Mario Cristobal has Miami ranked No. 1 in CFP Rankings

Coach Mario Cristobal, who led Miami to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game last season, has the Hurricanes atop the CFP Selection Committee Rankings, which were released on Tuesday night.

No Latino head coach has ever led a football team to the national championship, but Cristobal made history last year by becoming the first Latino coach to lead his team to the championship game. The Hurricanes lost the title to Indiana, which was led by Cuban American and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. 

The Hurricanes are 7-0 with a 5-0 record in the ACC. Miami is followed by Georgia (7-1), Utah (8-0), Indiana (8-1) and Alabama (6-2).

“First of all, you watch Miami play, and you watch them play especially on the offensive side of the ball, and they have a dynamic playmaker at quarterback and at wide receiver,” said CFP Selection Committee chair Hunter Yurachek. “They’ve got a really strong running game.

“They’re really strong up front defensively, and they’ve won the games that they’re supposed to win. They’ve got a great opportunity this weekend to go on the road to play a Notre Dame team that’s ranked 11th in our poll this week, and they can solidify their position at No. 1 obviously with a win in that game on Saturday.”

Notre Dame up next for Mario Cristobal, Hurricanes

A year ago, Miami beat Notre Dame to claim the victory that many believe was used as justification to put the Hurricanes in the CFP over the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame (7-1) will play host to Cristobal’s Hurricanes on Saturday night in the most anticipated game of the weekend.

Kentucky, which gets major contributions from Cuban American tight end Willie Rodriguez, is ranked No. 6. Texas (7-1) is ranked No. 7, followed by UCLA (8-0), BYU (7-1), Ole Miss (6-2), Notre Dame and Ole Miss (6-2) to round out the Top 10.

More from Our Esquina

Iowa receiver Tony Diaz capitalizes on mom’s sacrifices

Mario Cristobal carries Cuban parents’ lessons proudly

Nicholas Rodriguez, Curly Ordoñez, Elijah Melendez among NCAA leading tacklers

Ohio State, which features star sophomore defensive back Devin Sanchez, is ranked No. 12. Tennessee, LSU and Texas Tech round out the Top 15.

Latinos lead Wake Forest

Wake Forest, which arguably has the most significant Latino contributions of any team in college football this season, is ranked No. 16. The Demon Deacons are led by quarterback Gio Lopez and receiver Carlos Hernandez in the first season since Mexican American Pete Rodriguez has been installed as Wake Forest’s 16th president and first Latino president. 

“The committee has a great deal of respect for Wake Forest, and all of us on the committee have watched several of their games,” Yurachek said. “We watched the game they played at home against Miami earlier in the year. They are playing very well right now, had a big win against Virginia 51-7.

“I think Wake Forest has a really good path in front of them as you look ahead at their schedule with some games as a committee that we believe they should win moving forward. Wake Forest is a team that I think we all should keep an eye on.”

The next three schools in the rankings are all getting significant contributions from Latinos. No. 17 Houston’s starting kicker is Jonathan Dimas. Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez of No. 18 Missouri leads the SEC in tackles with 63. Receiver Tony Diaz has energized No. 19 Iowa’s offense.