College Football Playoff 2017: The case for Miami football

Case for Miami

The biggest reason for Miami being considered in the playoff race this far in the season is because of one reason: an undefeated record. Miami is 8-0 for the first time since 2002, and a big reason for that is the heroics of quarterback Malik Rosier. Rosier has led game-winning drives against Florida State and Georgia Tech, who were two big wins in keeping Miami’s perfect record in tact. If he continues to perform as he has, the Hurricane will offense will be tough to slow down.

Miami is surely to receive a boost in Tuesday’s College Football Playoff poll as two teams in front of them, Ohio State and Penn State, both fell in conference play on Saturday. Those two losses gave the Hurricanes playoff hopes a shot in the arm as their margin for error has increased a little bit. However, one slip up could and probably will end their playoff hopes as the ACC has been very average this year.

The Hurricanes will face their biggest test of the season with No. 3 Notre Dame coming to town on Saturday Night. This the first time these two schools have played as ranked teams since 1990, where the Irish took down Miami 29-20, ending the Hurricanes hopes for back-to-back national championships. With ESPN’s College Gameday broadcasting from the game, this is definitely the biggest game the Miami program has been in for a number of years.

Perhaps some history could tell us who will come out victorious Saturday, as 30 years ago this month, Miami defeated Notre Dame 24-0, en route to their second national championship. The Canes might be a little rough around the edges, but make no mistake: they are right in the hunt.