Miami’s Playoff Hopes Dented After Louisville Upset: Analyzing the Impact
The Miami Hurricanes were flying high after a string of early-season wins. That momentum took a hit with their recent loss to Louisville.
Still, Miami’s in a decent spot within the ACC and the larger College Football Playoff (CFP) picture. If you’re after a deep dive into the game and what it means, the full article is here.
Contents
Miami’s Early-Season Performance
The Hurricanes have had a brutal early schedule—no sugarcoating it. Their biggest wins?
- Notre Dame at home
- No. 19 USF at home
- Florida at home
- Florida State in Tallahassee
Those victories gave Miami a strong 5-1 record (1-1 ACC) and even got them up to No. 2 in the rankings. Then came that 24-21 home stumble against Louisville, and now things are a bit messier.
The Impact of the Louisville Loss
It was a nail-biter. Louisville picked off Carson Beck four times, and the last one—ouch—ended Miami’s hopes of tying it up late with a field goal.
That result snapped Miami’s perfect run and handed Louisville the tiebreaker in the ACC standings. Not ideal, to say the least.
ACC Playoff Implications
After the loss, Miami’s CFP odds dropped from a sky-high 97 percent to 83 percent. Louisville, meanwhile, jumped up to a 26 percent shot.
The ACC’s unbalanced 17-team schedule doesn’t help. Miami avoids matchups with No. 12 Georgia Tech, Duke, and Virginia, which could make the path to the ACC title game a little trickier.
Remaining Schedule and Challenges
Looking ahead, Miami’s schedule isn’t exactly a gauntlet. Here’s what’s left:
- Stanford at home
- Road trips to SMU and Pitt
- Home games against NC State and Syracuse
- A road game against Virginia Tech
Those teams? They’re a combined 9-12 overall and just 3-7 in the ACC. If Miami can avoid another slip-up, 11-1 is still on the table, and that could mean an at-large CFP spot.
Potential Pitfalls
But let’s be real—one more loss could spell trouble. A 10-2 finish might leave them watching the ACC title game from home, which happened last year too.
Since joining the ACC in 2004, Miami still hasn’t won the conference. Missing out again would shut off a key route to the CFP, and that’s got to sting.
Coach Mario Cristobal’s Perspective
Head coach Mario Cristobal gets it—these games come down to the tiniest margins. He pointed out that giving away plays, like they did against Louisville, can cost you everything.
Looking Ahead
Miami’s journey to the CFP isn’t over yet. With their toughest opponents finally in the rearview, the Hurricanes can almost see a clear path ahead.
Now, it’s all about staying sharp and not slipping up in these last games. The stakes? They’re sky-high. One mistake could cost everything.
Still, if you look at Miami’s grit and how they played earlier this season, it’s hard not to think they’ve got a real shot.
For more insights and projections, check out the original article on The New York Times.
