Miami finished the 2024 regular season ranked No. 13 by the College Football Playoff selection committee, a ranking that left the Hurricanes two slots outside of the final at-large bid claimed by SMU. A late-season loss to upstart Syracuse knocked Miami out of the ACC championship game, helping Clemson reach the game, beat SMU and claim a conference champion spot, while the 11–2 Mustangs edged out Alabama and the Hurricanes.
Through early October, Miami in 2025 looked poised to avenge last year’s disappointing finish, scoring wins over Notre Dame, a South Florida program that was a favorite to earn the Group of 5 CFP spot and in-state rivals Florida and Florida State through the first week of October. The Canes vaulted up to No. 2 in the AP poll before dropping a weeknight game to Louisville, and got back on their feet against Stanford last week before their first game against SMU as an ACC foe. Once again the Mustangs got the better of Miami, and this time it came on the field.
