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Miami Hurricanes Sneaks Into College Football Playoff at No. 10 Seed

By  //  December 9, 2025

Miami (10-2) Secures Final CFP Spot Following Title Game Losses

The Miami Hurricanes, at 10-2, have made the College Football Playoff at the No. 10 seed. The Hurricanes won their last four games in a row. They were sitting right on the outside of the playoffs, having not reached the ACC championship, but losses by Virginia and Alabama in the championship games opened the door for the Canes. (Texas A&M University Image)

MIAMI, FLORIDA — The Miami Hurricanes (10-2) have earned a spot in the College Football Playoff as the No. 10 seed, riding a four-game winning streak into the field.

Miami did not reach the ACC Championship Game. Initially, it sat just outside the playoff picture, but losses by Virginia and Alabama in their conference title games opened the door for the Hurricanes to move in.

How They Got Here: Miami entered the season with plenty of uncertainty after a 10-2 campaign the year before that ended just short of the playoffs. The Hurricanes had to replace significant production following the departure of star quarterback Cam Ward, who went on to become the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick. With much of their core moving on, Miami turned to the transfer portal to reload.

The centerpiece of that effort was Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck. Although Beck’s junior season with the Bulldogs was cut short by an elbow injury and did not match the expectations some had set, he arrived in Coral Gables with a proven résumé and the experience of winning at the highest level.

Beck was the biggest name to arrive, but he was not the only new face to make an impact. Malachi Toney, a three-star prospect from American Heritage High School, reclassified from the Class of 2025 and enrolled a year early, giving Miami an unexpected offensive spark.

The Hurricanes started fast, opening the season with a win over Notre Dame. By Week 5, Miami had claimed bragging rights in the state with victories over Florida, South Florida, and Florida State in three weeks.

A home loss to Louisville in Week 6 dropped Miami from No. 2 to No. 9 in the rankings, and an overtime setback at SMU two weeks later further complicated the playoff picture. Still, the Hurricanes closed strong, dominating their final four games to secure a postseason surge that ultimately paid off.

The Brevard Connection: One Space Coast standout has also played a key role. Chase Smith, a redshirt senior from Palm Bay and a graduate of Bayside High School, has steadily worked his way into a larger role since joining the program as part of the Class of 2020.

The Brevard Connection: One Space Coast standout has also played a key role. Chase Smith, a redshirt senior from Palm Bay and a graduate of Bayside High School, has steadily worked his way into a larger role since joining the program as part of the Class of 2020.

This season, Smith recorded 24 tackles and two fumble recoveries. For his career, he has totaled 57 tackles, including 29 solo stops, and has become an essential piece of Miami’s defense.

What’s Next: Miami will face Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 20 at noon ET. The game will air on ABC.