Mario Cristobal Questions Notre Dame Ranking Over Miami

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal made it clear he isn’t happy with the College Football Playoff rankings. Even after Miami beat Virginia Tech 34–17 on Saturday, the Hurricanes are still sitting behind Notre Dame in the CFP standings. And that doesn’t sit right with Cristobal.

Miami is currently ranked No. 13, while Notre Dame holds the No. 9 spot. Both teams are 8–2, but Miami beat Notre Dame in Week 1. Cristobal believes that head-to-head win should count for more than anything else.

After the win over Virginia Tech, Mario Cristobal was asked if the Hurricanes were trying to score “style points” with a late touchdown. He said the team was simply playing hard, but he also used the moment to share his thoughts on the rankings.

“We’re just playing ball. We’re not slowing down,” Mario Cristobal said. “Some people call it style points. We just want to stay aggressive and get better.”

Mario Cristobal then pointed out that the CFP committee focuses too much on the “eye test” instead of what actually happens on the field.

“People talk about the eye test,” he said. “But what about the field test? Head-to-head should matter. That’s what football has always been about.”

While Miami had to push late to turn a 27–17 lead into a 34–17 win, Notre Dame was blowing out Syracuse 70–7 to boost its ranking numbers. That big difference in final scores added even more pressure on Miami.

The CFP committee gave a reply earlier in the week. CFP chair Hunter Yurachek said the committee has been comparing the teams based on their losses instead of putting them in the same group.

Miami’s losses to SMU and Louisville — neither ranked — have hurt their position. Notre Dame’s losses came against Miami and Texas A&M, both ranked teams.

With one week left in the regular season, both teams need strong performances. Miami travels to Pittsburgh, while Notre Dame heads to Stanford. If the Hurricanes want a real shot at the playoffs, they may need not just a win — but a win that stands out.

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