CBS Sports shares damning prediction on Miami’s Mario Cristobal after 26-20 OT loss to SMU

Miami Hurricanes football coach Mario Cristobal can recruit well. But he’s not an elite coach because, from an X’s and O’s perspective, he makes too many mistakes in the regular season, and his teams don’t end up playing consequential postseason games.

It’s happened again in Week 10.

After a second loss in their last three games, the Hurricanes have likely lost their chances at the College Football Playoff for a second straight year. Miami lost 26-20 in overtime to the SMU Mustangs in Dallas.

CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah lauded the development of likely first-round NFL picks, EDGE rushers Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, and Georgia Bulldogs transfer quarterback Carson Beck, while also saying Cristobal-coached squads cannot be considered top-tier teams until further notice.

“In 2025, though, there are no true holes on this team. Defensive ends Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor are thriving. The defense ranks No. 11 yards allowed and has held every opponent to 24 or fewer points in regulation under first-year coordinator Corey Heatherman. The Georgia transfer Beck has played well, while the offensive line rates among the best in the country. Toney has been the best freshman receiver in America, especially after his effort against Notre Dame,” Jeyarajah wrote.

“Miami reeled in the No. 3 transfer class in the country, hired one of the top defensive coordinator candidates on the market and picked up a proven quarterback. Mathematically, it's all worked. But because of poor execution and late-game mistakes, the Hurricanes are again wondering what could have been.

“Cristobal is one of the nation's best at assembling rosters, spending top dollar to get Miami back into relevance. But until his teams can finish in the biggest moments, the top echelon of the sport will remain out of reach.”

Miami doesn’t control its own destiny in the ACC anymore

Miami would’ve been better off losing to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Week 1 than to SMU or the Louisville Cardinals.

Now, they’re a long shot to make the ACC Championship Game with the undefeated Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Virginia Cavaliers, the latter of whom suffered a wonky non-conference loss to the ACC’s NC State Wolf Pack in Week 1, unlikely to lose enough to give them daylight.

Cristobal has lost control of his team’s playoff fate. We’ll see if he loses the locker room in Miami Gardens and Coral Gables next.