Potential Miami vs Alabama Orange Bowl Offers Intrigue

This Saturday the Miami Hurricanes face FIU on the former site of the Orange Bowl, Marlins Park.

The Hurricanes, believe it or not, have an actual path to the Orange Bowl game itself as well.

Basically the formula is to take the highest ranked ACC team that does not make the College Football Playoff.

Problem is, besides No. 3 Clemson, no other ACC team is ranked.

How mediocre is the ACC (minus Clemson)? If the Tigers are the only ranked ACC team in the final CFP, the Orange Bowl board would have to pick the ACC rep. That has never happened in the CFP era. https://t.co/JWd6sZsWCm

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) November 19, 2019

If Miami runs the table and finishes 8-4, and Clemson makes the playoffs, it would be up to the Orange Bowl committee to pick an ACC representative.

The Hurricanes have FIU and Duke to close out the regular season, both project to be wins for Miami.

Many storylines would capture local interest – can the Hurricanes beat the Crimson Tide without star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa?

Will Dan Enos (former Alabama QB coach) now on the Miami sidelines, have something extra for his old boss Nick Saban?

(Dolphins fans may want a little revenge on Saban as well).

These two storied programs have not met since the 1993 Sugar Bowl, when No. 2 Alabama beat top ranked Miami 34-13.

They are also scheduled to open their 2021 campaigns in the Chick-fil-A kickoff game.

Miami lost three out of their first five games, to be in this discussion is quite the feat.

The Hurricanes have won three straight ACC games by a 95-49 margin, they are peaking at the right time.

With two winnable games ahead, the Hurricanes could close out this year on a five game winning streak.

A hometown bowl game against a high profile opponent will get the attention of recruits.

Forget the Coastal Hurricanes fans, that ship has sailed.

However an Orange Bowl berth is a nice consolation prize to say the least.

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Photo courtesy of Tony Capobianco.