Miami coach Mario Cristobal’s No. 10 Hurricanes have been dubbed this season’s Cinderella story after booking a spot in the national championship game against the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers. The Canes navigated a College Football Playoff gauntlet that included wins against the No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 2 Ohio State, and No. 6 Ole Miss.
Despite the national championship game being held at Hard Rock Stadium, with a clear Miami fan advantage, the Hurricanes are still considered 8.5-point underdogs against the Hoosiers.
Carson Beck Dismisses Miami’s Cinderella Tag
While speaking to reporters on Saturday ahead of the national championship game, quarterback Carson Beck dismissed Miami’s Cinderella tag, arguing that the Hurricanes have earned their place in the national championship game.
“There was a time in the season we were ranked No. 2 in the country. A lot of people forget that,” Beck said.
The Canes’ chances of being included in the 12-team College Football Playoff field looked dire after losing to the SMU Mustangs in November, which added to their loss to the Louisville Cardinals, dropping them to 6-2. They also missed the ACC championship game, further endangering their playoff hopes.
The revival that has led them to the national championship game has been anchored by an excellent defense that earned a B+ score in PFSN’s College Defense Impact.
Analyst Predicts Unexpected Miami Natty Win
During this week’s segment of the “Josh Pate CFB Show,” analyst Josh Pate bucked the trend in college football circles and predicted the Hurricanes to beat the Hoosiers in the national championship game on Jan. 19.
“I think Miami is going to play their best game,” Pate said. “So, I’m going to ride that hunch that their best is good enough on the line of scrimmage. That Carson Beck, situationally, is good enough. And that the kind of heat they can put on Indiana can force enough mistakes to where they take advantage of something.
“Now, I don’t expect a flawless game from Miami either. I think it’s unrealistic for them to play that way against Indiana. I think they can walk the tightrope in this game because they don’t have to do it for a season. They are within four quarters reach of a national championship. So is Indiana. I think Miami’s best is going to be just good enough… Miami wins the national championship in their own building.”
Against all odds and expectations in college football circles, Cristobal is seeking to lead the Hurricanes to their first national championship title since 2001.
