A contender for the Heisman Memorial Trophy is expressing strong frustration towards the College Football Playoff Committee.
Warde Manuel, who chairs the CFP Selection Committee, discussed the committee’s approach to ranking the top 12 teams during an ESPN panel on Tuesday. A major point of discussion focused on the rankings of Alabama, Miami, and South Carolina. Alabama secured the No. 11 position, surpassing Miami at No. 12 and South Carolina at No. 14, thereby making it into the playoff field for now. Manuel noted that Alabama’s strength of schedule contributed to its higher ranking compared to the Hurricanes and Gamecocks.
Cam Ward, the starting quarterback for Miami, is upset with the CFP Committee’s ruling.
As one of the leading quarterback prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft, the former Washington State player has amassed 4,123 passing yards and 40 total touchdowns against seven interceptions. He has led the Hurricanes to a 10-2 record, showcasing one of the most dynamic offenses in college football, averaging 44.2 points per game. Miami’s two losses were against Georgia Tech and No. 23 Syracuse, both of which were narrow defeats; in particular, they held a 21-point lead over Syracuse before losing.
Ward publicly criticized the CFP Committee on the ACC Network and also called out the Southeastern Conference, arguing that Miami faces tougher defenses in the Atlantic Coast Conference and deserves recognition based on their performance.
“At the end of the day, I really question whether the committee members actually watch game footage,” Ward said. “We’re a 10-2 team. While Alabama is undoubtedly a strong team, the point differential is a crucial factor. In my view, we’re playing tougher defenses than those in the SEC. It’s frustrating; we did everything we could. We controlled our own destiny for much of the season, but ultimately fell short in some games. Now, it’s out of our hands, and we can only be patient and hope for another opportunity.”
Miami’s defense recorded 14 interceptions and forced six fumbles but allowed over 30 points in five games. Had they managed to close out the game against Syracuse, this discussion might be different. A win last week would have solidified their place, but Alabama’s superior record against top 25 teams (3-1) and teams with winning records (6-1) placed them ahead of the Hurricanes.
