forums

Miami Hurricanes Rooting Guide - Week 12

S

SCCane803

Joined
Nov 13, 2025
Messages
1
Top 25 Rooting Guide for the Miami Hurricanes – Week 12

Introduction
This list serves as a guideline for Miami Hurricanes fans for week 12 of the college football season. I have broken down each game for all top 25 programs and highlighted who Miami fans should want to win the game and why. For teams ranked ahead of Miami I have also stated my opinion on if this week’s outcome would vault the hurricanes ahead of the losing team in the CFP Rankings. This prediction goes away after the top 14 as I do not foresee any team ranked below the hurricanes jumping them from a win this week.

1 Ohio State vs UCLA
Rooting For: Ohio State
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

2 Indiana vs Wisconsin
Rooting For: Indiana
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

3 Texas A&M vs South Carolina
Rooting For: Texas A&M
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

4 Alabama vs 11 Oklahoma
Rooting For: Alabama
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

5 Georgia vs 10 Texas
Rooting For: Georgia
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

6 Texas Tech vs UCF
Rooting For: Texas Tech
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

7 Ole Miss vs Florida
Rooting For: Florida
Reasoning: This is my sneaky game of the week for Miami. With no wins over the top tier SEC teams (assuming an Oklahoma loss this weekend), a 2 loss Ole Miss with a loss to a Florida Gator team that Miami handled convincingly should be ranked lower than the Canes.
Would Miami Jump: Yes

8 Oregon vs Minnesota
Rooting For: Minnesota
Reasoning: While a loss here would likely keep Oregon ahead of Miami in the rankings it provides the potential for a third loss for an Oregon team that has 2 tough tests against USC and Washington to round out the season.
Would Miami Jump: No

9 Notre Dame vs 22 Pittsburgh
Rooting For: Pitt
Reasoning: With all eyes on Notre Dame as the darling of the committee a third loss would be devastating to their playoff chances but a blessing for Miami and College Football. This loss would drop Notre Dame below Miami and take the relief of the "Why even schedule tough games?" argument off the committee’s backs. The elevated ranking of Pitt would also bolster Miami's resume if they can pull off a win vs the Panthers in the season finale.
Would Miami Jump: Yes

10 Texas vs 5 Georgia
Rooting For: Georgia
Reasoning: See above
Would Miami Jump: Yes

11 Oklahoma vs 4 Alabama
Rooting For: Alabama
Reasoning: See above
Would Miami Jump: Yes

12 BYU vs TCU
Rooting For: TCU
Reasoning: BYU could very well be eliminated from the Playoff race with another throttling in a presumed Big 12 title game against Texas Tech but a loss here against TCU takes it out of the committee’s hands and firmly places Miami over the Cougars.
Would Miami Jump: Yes

13 Utah vs Baylor
Rooting For: Baylor
Reasoning: Plain and Simple, this is Utah's only remaining chance to drop a game before the final rankings and most likely (more on this later) Miami's only chance in jumping the Utes.
Would Miami Jump: Yes

14 Vanderbilt - Bye
Rooting For: N/A
Reasoning: You're safe for this week Vandy but Tennessee is coming.
Would Miami Jump: No

15 Miami vs NC State
Rooting For: Miami
Reasoning: The U. Nuff said.

16 Georgia Tech vs Boston College
Rooting For: Boston College
Reasoning: This is a toss-up for me pending a deep dive into the ACCCG Tie Breaker Rules, but I’m assuming a Boston College win would be beneficial for the Canes.

17 USC vs 21 Iowa
Rooting For: Iowa
Reasoning: Another toss-up. I would want both teams to drop another game to make Miami feel comfortable ahead of these teams, but an Iowa win gives USC the go ahead to upset Oregon and still be ranked behind the Canes. It’s unlikely Iowa would jump Miami with a win here and the ease of their remaining schedule.

18 Michigan vs Northwestern
Rooting For: Northwestern
Reasoning: Michigan is scary. With a matchup against Ohio State and potential for a Big Ten Championship birth. This is the best chance for a 2-loss team to jump Miami in the rankings. I would love to see that possibility snuffed out by Northwestern this weekend.

19 Virginia vs Duke
Rooting For: Duke
Reasoning: Duke, Duke, and more Duke. Virginia holds the tie breaker of record vs common opponents against the Hurricanes so Miami would need Virginia to lose both remaining games, starting with the Blue Devils in order to keep any hope of the ACCCG alive. If Manny Diaz can find any remaining love in his heart for Miami, he will get this one done.

20 Louisville vs Clemson
Rooting For: Clemson
Reasoning: Ahh my alma mater. Just when it feels like Clemson has given up for the season Dabo rallies the boys for an inspired win over Florida State. Need my old school to bring the same energy into Louisville and knock the Cardinals out of ACCCG contention. I will also be watching with all of my college buddies so for their sake and for the sake of my Friday night I hope Dabo can pull out a win.

21 Iowa vs 17 USC
Rooting For: Iowa
Reasoning: See above

22 Pittsburgh vs 9 Notre Dame
Rooting For: Pitt
Reasoning: See above

23 Tennessee vs New Mexico State
Rooting For: New Mexico State
Reasoning: I don’t think Tennessee has any chance to jump Miami at 3 losses, but a shocking upset loss here would definitely make sure of that. Wouldn’t be mad with a win here though. Whatever gets them most fired up for Vandy is good for Miami.

24 South Florida vs Navy
Rooting For: USF
Reasoning: South Florida winning out to be the unanimous G5 bid to the playoffs would be a great look for the Hurricanes who absolutely dismantled the Bulls. It’s hard to argue with the Hurricanes case as a 2-loss team that convincingly beat 2 other playoff teams if the Bulls and Notre Dame were both able to make the Playoffs.

25 Cincinnati vs Arizona
Rooting For: Arizona
Reasoning: Doesn’t affect much. The only hope here is that an Arizona win spoils the look of Utah's best win over Cincy. Zero quality wins could be a slight factor if Miami were to dominate the remainder of the schedule. It is unlikely that the Canes will jump Utah because of this game though.

Summary
If my math is correct and everything goes perfect for the Canes this weekend, there is potential to gain 6 spots in the rankings from #15 to #9. Barring a highly unlikely route to the ACCCG, a ranking of #10 or higher would be necessary for the Hurricanes to make the playoffs and avoid being booted out in favor of the 3rd and 4th highest ranked conference champions. At number #9 I would feel very confident in the Hurricanes controlling their own destiny once more as the only two teams I could see jumping Miami at that point would be a 2 loss Michigan if they can run the table or a 3 loss Texas team that finishes the year with a win over Texas A&M. Of course, all of these results are out of Miami’s hands. Handle business against NC State and let the chips fall how they may. Go Canes!
 
Advertisement
Good stuff. It really only comes to 3 games that will have the most impact on us: Texas/UGA, OU/UA, Pitt/ND.
 
I was looking at this the other day and broke out who I think we should be rooting for in each tv window just to make it easier to track

Clemson
Minnesota
USF
Northwestern
Pitt
Arizona

Duke
Iowa
Bama
BC

Florida
Baylor
Georgia
TCU
 
As of now it’s being reported that UVA. Qb hasnt cleared concussion protocol.
Will be tough for them vs Duke if he doesn’t play
 
If you guys don't understand that one of our best things right now to making the playoffs is our win against a highly ranked ND then I don't know what to say. It was the main reason they left us out last year. Pitt beating them would be a disaster for our CFP chances.
 
clg003 said:
If you guys don't understand that one of our best things right now to making the playoffs is our win against a highly ranked ND then I don't know what to say. It was the main reason they left us out last year. Pitt beating them would be a disaster for our CFP chances.
Click to expand...


Wrong.

Pitt wins, they move up. We beat Pitt, it looks just as good.

Notre Dame wouldn't drop that far anyhow, they are God**** Notre Dame.
 
clg003 said:
If you guys don't understand that one of our best things right now to making the playoffs is our win against a highly ranked ND then I don't know what to say. It was the main reason they left us out last year. Pitt beating them would be a disaster for our CFP chances.
Click to expand...
It eliminates a team ahead of us. I get what you're saying, but we can use any and every team within striking distance to lose.

I can see the positives both ways. IF ND wins, I hope they win a close, ugly game. When Miami plays Pitt, we need to beat them worse than ND did. That will be yet another measuring stick.

I just don't get how, at the end of the season, if Miami has 2 losses and ND has two losses, how ND can be ahead of Miami when one of their losses was to us. Throw in USF probably making it in, you'd have a rather uncomfortable situation of two teams Miami whooped being put into the playoffs over us. It's not like we have two losses to terrible teams. We lost to two quality opponents, and barely.

It would sure help our situation if we started beating the daylights out of people instead of Mario-balling teams, keeping them in the game late. That crap will cost us the playoffs, guaranteed. Win out and don't look the part, you can forget about it, unless EVERY team we need to lose loses. Win out by pounding teams, looking like you belong, and I like our chances.
 
Advertisement
clg003 said:
If you guys don't understand that one of our best things right now to making the playoffs is our win against a highly ranked ND then I don't know what to say. It was the main reason they left us out last year. Pitt beating them would be a disaster for our CFP chances.
Click to expand...
This isn’t true simply because the committee has already told you that it doesn’t care about your ND H2H with them being multiple spots higher than you.

If ND loses to another team, that could be bad for us. But losing to a CFP-ranked Pitt only helps us control our destiny even more since we have to beat Pitt on the road to winning out to even make it in the first place.

Pitt winning is a win-win.
 
DubCaliCane said:
This isn’t true simply because the committee has already told you that it doesn’t care about your ND H2H with them being multiple spots higher than you.

If ND loses to another team, that could be bad for us. But losing to a CFP-ranked Pitt only helps us control our destiny even more since we have to beat Pitt on the road to winning out to even make it in the first place.

Pitt winning is a win-win.
Click to expand...
One point that needs to be made. IF we keep winning, we will most certainly make up ground on ND, and that will make them look at head to head, no? It doesn't matter this week, but it might in two weeks when we are sitting at 13 and they are around 9-10.
 
ThomasM said:
One point that needs to be made. IF we keep winning, we will most certainly make up ground on ND, and that will make them look at head to head, no? It doesn't matter this week, but it might in two weeks when we are sitting at 13 and they are around 9-10.
Click to expand...

Yeah I think this as well. If we keep winning and ND keeps winning they will have us much closer to ND. If we beat Pitt and NC state more than ND beats them they could put us above ND. Im looking at the 12th spot. I also don't think Pitt beats ND so my mind is fighting hard not to bank on it.
 
DubCaliCane said:
This isn’t true simply because the committee has already told you that it doesn’t care about your ND H2H with them being multiple spots higher than you.

If ND loses to another team, that could be bad for us. But losing to a CFP-ranked Pitt only helps us control our destiny even more since we have to beat Pitt on the road to winning out to even make it in the first place.

Pitt winning is a win-win.
Click to expand...

They are discounting us because of our recent games., We win 4 in a row that becomes less of a factor...
 
ThomasM said:
It eliminates a team ahead of us. I get what you're saying, but we can use any and every team within striking distance to lose.

I can see the positives both ways. IF ND wins, I hope they win a close, ugly game. When Miami plays Pitt, we need to beat them worse than ND did. That will be yet another measuring stick.

I just don't get how, at the end of the season, if Miami has 2 losses and ND has two losses, how ND can be ahead of Miami when one of their losses was to us. Throw in USF probably making it in, you'd have a rather uncomfortable situation of two teams Miami whooped being put into the playoffs over us. It's not like we have two losses to terrible teams. We lost to two quality opponents, and barely.

It would sure help our situation if we started beating the daylights out of people instead of Mario-balling teams, keeping them in the game late. That crap will cost us the playoffs, guaranteed. Win out and don't look the part, you can forget about it, unless EVERY team we need to lose loses. Win out by pounding teams, looking like you belong, and I like our chances.
Click to expand...
It’d be real nice if we could score some points against these teams in the first half….
 
Advertisement
SCCane803 said:
Top 25 Rooting Guide for the Miami Hurricanes – Week 12

Introduction
This list serves as a guideline for Miami Hurricanes fans for week 12 of the college football season. I have broken down each game for all top 25 programs and highlighted who Miami fans should want to win the game and why. For teams ranked ahead of Miami I have also stated my opinion on if this week’s outcome would vault the hurricanes ahead of the losing team in the CFP Rankings. This prediction goes away after the top 14 as I do not foresee any team ranked below the hurricanes jumping them from a win this week.

1 Ohio State vs UCLA
Rooting For: Ohio State
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

2 Indiana vs Wisconsin
Rooting For: Indiana
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

3 Texas A&M vs South Carolina
Rooting For: Texas A&M
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

4 Alabama vs 11 Oklahoma
Rooting For: Alabama
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

5 Georgia vs 10 Texas
Rooting For: Georgia
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

6 Texas Tech vs UCF
Rooting For: Texas Tech
Reasoning: Just want the top teams to keep winning to avoid muddying the waters in the conversation of 2 loss teams.
Would Miami Jump: No

7 Ole Miss vs Florida
Rooting For: Florida
Reasoning: This is my sneaky game of the week for Miami. With no wins over the top tier SEC teams (assuming an Oklahoma loss this weekend), a 2 loss Ole Miss with a loss to a Florida Gator team that Miami handled convincingly should be ranked lower than the Canes.
Would Miami Jump: Yes

8 Oregon vs Minnesota
Rooting For: Minnesota
Reasoning: While a loss here would likely keep Oregon ahead of Miami in the rankings it provides the potential for a third loss for an Oregon team that has 2 tough tests against USC and Washington to round out the season.
Would Miami Jump: No

9 Notre Dame vs 22 Pittsburgh
Rooting For: Pitt
Reasoning: With all eyes on Notre Dame as the darling of the committee a third loss would be devastating to their playoff chances but a blessing for Miami and College Football. This loss would drop Notre Dame below Miami and take the relief of the "Why even schedule tough games?" argument off the committee’s backs. The elevated ranking of Pitt would also bolster Miami's resume if they can pull off a win vs the Panthers in the season finale.
Would Miami Jump: Yes

10 Texas vs 5 Georgia
Rooting For: Georgia
Reasoning: See above
Would Miami Jump: Yes

11 Oklahoma vs 4 Alabama
Rooting For: Alabama
Reasoning: See above
Would Miami Jump: Yes

12 BYU vs TCU
Rooting For: TCU
Reasoning: BYU could very well be eliminated from the Playoff race with another throttling in a presumed Big 12 title game against Texas Tech but a loss here against TCU takes it out of the committee’s hands and firmly places Miami over the Cougars.
Would Miami Jump: Yes

13 Utah vs Baylor
Rooting For: Baylor
Reasoning: Plain and Simple, this is Utah's only remaining chance to drop a game before the final rankings and most likely (more on this later) Miami's only chance in jumping the Utes.
Would Miami Jump: Yes

14 Vanderbilt - Bye
Rooting For: N/A
Reasoning: You're safe for this week Vandy but Tennessee is coming.
Would Miami Jump: No

15 Miami vs NC State
Rooting For: Miami
Reasoning: The U. Nuff said.

16 Georgia Tech vs Boston College
Rooting For: Boston College
Reasoning: This is a toss-up for me pending a deep dive into the ACCCG Tie Breaker Rules, but I’m assuming a Boston College win would be beneficial for the Canes.

17 USC vs 21 Iowa
Rooting For: Iowa
Reasoning: Another toss-up. I would want both teams to drop another game to make Miami feel comfortable ahead of these teams, but an Iowa win gives USC the go ahead to upset Oregon and still be ranked behind the Canes. It’s unlikely Iowa would jump Miami with a win here and the ease of their remaining schedule.

18 Michigan vs Northwestern
Rooting For: Northwestern
Reasoning: Michigan is scary. With a matchup against Ohio State and potential for a Big Ten Championship birth. This is the best chance for a 2-loss team to jump Miami in the rankings. I would love to see that possibility snuffed out by Northwestern this weekend.

19 Virginia vs Duke
Rooting For: Duke
Reasoning: Duke, Duke, and more Duke. Virginia holds the tie breaker of record vs common opponents against the Hurricanes so Miami would need Virginia to lose both remaining games, starting with the Blue Devils in order to keep any hope of the ACCCG alive. If Manny Diaz can find any remaining love in his heart for Miami, he will get this one done.

20 Louisville vs Clemson
Rooting For: Clemson
Reasoning: Ahh my alma mater. Just when it feels like Clemson has given up for the season Dabo rallies the boys for an inspired win over Florida State. Need my old school to bring the same energy into Louisville and knock the Cardinals out of ACCCG contention. I will also be watching with all of my college buddies so for their sake and for the sake of my Friday night I hope Dabo can pull out a win.

21 Iowa vs 17 USC
Rooting For: Iowa
Reasoning: See above

22 Pittsburgh vs 9 Notre Dame
Rooting For: Pitt
Reasoning: See above

23 Tennessee vs New Mexico State
Rooting For: New Mexico State
Reasoning: I don’t think Tennessee has any chance to jump Miami at 3 losses, but a shocking upset loss here would definitely make sure of that. Wouldn’t be mad with a win here though. Whatever gets them most fired up for Vandy is good for Miami.

24 South Florida vs Navy
Rooting For: USF
Reasoning: South Florida winning out to be the unanimous G5 bid to the playoffs would be a great look for the Hurricanes who absolutely dismantled the Bulls. It’s hard to argue with the Hurricanes case as a 2-loss team that convincingly beat 2 other playoff teams if the Bulls and Notre Dame were both able to make the Playoffs.

25 Cincinnati vs Arizona
Rooting For: Arizona
Reasoning: Doesn’t affect much. The only hope here is that an Arizona win spoils the look of Utah's best win over Cincy. Zero quality wins could be a slight factor if Miami were to dominate the remainder of the schedule. It is unlikely that the Canes will jump Utah because of this game though.

Summary
If my math is correct and everything goes perfect for the Canes this weekend, there is potential to gain 6 spots in the rankings from #15 to #9. Barring a highly unlikely route to the ACCCG, a ranking of #10 or higher would be necessary for the Hurricanes to make the playoffs and avoid being booted out in favor of the 3rd and 4th highest ranked conference champions. At number #9 I would feel very confident in the Hurricanes controlling their own destiny once more as the only two teams I could see jumping Miami at that point would be a 2 loss Michigan if they can run the table or a 3 loss Texas team that finishes the year with a win over Texas A&M. Of course, all of these results are out of Miami’s hands. Handle business against NC State and let the chips fall how they may. Go Canes!
Click to expand...



I never thought I'd say this, but...

TLDR...
 
Cajuncane said:
It’d be real nice if we could score some points against these teams in the first half….
Click to expand...
First AND second half. Enough of this tale of two halves BS. Sick of this crap. It's always two good quarters, somewhere. Sometimes it's the 2nd and 3rd quarters, with the 1st and 4th being duds. It's disgusting. I want 4 full quarters. Or 3.5, with the last .5 being backups playing when we are up 40 points. Sick of letting teams hang around because of this disgusting, slow, O we run. We have the talent to go uptempo and mess teams up. Instead, we play right into their hands, every darn week.
 
IMG_6231.jpeg
 
Back
Top