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Miami, FL
Heather Dinich explains scenario where Alabama, Miami both miss College Football Playoff
Alabama and Miami came in at No. 11 and No. 12, respectively, in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday evening. That would make the Crimson Tide the last at-large school to make the 12-team field, while the Hurricanes would be the first left out.
However, that isn’t exactly set in stone with conference championship games still to be played. ESPN senior writer Heather Dinich pointed out it’s still possible that Alabama could be left out as well if enough chaos happens with the teams ranked below it.
“I want to take a minute to remind people that these first-round byes can change,” she said on ESPN’s rankings reveal show. “I also want to point out down at the bottom, we have 11 Alabama and 12 Miami. We keep talking about the 12th team getting left out for that fifth-highest ranked conference champion, which is absolutely correct, Arizona State. But if you have multiple conference champions ranked outside the committee’s top 12 — and you see down lower in the ranking where you have Clemson, you have Iowa State, you have Arizona State, you have UNLV.
“If you have two of those that still need to get into this bracket on selection day, guess who’s out? Not just Miami, Alabama too. So you could have the 11th and 12th team bumped out for the fourth and fifth-highest ranked conference champion.”
No. 8 SMU is set to play No. 17 Clemson in the ACC Championship. Most project the Mustangs to win, securing the lone bid from the conference.
However, if the Tigers pull of the victory, it would force a situation where they earned the automatic bid and give the committee a decision to make with the Mustangs. It could drop SMU below Alabama and keep the Crimson Tide in the playoff, that isn’t a guarantee.
If the Mustangs play a close game and lose, the committee may still decide to grant them an at-large bid ahead of Alabama.
Dinich also mentioned the possibility that UNLV could beat Boise State in the Mountain West Championship. However, in that case, one would have to imagine the Crimson Tide would jump ahead of the Broncos.
Regardless, it’s still far from a sure thing that Alabama punches its ticket to the Playoff. The Crimson Tide will be big SMU fans on Saturday and as long as the Mustangs win, should feel good about their chances.
If you’re a diehard pizza fanatic in Miami, you’ll soon be able to check another renowned style off your list without leaving home. Arriving in October 2026, Royale Pizza Napoletana will debut at 1680 Meridian Avenue, introducing South Florida to the exceptionally precise world of Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza. This highly anticipated opening marks the monumental stateside arrival of legendary Japanese pizzaiolo Chef Bun, the mastermind behind Tokyo’s genre-defining concept, Savoy.
RECOMMENDED: Where to find the best pizza in Miami
The restaurant is the brainchild of banking entrepreneur and restaurateur Jess Varughese, the innovator behind Miami’s ultra-exclusive, members-only hotspot, Haiku. After experiencing Chef Bun’s “perfect pizzas” during a trip to Japan, Varughese envisioned bringing this science-driven culinary movement to sunny South Florida. To ensure absolute authenticity, Varughese assembled an elite culinary team. Alongside Chef Bun, the kitchen features Haiku Executive Chef Albert Diaz and Chef Dalila Sabatino, a rising pizzaiola talent praised by Bun who previously trained at Los Angeles’ acclaimed Pizzeria Sei.
What sets Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza apart is its rigorous, chemistry-like execution. At Royale, the dough undergoes a meticulous 30+ hour fermentation process. Varughese and his team spent hundreds of hours adjusting the recipe, combining artisan flours with the Autolyse technique and even altering Miami’s water softness to match Japan’s famously soft water. Pizzas are then baked fresh in an 800-degree oven. The resulting crust achieves an ethereal balance of lightness, chewiness, char and crunch. As Varughese notes, having Chef Bun’s 20-plus years of innovation on board elevates the entire culinary game.
Royale will be fast-casual, yet polished, with seating for 65 guests including a large community table at its center. Staying true to an accessible vibe, the restaurant will operate on a first-come, first-served walk-in basis with no reservations, though takeout and delivery will be available. You’ll order at a main counter from a carefully curated menu featuring antipasti, two pastas, two mains and seven distinct pizzas—including four traditional options and three specials. This is a pizza spot that deserves the hype, so stay up to date on their progress at @royalenapoletana ahead of the official October launch.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 12-year-old girl was shot in the arm after gunfire erupted in a northwest Miami-Dade neighborhood early Tuesday morning, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they responded just before 1 a.m. to the area of Northwest 64th Street and Northwest 21st Avenue in the county’s Gladeview area, where they found three vehicles struck by gunfire, including a silver Hyundai.
“The car was parked outside of the residence. It was occupied by three juveniles, so it was the girl and her two siblings that were in the vehicle. The mom was outside of the vehicle at the time, so this could have been a very different outcome,” MDSO Detective Samantha Choon said.
Authorities said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue medics transported the girl to a nearby hospital in stable condition.
A family member of the victim told Local 10’s Jackie Pascale that the girl is now home and doing OK.
They said neither her siblings nor their mother was injured in the shooting.
According to investigators, no arrests have been made, and detectives have not released any suspect information at this time.
Neighbor Marie Grimes said she was shaken after hearing multiple gunshots.
“I heard the booms — boom, boom, boom, boom — and I said, ‘Oh my God, what’s happening?’” she said. “Maybe five or six, ’cause look at that right there. I’m just glad the little girl is OK.”
Investigators asked neighbors to check their surveillance or Ring camera footage from around 1 a.m. and contact authorities with any information.
Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. Anonymous tips are accepted.
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