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Chaos Breaks Miami’s Way as Hurricanes Secure Final College Football Playoff Berth

On3 imageby: Matt Shodell19 hours agocanesport

Going into this weekend, several things had to go right for the Miami Hurricanes to make the college football playoffs.

And somehow it all worked out.

Miami need BYU to lose, and the Cougars fell to Texas Tech 34-7.

Then Alabama lost in a blowout to Georgia in the SEC title game, 28-7 …. but ‘Bama stayed where it was at No. 9

That put Miami and Notre Dame right next to each other in the rankings …and the committee gave the Canes the edge over the Irish based on the game 1 head to head result.

So the Canes moved from No. 12 to No. 10, nabbing the last at large playoff spot.

“We are excited to be making our first appearance in the College Football Playoff,” Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said. “Congratulations to Mario Cristobal, our coaching staff and our student-athletes on a terrific regular season that was justly rewarded by the CFP Committee. We look forward to facing Texas A&M in the opening round and I know Miami fans will make their presence felt in College Station.”

There were a lot of concerns entering today that Miami would be left out, with Alabama perhaps only dropping one spot between Notre Dame and Miami.

Those were unfounded. ‘Bama stayed right where it was despite a blowout loss.

So yes, Miami is in the playoffs.

And now the Hurricanes will play at Texas A&M Dec. 20 at Noon in the first round. Win that and it’s on to the quarterfinals against Ohio State Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cotton Bowl.

It’s all at Miami’s fingertips now, in the Canes’ control. They are playing as well as anyone, winning the last four in a row by a combined 151-41. Carson Beck is leading an offense that’s been explosive in recent games, with freshman star WR Malachi Toney and speedy freshman RB Girard Pringle leading a revived attack. The Miami defense has been dominant all season, ranked No. 11 nationally in total defense and No. 6 in scoring defense. In other words, the Canes are clicking on both sides of the football at the exact right time.

The Aggies? They have an 11-1 record with the biggest quality win over Notre Dame by one point. But the team just fell in its final game of the season at Texas, 27-17. In that game Texas A&M was held to 337 yards and allowed 218 rush yards. We’ll take a closer look at that matchup today, but certainly it’s one Miami can win.

So yes, it’s great to be a Miami Hurricane.

All that angst about Miami vs. Notre Dame and the playoff picture is in the past.

The Canes are in the playoffs.

Let’s say it again.

The Canes are in the playoffs.

CFP FINAL RANKINGS

1. INDIANA (bye week 1)

2. OHIO STATE (bye week 1)

3. GEORGIA (bye week 1)

4. TEXAS TECH (bye week 1)

5. OREGON (home vs. James Madison week 1)

6. OLE MISS (home vs. Tulane week 1)

7. TEXAS A&M (home vs. Miami week 1)

8. OKLAHOMA (home vs. Alabama week 1)

9. ALABAMA

10. MIAMI

11. TULANE

12. JAMES MADISON

FIRST TEAM OUT: NOTRE DAME

SECOND TEAM OUT: BYU

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