College Football Rankings 2020: Projected AP Top 25 final rankings

Much like the 2017 edition of the Miami Hurricanes, the 2020 team made an illusory run at national prominence before collapsing down the stretch. That 2017 roster started 10-0 before losing its final three games and dropping from No. 2 to No. 13 in the final AP Top 25. This year, the Hurricanes started 8-1 with their only loss at Clemson before losing their final two games and dropping out of the top 10 and barely clinging to a top 25 spot in the final poll of 2020.

D’Eriq King started the game 10-of-13 for 113 passing yards and a touchdown for Miami, but exited with a knee injury. N’Kosi Perry threw for 228 yards and two scores in relief on 19-of-34 passing, and the Hurricanes actually outgained Oklahoma State by nearly 100 yards of total offense in the Cheez-It Bowl. But Miami was playing catch-up the whole game after spotting the Cowboys a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, and could not complete the comeback in a 37-34 loss.

Enough pollsters are going to vote for Miami that they won’t completely drop out of the AP Top 25 this year, given how close their bowl game proved to be in the end. The Hurricanes will stay above the cut, but they will find themselves among a bunch of Group of Five programs thrown a bone by the voters rather than among the nation’s elite.