The next to last CFP Top 25 rankings are keeping a lot of football fans on the edge of their seats. Miami, at No. 12 is the highest ranked conference team yet their future rests with Texas Tech and Georgia along with the good will of committee members. The Canes are currently the highest ranked ACC team followed by Virginia at No. 17 and Georgia Tech at No. 22. Rather than Miami meeting Virginia in Charlotte for the ACC Championship the importance of winning becomes a focal point as Duke ended up tied with more teams than imaginable and won the shot at the title via a tie-breaker
If Duke, who lost earlier in the season to Virginia should win the championship they won’t have a slot in the CFP however if the Cavaliers win they’ll bump Miami as one of five highest-ranked conference football champions. Could the Canes find an at-large-bid? This is where Texas Tech and Georgia come into play. Texas Tech has already defeated BYU earlier this season and if they repeat for the Big 12 championship it could push BYU out of contention. The situation with Georgia is slightly different but could make enough space for Miami. Alabama won their earlier matchup 24-21 but if the Bulldogs can knock off the Tide it could jostle things enough to help out Miami.
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There are lots of ‘big-ifs’ here and there is a feeling that Miami may suffer a similar fate as Florida State in losing out on a shot at the football playoffs. Not that it should make anyone feel any better but there are other teams in this situation as well, unfortunately. Even with further expansion it’s doubtful there will ever be a clean path that passes the smell test with fans.
Football
- CFP First Round
- Friday, Dec. 19 8p ET
- Saturday, Dec. 20 12p ET, 3:30p ET, 7:30p ET
- CFP Quarterfinals
- Wednesday, Dec. 31 Cotton Bowl 7:30p ET
- Thursday, January 1 Orange Bowl 12p ET, Rose Bowl 4p ET, Sugar Bowl 8p ET
- CFP Semifinals
- Thursday, January 8 Fiesta Bowl 7:30p ET
- Friday, January 9 Peach Bowl 7:30p ET
- CFP Championship
- Monday, January 19 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens 7:30p ET
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The five highest ranked conference football champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams will be seeded into a 12-team bracket based on the final ranking, with the four highest-ranked teams receiving a first-round bye. The teams ranked Nos. 5-12 will play in the CFP First Round, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds.
The final Top 25 will be released following conference championships on Sunday, December 7 at 12p ET on ESPN.
