Why the Miami Hurricanes Could Be the 2025 College Football Playoffs Dark-Horse
The Miami Hurricanes enter the College Football Playoff as the tenth seed, yet the level at which they have completed this year makes them a team that higher seeds should not overlook. Miami secured their place in the field by responding well to pressure throughout the regular season, especially in stretches that demanded composure and discipline. The expanded format rewards teams that maintained consistency in November, and the Hurricanes positioned themselves to take advantage of that opening. Their standing as a lower seed places them in a demanding section of the bracket, but there is little doubt that Miami has shown the ability to play with urgency when the stakes rise. The combination of resilience and late-season momentum gives the Hurricanes a foundation that can translate into postseason success.
The first round places Miami against Texas A&M in a matchup that carries the potential to be one of the most competitive openers of the entire playoff. The Aggies thrive in games where physicality defines the tempo, and that style requires opponents to stay composed in crucial moments. Miami has already proven that they can manage tight margins, control possessions when the pace shifts, and maintain focus against defenses that create pressure at the line of scrimmage. The winner of this game moves on to face Ohio State, a team that benefits from a first-round bye and enters the quarterfinal with added rest and preparation time. That scenario gives Miami a chance to use rhythm, continuity, and recent game speed to their advantage against a top seed that has not played since the end of the regular season.
A victory in the opening round would reshape the national conversation surrounding the Hurricanes, because this postseason offers Miami a pathway to elevate both their program and the perception of the ACC. The expanded playoff has created an environment where lower seeds can shift momentum quickly, and Miami has shown an ability to turn high-pressure situations into opportunities. A second round meeting with Ohio State would represent a significant challenge, yet it also provides a stage that rewards teams capable of matching urgency with discipline. Miami has demonstrated that they can respond when the situation demands precision, and that becomes increasingly important as opponents grow stronger in each round. The Hurricanes arrive at this postseason with a level of confidence that makes them a legitimate threat to become the most dangerous lower seed in the field.
