Overview
- Miami enters Saturday ranked No. 12 and must beat No. 22 Pittsburgh to stay in realistic at‑large contention for the 12‑team playoff.
- Pittsburgh can clinch an ACC title‑game berth with a win plus an SMU or Virginia loss, adding stakes to the noon ET kickoff at Acrisure Stadium on ABC.
- Oddsmakers list Miami as a 6.5‑point favorite, with near‑freezing conditions forecast; the Hurricanes have won three straight by a combined 113‑34.
- Committee chair Hunter Yurachek cited film review, consistency and stronger losses in keeping Notre Dame ahead of Miami despite the Hurricanes’ Week 1 head‑to‑head win.
- Public debate has escalated as figures such as Michael Irvin challenge the committee’s approach, while Stanford interim coach Frank Reich praised Notre Dame as the best team his squad has faced.