Miami Tops First CFP Rankings Ahead of Notre Dame Clash — SkimNews
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- Miami is ranked No. 1 in the initial CFP rankings despite defensive struggles, including allowing 850 yards in its past two games and ranking 122nd in FBS pass defense.
- Notre Dame is ranked No. 11 and faces Miami in a must-win game to avoid missing the CFP for the second straight year, as it lacks a victory over a currently ranked team.
- Indiana, the defending national champion, is ranked No. 4 despite not having beaten a ranked team and losing to Ohio State, with its recent wins coming by seven points or less.
- Alabama is ranked No. 5 despite back-to-back October losses to Georgia and Tennessee, with the committee citing its win over Kentucky and strength of schedule as key factors.
- Ohio State dropped to No. 12 after losing 30-18 at USC without injured quarterback Julian Sayin, and the committee noted the team did not look the same in his absence.
- Boise State is the only Group of 6 team in the top 25 and would be the 12th seed in the playoff bracket, playing at Alabama in the first round under the current rankings.
Why it matters: Miami gains a critical advantage in the playoff race with the No. 1 ranking and a potential first-round bye, while Notre Dame must beat the Hurricanes to stay in contention—failure would likely end its CFP hopes and mark a second consecutive season missing the expanded bracket despite a top-12 finish last year.
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