Despite mid-season struggles, Nick Saban foresaw Miami's playoff potential, recognizing their dangerous, championship-caliber team all along.
The Miami Hurricanes continue to push for college football history after dethroning the reigning champion Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinals with a final score of 24-14. The lone ACC representative executed better offensively compared to the first-round matchup against the Texas A&M Aggies and remained strong defensively.
It's no secret that the journey to reaching the 12-team bracket was no cakewalk. After losing two games in the span of three weeks against the Louisville Cardinals and SMU Mustangs, it was all hands on deck from there. However, they didn't shy away from pressure and then conquered it.
The Hurricanes concluded the regular season with a dominant four-game winning streak, by an average margin of 27.5 points. It was enough to climb the Selection Committee rankings and acquire the final "at-large" bid to make the College Football Playoffs. They were viewed as underdogs against the Aggies and Buckeyes, but have now defeated both of them and advanced to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl semifinals.
However, there was one person who believed in the Hurricanes' chances, despite mid-season adversity, and that was college football legend Nick Saban.
"I think if Miami finds their way into the playoffs, they will be one of the most dangerous teams," he said on ESPN's "College GameDay" ahead of the Hurricanes' matchup against the Pitt Panthers on Nov. 29th, 2025. "Forget about the ACC. With Carson Beck, the offensive line, the skill guys, the defense, I don't want to say they underachieved by losing two games, but if they get in this playoff, they're going to be the most dangerous team that anybody has to play."
Saban's resume is among the greatest, having won seven National Championships as a head coach, including one with the LSU Tigers in 2003 and six more with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Hurricanes will have an opportunity to continue proving the 74-year-old legend correct as they currently await the winner between the Georgia Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN. After beating a tough opponent in a hostile environment, battling windy conditions, and taking down the defending champions, there's no doubt in their legitimacy to go all-in for the National Championship.
Saban's belief in the Hurricanes, especially in a moment of doubts and questions, makes this College Football Playoff run extra special. A legendary program is adding to its legacy.
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