Miami AD, ACC commissioner hold forth on Canes’ exclusion from CFP subject in favor of Alabama

College of Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich didn’t maintain again his disappointment upon studying that his Hurricanes have been ranked No. 12 in Tuesday’s newest School Soccer Playoff rankings, and thus out of the 12-team subject in favor of No. 11 Alabama, who earned the final at-large bid on this iteration.

Michigan AD Warde Manuel, the chair of the School Soccer Playoff choice committee, defined the explanation Alabama was ranked forward of Miami: The Tide are 3-1 towards present High 25 groups and Miami is 0-1. Warde additionally famous that Alabama is 6-1 towards groups above .500 and Miami is 4-2.

“Actually ??” Radakovich stated on X on Tuesday. “What put Bama excessive of Miami for the final spot in is that Miami went 1-2 of their final 3 video games (by a median of 4.5 pts, to a ranked Syracuse and (Georgia Tech) group that simply took (Georgia) to 8OT). Bama went 2-1 (to 5-7 Auburn, destroyed by (Oklahoma), and beat FCS Mercer).”

Actually ?? ….what put Bama excessive of Miami for the final spot in is that Miami went 1-2 of their final 3 video games (by a median of 4.5 pts, to a ranked Syracuse and GT group that simply took UGA to 8OT). Bama went 2-1 (to 5-7 Auburn, destroyed by OU, and beat FCS Mercer)

— Dan Radakovich (@DanRadakovich) December 4, 2024

Radakovich and soccer coach Mario Cristobal each pitched for the Canes’ inclusion within the 12-team subject earlier Tuesday.

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips additionally got here to Miami’s protection: “We’re definitely happy that SMU moved up within the rankings and that the Committee continued to acknowledge the Mustangs’ unimaginable season, which ought to unequivocally earn them a Playoff spot, no matter this weekend’s consequence. With that stated, we’re additionally extremely shocked and disenchanted that Miami dropped six spots to No. 12.

“Miami has extra wins and fewer losses than the group instantly forward of them and a dominant victory over an SEC group whose late-season surge features a win over No. 13 Ole Miss. Furthermore, with two losses by a mixed 9 factors — to a ranked Syracuse group and a Georgia Tech group that simply took No. 5 Georgia to eight overtimes. Miami completely deserves higher from the Committee.

“As we sit up for the ultimate rankings, we hope the Committee will rethink and put a deserving Miami within the subject. We’ll proceed to sit up for this weekend, when Clemson and SMU have a possibility to earn an ACC championship and characterize the convention within the CFP.”

Miami is now projected to play towards BYU within the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 28. In response to The Athletic’s newest projections, the Hurricanes have solely an eight p.c probability to make the Playoff. The sphere can be finalized Sunday, Dec. 8 after the FBS convention championship video games.

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The case for Miami

Miami had a robust case to complete forward of the Crimson Tide. The place Manuel and the choice committee missed the boat is by dismissing the truth that Miami’s two losses have been to high quality opponents. Georgia Tech completed 7-5 however took Georgia, a Playoff group and SEC finalist, to eight overtimes. Syracuse is 9-3 and No. 22 within the CFP rankings.

Two of Alabama’s three losses have been to Vanderbilt (6-6) and Oklahoma (6-6). The loss to the Sooners occurred simply two weeks in the past and was by 21 factors. — Manny Navarro, Miami beat author

The case towards Miami

Miami being eradicated from CFP competition got here off as a nice shock after a number of weeks of overrating the Canes, and after Manuel appeared to telegraph that the relative weak point of Miami’s profile wouldn’t rely towards it.

“Groups can solely play the (convention) schedule that’s in entrance of them,” Manuel stated after final week’s rankings. “They will solely play the opponents that they’ve. So we take the stance that we’re going to actually have a look at these video games, we’re going to have a look at the stats, we’re going to have a look at the power of schedule, however we’re additionally going to have a look at how groups are performing towards the competitors that they’ve. From our perspective, if it was nearly power of schedule, we wouldn’t be wanted.”

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In penalizing Miami, the committee thought past the simplicity of counting loss totals, valued good wins over “good losses” and ejected a group with a poor power of schedule and no ranked wins. It’s not Miami’s fault that it didn’t play Clemson and SMU this season, but it surely’s to not Miami’s credit score, both. — Joe Rexrode, faculty sports activities columnist

(Picture: Al Diaz / Miami Herald / Tribune Information Service through Getty Pictures)