actually leads the team in sacks with 10.5 and has 3.5 sacks here in the CFP. Mesidor transferred from West Virginia ahead of the 2022 season to be part of Cristobal’s first team, and now the sixth-year veteran has nearly completed his goal of helping Miami return to the promised land. In the middle you have senior David Blay and junior Ahmad Moton, a pair of 300-pound defensive tackles who take up space and pressure the pocket to let the elite edge rushers feast. Stopping teams on early downs with great run defense creates third-and-long scenarios where Bain and Mesidor can destroy timing for obvious downs. It’s a tried-and-true way to win football games that any defense can hope to execute, but not every defense has the kind of experience and talent like Miami, with the best defensive front remaining in the playoff. Ranking Potential College Football Playoff National Championship Matchups: Miami vs. Oregon Leads the Way Tom Fornelli Battle-Tested Resilience Miami has had the toughest road through the College Football Playoffs of any of the four remaining teams, and in both of its victories, the team found great strength in its resilience. Playing on the road at seventh-seeded Texas A&M and then second-seeded Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl represents the toughest path in terms of seeds, but also both opponents showcased matchups of talent and athleticism for Miami’s star-studded roster. While Oregon and Ole Miss began their CFP campaigns with Group of Five opponents, and Indiana had a quarterfinal bye, Miami had to go through uncomfortable situations as an underdog twice and emerged victorious both times. Against the Aggies, it was the team’s ability to recover from a potentially devastating fumble in the fourth quarter to get the scores and defense needed to win. Then, in the surprising win against Ohio State, the Hurricanes were able to hold their ground and defend their early lead against each of the Buckeyes’ comeback attempts. There’s a lot of confidence being built by these experiences that can be invaluable, and Miami’s players have seen a competitive advantage thanks to surviving the wars of a schedule that includes the toughest CFP route but also started with a win against Notre Dame. The Hurricanes have six wins against teams that were in the top 25 at the time of the game, and with each of those victories they have continued to build even more belief in their belonging as a championship team. Innovative athleticism on both sides of the ball With just 34 combined points in two CFP victories, Miami’s offense hasn’t exactly lit up the scoreboard so far in the postseason. But while there is an absence of production, there is no shortage of game-changing plays, as these heavyweight fights are often determined by one or two moments where elite athleticism rises to the surface. At this point in the playoff picture, the Hurricanes aren’t going to dominate any opponent with talent, but the ability for that talent to unleash itself when the opportunity presents itself is unique on this Miami roster. It’s the kind of game-breaking athleticism we see when running back Mark Fletcher breaks loose for a 56-yard run against Texas A&M to score the only touchdown of the game for either team, or defensive back Keionte Scott jumping the route to catch Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and then exploding 72 yards in the other direction for a driving defensive touchdown. There’s obvious leaping athleticism on the screen with freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney, and although he was kept in check by the Ohio State defense, the commitment to stop the CBS Sports Freshman of the Year led to more opportunities for C.J. Daniels and Keelan Marion. Add in the aforementioned pass rush duo of Reuben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, as well as some absolute gems from the transfer portal like safety Jakobe Thomas and linebacker Mo Toure, and what you get is a group that has been well vetted and developed to have no athletic advantage over anyone, even on the game’s biggest stages. Miami has routinely had players on its roster who were projected to be elite coming out of high school, but this 2025 Hurricanes team is the group that has actually delivered results that match the projections on paper and, in many ways, exceeded the expectations that some of these players had coming out of high school. Building top-tier rosters in the modern era requires both a commitment to high school recruiting but also the ability to evaluate the transfer portal to fill in the right pieces. Mario Cristobal and his staff have nailed it with this team, combining local talent with elite athleticism outside the transfer portal to field a team that is two wins away from winning a national championship.
Published: 2026-01-05 18:32:00
source: www.cbssports.com
