How Miami Hurricanes football can still make the College Football Playoff after losing at Syracuse

The Miami Hurricanes had one mission: defeat Syracuse and qualify for the ACC Championship Game. As long as they could do that, a spot in the College Football Playoff was all but assured, no matter the result against SMU.

But after Saturday’s crushing 42:38 defeat, things are much more difficult for Miami. Not only does this mean that the automatic bid for conference champion is no longer possible, but Clemson, already considered dead after its loss to South Carolina, now has a shot at one of the twelve spots.

The Gamecocks are also a candidate to sneak into the field after ending their season with a six-game winning streak. A road win against Texas A&M and a close loss against Alabama give them a chance to get in the field. The Crimson Tide also stayed alive and stayed in the game with a win over Auburn. If Georgia Tech had just beaten Georgia instead of falling in the eighth overtime, Miami might be okay.

Here’s a look at where Miami stands in the CFP after Saturday’s heartbreaking loss:

Miami Football CFP Odds

According to ESPN’s Playoff Predictor, Miami entered Saturday with a 79% chance of making the playoffs. Had they beaten Syracuse and lost to SMU in the ACC championship game, they still would have had a 73% chance of making the field with an overall bid.

With the loss to Syracuse, Miami’s chance of making the playoffs is now just 32%, according to ESPN.

What needs to happen for Miami to get into the College Football Playoff?

Well, first of all, SMU needs to win the ACC title. If Clemson wins the conference title, it would likely derail any chances Miami has of making it, as SMU put together a strong enough season to earn an at-large bid.

The Hurricanes also want Texas to beat Texas A&M tonight and clinch its spot in the SEC Championship Game. The Aggies are another team that is not in the running for an overall contender, according to the current rankings. A clean sweep over their rivals would be brutal for Miami’s chances of making the CFP.

An Indiana loss tonight would also open a door for Miami, but Purdue is one of the worst teams in college football, so Canes fans shouldn’t count on that.

When will the final CFP rankings be announced?

The final College Football Playoff rankings will be announced beginning Sunday, December 8th at 12 p.m. on ESPN.

The rankings will be updated on Tuesday, December 3rd at 7 p.m. ahead of championship week.

This article originally appeared on the Palm Beach Post: Miami Hurricanes’ football CFP odds take a significant dip after loss at Syracuse