ACC commissioner Jim Phillips and Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich blasted the Faculty Soccer Playoff Committee Tuesday night time for leaving Miami out of the present playoff subject.
The latest CFP high 25 has Alabama at No. 11, a spot forward of Miami at No. 12, regardless of having yet another loss than the Hurricanes. Ought to these rankings maintain, the Crimson Tide could be the final squad into the 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff subject, whereas the Hurricanes could be the primary group out.
Committee chair Warde Manuel primarily stated there was nothing Miami might do to leap Alabama at this level as a result of the Hurricanes shouldn’t have any further video games on the schedule and thus no capability so as to add an additional “knowledge level.”
Alabama sits at 9-3 with losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma (in blowout trend). Miami is 10-2 with defeats by the hands of Georgia Tech and Syracuse. Manuel cited Alabama’s document in opposition to high 25 opponents (3-1) in comparison with Miami’s (0-1) as a part of the rationale in rating the Crimson Tide forward of the Hurricanes.
“It got here all the way down to a distinction of their physique of labor as we evaluated Alabama and Miami, not simply wins, not simply losses however the totality of the season and the way these groups carried out,” Manuel stated Tuesday night time in a teleconference name with reporters.
The choice to rank Miami over Alabama understandably did not sit effectively with Radakovich, who is aware of the method higher than most after serving on the CFP choice committee from 2014-17.
Phillips echoed Radakovich’s sentiments on the 2 groups’ resumes, saying the convention was “shocked and dissatisfied” the Hurricanes dropped six spots, and implored the committee to vary its thoughts earlier than Sunday’s last rankings.
“As we sit up for the ultimate rankings, we hope the Committee will rethink and put a deserving Miami within the subject,” his assertion learn. “We’ll proceed to stay up for this weekend, when Clemson and SMU have a chance to earn an ACC championship and characterize the convention within the CFP.”
For Phillips, an Crimson Tide group coming in forward of a ACC squad with fewer losses brings again unhealthy reminiscences. Simply final 12 months undefeated Florida State was handed up by one-loss Alabama within the last rankings, leaving the Seminoles out of the four-team playoff subject.
Neither Miami nor Alabama can do something to enhance its standing going into convention championship week, however chaos might remove each groups from rivalry. Ought to No. 7 SMU fall to No. 17 Clemson, each groups would possibly get into the sector, consuming up one of many at-large spots. Nevertheless, Manuel additionally stated it was doable Alabama might get in over an SMU group that loses to the Tigers.
