Miami Rises to No. 15 in CFP Rankings, Leads ACC

The Miami Hurricanes climbed three spots to No. 15 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday, marking them as the highest-ranked team in the Atlantic Coast Conference and placing them in ESPN's projected 12-team playoff field as the conference champion. However, the Hurricanes' inclusion hinges on their current standing atop the ACC, a position that experts view as tentative given their 3-2 conference record and the crowded race for the title game on December 6 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

With an overall record of 7-2 following a 38-10 victory over Syracuse last Saturday, Miami improved from No. 18 in the initial rankings. The jump came after losses by other ACC contenders, including Louisville, Virginia, and Georgia Tech, which sit at Nos. 20, 19, and 16 respectively. As the top ACC team, Miami would earn an automatic bid as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions in the expanded playoff format. Yet, the Hurricanes trail five one-loss ACC teams in the conference standings, making a championship berth unlikely without upsets elsewhere. Selection committee chair Mack Rhoades previously noted Miami's inconsistent play as a factor in their...