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Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich pleaded Monday for the ACC to reevaluate its tiebreaker system after the Hurricanes missed the conference championship game, potentially costing the team a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Miami finished the season in Pittsburgh on Saturday with a dominant 38-7 victory over the Panthers to secure its 10th win of the season. The win solidified the program’s first double-digit winning season for consecutive years since 2002 and 2003.
Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (10) celebrates with family and friends after defeating the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 29, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
But thanks to a complex tiebreaker that saw five teams with two conference losses fighting for a spot in the conference championship, Miami will be out while unranked Duke (7-5) plays No. 18 Virginia in the title game.
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Missing the opportunity to earn an automatic bid, Miami is at the mercy of the committee for an at-large berth in the playoffs.
“We need to get a little bit better at that,” Radakovich told ESPN on Monday of the current tiebreak system, “and I can’t tell you what the answer is right now, but I think we need to look at different things that might streamline that and make sure the league does the best it can.”
“It’s too complicated, and we need to look at other options that could make things simpler, while still taking into account the idea of multiple tied teams,” he added. “The old system probably didn’t envisage four or five teams being tied for second place.”
Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal reacts after a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 29, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
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With the next CFP rankings set to be released Tuesday, Radakovich also made a public plea in an open letter Tuesday.
“I’ve served on the CFP committee for four years, so I know how hard work it is. You spend weeks ranking teams, discussing strengths and weaknesses, analyzing data points and, most importantly, watching the games,” he wrote in a post shared on the school’s website.
“Remember those two-loss teams I mentioned? We beat one of them. I was there – many of you were too. It was an electric night at Hard Rock Stadium when Miami beat Notre Dame to kick off this tremendous season. Moments like that are what make college football such a compelling sport. Let’s make sure those moments count.”
University of Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich walks on the field before the game against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on September 3, 2022. (Sam Navarro/USA TODAY Sports)
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Despite Notre Dame’s head-to-head victory, Miami’s chances for a playoff future don’t look bright.
