Miami Hurricanes Enter College Football Playoff for First Time, Set to Face Texas A&M

The Miami Hurricanes are headed to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. The No. 10-ranked Canes will take on No. 7 Texas A&M in the opening round on December 20 in College Station, Texas. The game is scheduled for noon and will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC.

The playoff appearance marks a milestone moment for the University of Miami, which edged out Notre Dame for a spot in the expanded CFP bracket. Both teams were idle last week, but Miami’s head-to-head win over Notre Dame in Week 1 helped boost its position. The final rankings were announced Sunday during the playoff selection show.

“We are excited to be making our first appearance in the College Football Playoff,” said Dan Radakovich, the university’s vice president and athletic director. “Congratulations to Mario Cristobal, our coaching staff and our student-athletes on a terrific regular season that was justly rewarded.”

Miami finished the regular season with a 10-2 record, rebounding from a pair of midseason losses with four straight wins to close the year. While the team didn’t qualify for the ACC Championship game, strong performances on both sides of the ball kept the Hurricanes in the playoff conversation.

Statistically, the Hurricanes ended 2025 as one of the nation’s most balanced teams. They ranked second in the ACC in scoring offense with 34.1 points per game and led the conference in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 13.8 points on average. Miami also topped the ACC in total defense, allowing just 277.8 yards per game. Offensively, the Canes averaged 425.8 yards, including 3,310 passing yards and 1,800 on the ground over 12 games. They led the league in passing efficiency with a 73.88% completion rate and a 165.47 rating.

The team’s playoff bid was also made possible by other late-season results. Miami benefitted from Alabama’s 21-point loss to Georgia, which helped solidify their position as an at-large team.

Their first-round opponent, Texas A&M, enters the game as the No. 7 seed. The winner will move on to face No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl Classic on December 31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

If Miami advances past both rounds, it could potentially play the National Championship game just down the road from its Coral Gables campus. The title game is set for January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

“We look forward to facing Texas A&M in the opening round, and I know Miami fans will make their presence felt in College Station,” Radakovich said.

This postseason run marks a turning point for a program hoping to return to national prominence. While the stakes are high, the opportunity is bigger—a shot not just at a title, but at restoring UM’s place in college football’s top tier.