As the only CBS Sports voter to have Miami at No. 1 before the season, I'll admit, the Hurricanes climbed to the top spot in the AP poll a few weeks before I expected them to after midseason carnage across the top 25. Miami is one of only six unbeatens left on the board, and it doesn't appear that anyone's safe moving forward during a year of extreme parity in the sport. We're sifting through the AP Top 25 to separate elites from the teams still selling themselves on potential in Week 8.
There's a handful of true contenders who have already shown a championship ceiling against quality competition, while others need a large sample size before belonging in that conversation. Reputation gets you attention, but play on the field and execution are what truly qualify in front of the CFP selection committee. Here's where the nation's playoff hopefuls fall in our contender tiers, with championship credentials driving the discussion.
The Bulldogs' stock price shouldn't change after their home loss to Auburn. Three turnovers from Gunner Stockton were to blame, and the likelihood that happens again this season is slim. Kirby Smart mentioned after the game that he felt Georgia beat itself, and it's hard to disagree with that.
The Bulldogs remain our SEC favorite at midseason and should get to the CFP as a top-4 seed. That's what it's about for the Hurricanes throughout the duration of the season. Getting past Notre Dame on Nov. 7 is not a necessity, but it would virtually secure a top-4 seed in the bracket and an opening-round bye if they do.
We're sticking with the season-long projection that Miami will be the Power Four's lone unbeaten on Selection Sunday and enter the CFP as the No. 1 seed. Winning on the road is never easy. Doing it against a top-10 opponent is even more difficult.
Notre Dame showed considerable fight at BYU after trailing 21-10 at halftime before taking a three-point lead in the fourth quarter prior to the Cougars' game-winning drive. The Fighting Irish are a better-executed goal-line play away from being unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, so it would be unwise to dismiss the Irish after one hiccup. That said, a loss to Miami in a couple of weeks severely alters Notre Dame's CFP outlook.
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