College of Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich didn’t maintain again his disappointment upon studying that his Hurricanes had been ranked No. 12 in Tuesday’s newest School Soccer Playoff rankings, and thus out of the 12-team area 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 rationale Alabama was ranked forward of Miami: The Tide are 3-1 in opposition to present Prime 25 groups and Miami is 0-1. Warde additionally famous that Alabama is 6-1 in opposition to groups above .500 and Miami is 4-2.
“Actually ??” Radakovich mentioned 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 mean of 4.5 pts, to a ranked Syracuse and (Georgia Tech) crew 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 mean of 4.5 pts, to a ranked Syracuse and GT crew 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 area earlier Tuesday.
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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’ unbelievable season, which ought to unequivocally earn them a Playoff spot, no matter this weekend’s consequence. With that mentioned, we’re additionally extremely shocked and disillusioned that Miami dropped six spots to No. 12.
“Miami has extra wins and fewer losses than the crew instantly forward of them and a dominant victory over an SEC crew 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 crew and a Georgia Tech crew that simply took No. 5 Georgia to eight overtimes. Miami completely deserves higher from the Committee.
“As we stay up for the ultimate rankings, we hope the Committee will rethink and put a deserving Miami within the area. We are going to proceed to look ahead to this weekend, when Clemson and SMU have a chance to earn an ACC championship and symbolize the convention within the CFP.”
Miami is now projected to play in opposition to BYU within the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 28. Based on The Athletic’s newest projections, the Hurricanes have solely an eight p.c likelihood 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 had been to high quality opponents. Georgia Tech completed 7-5 however took Georgia, a Playoff crew and SEC finalist, to eight overtimes. Syracuse is 9-3 and No. 22 within the CFP rankings.
Two of Alabama’s three losses had 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 in opposition to Miami
Miami being eradicated from CFP rivalry 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 in opposition to it.
“Groups can solely play the (convention) schedule that’s in entrance of them,” Manuel mentioned after final week’s rankings. “They’ll solely play the opponents that they’ve. So we take the stance that we’re going to essentially take a look at these video games, we’re going to take a look at the stats, we’re going to take a look at the energy of schedule, however we’re additionally going to take a look at how groups are performing in opposition to the competitors that they’ve. From our perspective, if it was nearly energy 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 crew with a poor energy of schedule and no ranked wins. It’s not Miami’s fault that it didn’t play Clemson and SMU this season, however it’s to not Miami’s credit score, both. — Joe Rexrode, school sports activities columnist
(Photograph: Al Diaz / Miami Herald / Tribune Information Service through Getty Pictures)