Hurricanes’ only focus is on Saturday’s big game vs. N.C. State — not playoff projections

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The Hurricanes moved up three spots in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings — a significant jump that helps keep Miami’s playoff hopes alive.

Carson Beck wasn’t watching.

“What’s our spot?” the UM quarterback responded when a reporter asked about where the Hurricanes are ranked.

No. 15 Miami is in line for a playoff spot, according to ESPN’s projected bracket. But as the highest-ranked ACC team, that projection likely assumes UM will win the conference — a remote possibility. In the likely event the Hurricanes miss the ACC championship, Miami will have to do enough to impress the selection committee to earn an at-large bid.

But that is not what is drawing the attention of players and coaches. They are locked in on Saturday’s game against N.C. State, which has already beaten two of the top teams in the ACC in Georgia Tech and Virginia.

“All we can do is just continue to win,” Beck said. “So that’s really all we can control and just trying to execute each and every day and then ultimately, on Saturday, go out there and put up more points than our opponents. So again, where we get ranked is somewhat in our control, somewhat out of our control. But again, not our worry as we move on throughout the week in these last three games.”

Miami’s playoff chances remain slim but feasible. The Athletic’s model projects UM to finish 9-3 and gives the Hurricanes only a 7 percent chance to make the playoffs. ESPN’s FPI is slightly more bullish, giving the Hurricanes a higher chance to win 10 games and a 13 percent chance to make the playoffs.

“That’s out of our control,” wide receiver Malachi Toney said. “We control what we can control. We just stay focused on playing the best Miami Hurricanes football week by week.”

But to have any chance at all, the path is clear: UM has to win its final three games. First, the Hurricanes face the Wolfpack in the final home game of the season. Then Miami goes on the road to play Virginia Tech, which is 3-6 and fired coach Brent Pry earlier in the season. The toughest test is likely the season finale: a road game against No. 22 Pittsburgh.

“Last Monday, when they came in, their approach, their urgency and what they carried out to the practice field, it was very evident that they understand that we are on the verge of playing some really, really good football and it’s all on us and about us,” coach Mario Cristobal said. “And we have some great opportunities coming up. And from there, everything else does take care of itself.

“Now they understand that they have a great team coming in here, maybe the hottest offensive team and maybe one of the most physical defenses that we have faced. And they know them and they remember — a lot of the guys were here two years ago. We went up there and couldn’t even score a touchdown against that defense. So they’re very, they’re very much where their feet are.”

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