Moose was worried.

Bill “Moose” Skowron was one of the greatest baseball players of his time. A Chicago native and 16-inch softball legend, he played for years on the New York Yankees (28 home runs in 1961) and was best pals with Mickey Mantle. He came to the White Sox for a while to play and had been retired and working in community relations for that team when I met him in 2000.

That year, he and I were on our way to photographer Sandro Miller’s studio on the Near West Side. Moose was uneasy because, almost inconceivably, he had never sat for a formal portrait before preparing to do so for a story I was writing.

“What kind of person takes the picture?” Moose asked. “Am I dressed OK?”

He told me that his wife, Virginia, had urged him to wear a conservative outfit of white shirt, dark tie, sport coat and slacks. The meeting and the photo session started awkwardly, but eventually Miller won Moose over, and the ballplayer allowed the photographer’s assistants to apply makeup, get him to change into a black turtleneck sweater and to pose in various ways (including biting down on a baseball) that made for many striking images.

“Good guy, Sandro,” said Moose on the way back to his suburban home. “Hope he’s good at taking pictures.”

This memory came rushing back when I opened a remarkable new book, “On Earth as It Is Not in Heaven” (Skira Press), 276 pages filled with 229 photos and some words from a small gathering of the voices of photography experts David Campany, Phillip Prodger, Anne Morin and Alan Cohen, former Chicago journalist and prize winning poet Patricia Smith and some guy named John Malkovich.

Sandro Miller’s photos explode across the pages, like some visual fireworks display, holding the eyes and intriguing the mind and, often, grabbing the heart.

The book answers Skowron’s old question with a resounding, profound “Yes.”

Yes, Sandro Miller is good at taking pictures, extraordinarily good.

He has taken thousands of them over the last half century, ever since growing up in Elgin, remembering being a 5-year-old, the eldest to three children, and learning that his father had been killed in an auto accident. He writes of that and of his first experience with cameras and the amazing journey that followed, a trip that he still sees as his salvation. He writes that the book “is my tribute to humankind from birth to death. These portraits were not made for me, and they were not made for my sitter, the portraits were created for you, the viewer.”

He has shot for hundreds of national advertising campaigns for clients such as American Express, BMW, Pepsi, Nikon, Microsoft, Nike and the U.S. Army. He has had solo shows here and in Germany and Italy, and his editorial work has been featured in The New Yorker, GQ, Esquire, Time, Forbes, ESPN Magazine and the Tribune.

Boxer Muhammad Ali has long been one of Sandro Miller’s favorite subjects, here from his new book “On Earth as It Is Not in Heaven,” published this month. (Sandro Miller).

“On Earth as It Is Not in Heaven” is his 16th book. Previously, he traveled to Cuba and produced  “Imagine Cuba, 1999-2007,” published in 2009. There were many Cuban boxers in the book, some famous in pugilistic circles. There are also wrestlers, volleyball players, and swimmers. But Miller was obviously also grabbed by the less acclaimed or physically chiseled folks, those he calls “the people of Cuba on the streets (who) filled a void in my soul, a void that felt empty with loss” after his father’s death.

He brings dignity and humanity to so-called ordinary people in the book, as he does often and powerfully.

A very different book came in 2012. It was “Sandro: Raw: Steppenwolf,” a massive, 234-page book with many photos and a few words that weighed about 15 pounds. As I wrote then, “If you think you know the members of the Steppenwolf ensemble from their stage, TV and film work … seeing them through Miller’s lens will etch them in your mind in new and vibrant ways.”

It came about as another form of salvation when Miller was diagnosed with stage 4 throat and neck cancer. He told me, “I knew I was in for an arduous eight-month journey. I knew that the treatments would make it impossible for me to work with clients. I knew that I needed something to help me heal.”

So, he dove into his files and found thousands of photos he had taken for Steppenwolf over the previous 14 years, since he was first hired to shoot actors’ portraits for use in posters, playbills and advertisements.

“In dusting off the old negatives, I remembered what amazing things took place in the studio after we did what we needed to do,” he said. “Over the years, I have gotten to know many of them well, and there is a level of trust we have cultivated.”

His most intense photographer-subject relationship has been and remains John Malkovich. The two have collaborated on such books as “Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters,” “Malkovich Sessions,” and “Malkovich: Then Came John.” In these, Malkovich is photographed dressed as such famous stars as Bette Davis and Orson Welles, and also recreates famous photos. He’s got a few shots in this new book, in which he writes that Miller “is a fantastic colleague and friend, a great storyteller and a wonderfully gifted seeker and finder of truths.”

“On Earth as It Is Not in Heaven” is being formally published this week, with a book signing event at his studio for friends and family, including his wife, filmmaker Claudie-Aline Miller and two adult children, Nathan and Natalia.

As far as I know, he will continue taking pictures, and that’s good. “Moose” Skowron died in 2012, but it’s my understanding that he kept in his living room a framed photo of himself that Miller had sent him after their 2000 photo shoot. And now, having spent time with Miller’s work again, I realized how much of my life and career has been spent in the company of photographers. I have known famous ones — Art Shay, Victor Skrebneski, Steve Schapiro, Jack Lane and more. And there have been all the years in the company of the Tribune’s Charles Osgood and many other great newspaper photographers.

And yet, I remain blissfully ignorant of their art. Matters such as lighting and composition are foreign to me. But the results so often amaze me, as they do in this new book, that what they do seems like magic.

rkogan@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/photographer-sandro-miller/ 

Por FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO (AP) — La presidenta mexicana, Claudia Sheinbaum, anunció el miércoles que viajará a Washington para presenciar el 5 de diciembre el sorteo de la Copa Mundial 2026 junto a su par estadounidense, Donald Trump, ocasión en la que se verán por primera vez cara a cara.

Tras varios días de espera, Sheinbaum despejó las dudas sobre su participación en el sorteo y dijo durante su conferencia matutina que además de Trump, estará presente en el mismo junto al primer ministro de Canadá, Mark Carney.

El torneo se disputará desde el 11 de junio al 19 de julio de 2026 en 16 ciudades de México, Estados Unidos y Canadá. El estadio Azteca de la Ciudad de México albergará el partido inaugural.

“Es un evento muy corto, pero es un buen momento para estar los dos presidentes y el primer ministro de Canadá juntos, dando esta imagen de que América del Norte y nuestro compromiso comercial sigue adelante”, añadió.

Esta será la primera vez que la mandataria tendrá un encuentro cara a cara con Trump. Los dos gobernantes tenían previsto reunirse durante la cumbre del G-7 que se realizó en junio en Canadá, pero a último momento la reunión bilateral se canceló debido a que Trump debió viajar de manera anticipada a Washington para atender las tensiones entre Israel e Irán.

Al ser consultada sobre si aprovecharía la visita a Washington para tener un encuentro privado con el presidente estadounidense, Sheinbaum indicó que “todavía no está definido” y agregó que “si fuera el caso sería una reunión muy breve”.

Trump y Carney confirmaron que acudirán al sorteo que se efectuará en el Kennedy Center para las Artes Escénicas de Washington y donde se definirán los 12 grupos del Mundial que por primera vez tendrá 48 equipos.

___

Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/presidenta-mexicana-claudia-sheinbaum-viajar-a-washington-para-asistir-al-sorteo-del-mundial-2026/ 

The following items were taken from police and court reports and news releases. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.

Burbank

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY: A 9 mm pistol was reported stolen Nov. 15 from a home in the 11000 block of Austin Avenue.

Evergreen Park

AGGRAVATED FLEEING: Sergio D. Castellanos-Santos, 24, 9000 block of Cicero Avenue, Oak Lawn, was charged with aggravated fleeing/eluding Nov. 11 after leading officers on a half-mile chase at speeds topping 50 mphs over the posted speed limit, police said. Castellanos-Santos, stopped at 99th Street and Central Park, was also accused of drunken driving, aggravated speeding, driving on a suspended license/DUI and failing to provide proof of insurance, police said.

Ford Heights

GUN POSSESSION: Jamin Hubbard, 20, 1300 block of Seeley Avenue, Ford Heights, was scheduled to appear in Cook County court at Markham Dec. 1, charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance, sheriff’s police said. Hubbard was arrested after deputies recovered a 9 mm handgun with 17 live rounds of ammunition and a 9 mm handgun with an inserted extended 31 round magazine loaded with 29 total live rounds, along with two baby bottles containing suspected black market promethazine during a Nov. 16 stop in the 1300 block of Seeley Avenue, sheriff’s police said.

Frankfort

AGGRAVATED BATTERY: Matthew E. Crawford, 36, 17800 block of Highland Avenue, New Lenox, is scheduled to appear in Will County court Dec. 11, charged with aggravated battery/police officer, resisting arrest, obstruction and trespassing, according to court records online. Crawford was arrested Nov. 19 after pushing the officer into a partition wall in a coffee shop in the 20800 block of La Grange Road, police said.

GUN POSSESSION: Mack T. Dickerson, 53, 3600 block of 137th Street, Robbins, is scheduled to appear in Will County court Dec. 18, charged with being a felon possessing a weapon, aggravated unlawfully possessing a weapon and driving on a revoked license, according to court records online. Dickerson was arrested Nov. 26 after officers recovered a loaded .380-caliber handgun during a stop at La Grange and Sangmeister roads, police said.

Homewood

THEFT: Deon Craig, 52, 400 block of 16th Place, Chicago Heights, was arrested Oct. 28 in the 3100 block of 183rd Street and accused of theft after taking an item valued at $3,000 from a motor vehicle in that block, police said.

Lockport

GUN POSSESSION: Shawn A. Jackson, 41, 100 block of Greenbriar Avenue, Chicago Heights, is scheduled to appear in Will County court Dec. 12, charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and illegally possessing a controlled substance, according to court records online. Officers arrested Jackson after recovering a loaded 9 mm pistol and small amount of suspected ecstasy during a stop at 9th and Washington streets, police said.

Mokena

AGGRAVATED FLEEING: Johnathan H. Brown II, 39, 22100 Woodbine Road, Richton Park, is scheduled to appear in Will County court Dec. 10, charged with aggravated fleeing, unlicensed driving/never issued, driving on the wrong side of the road and failing to provide proof of insurance, according to court records online. Brown was arrested Oct. 22 at his home following a pursuit that began in the 19200 block of La Grange Road and ended at La Porte Road and Lakeview Way after speeds topped 55 mph in a 35-mph zone, police said.

New Lenox

THEFT CHARGED: Larry J. Rodney, 26, 22400 block of Cobblestone Trail, Frankfort, was arrested Nov. 23 on a warrant charging him with theft and illegal possession of a credit/debit card, according to Will County court and jail records online. Rodney took credit cards Feb. 1 from the victim’s wallet and unlawfully used them to charge $471.69, police said.

STORE BATTERY: Kentray E. Louis, 23, 22600 block of Lakeshore Drive, Richton Park, is scheduled to appear in Will County court Dec. 22, charged with battery, according to court records online. Louis punched a customer in the face Nov. 3 while working at a department store in the 500 block of East Lincoln Highway, police said.

Oak Lawn

GUN POSSESSION: Steven J. Lisak, 33, 10500 block of Keating Avenue, Oak Lawn, was arrested Sept. 26 and accused of unlawful possession of a weapon after posting photos of a .22-caliber rifle, .38-caliber handgun, .22-caliber handgun and 9 mm pistol for sale on a social media platform, police said.

GUN POSSESSION: Julian D. Casares, 18, Chicago, was arrested Nov. 16 and subsequently charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon after officers recovered a 9 mm pistol with an attached laser during a crash investigation in the 4600 block of 105th Place and determined he lacked a gun permit, police said.

Orland Park

RETAIL THEFT: Gerardo G. Alcala-Gutierrez, 32, Chicago, was arrested Oct. 27 at Orland Park Place and charged with felony retail theft, retail theft/previous conviction, resisting arrest and possessing stolen property after officers recovered golf shoes from a sporting goods store, a costume from a Halloween oriented store and jackets from a department store from him, police said.

EMPLOYEE THEFT: Camryn M. Humble, 19, 3600 block of Antholl Street, Flossmoor, was arrested Oct. 31 and subsequently charged with felony theft after using her position as a jewelry store employee at Orland Square to steal a ring and set of earrings jointly selling for $17,225, police said.

FELONY SHOPLIFTING: Empress Stewart, 21, Cicero, was arrested Oct. 31 and subsequently charged with felony retail theft after taking clothing selling for $814 from a department store at Orland Square, police said. Stewart, who threatened to stab an intervening employee, was also accused of assault and served with arrest warrants for aggravated battery to a police officer and burglary, police said.

Palos Heights

DUI CRASH: Jenny Moro, 50, 8200 block of 76th Avenue, Bridgeview, was arrested Nov. 21 and subsequently charged with hi-and-run and drunken driving following a two-vehicle crash investigation in the 11900 block of Harlem Avenue, police said.

Will County

SEX OFFENDER: Sheriff’s deputies arrested James A. Denny, 58, 24100 block of Governors Highway, Monee, Nov. 26 on a warrant charging him with failing to register as a sex offender, according to court records online. Denny, classified as a sexual predator, was convicted in Cook County of aggravated criminal sexual abuse to a young teen when the victim was 16 and he was 38, according to the state’s sex offender registry online.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/southland-crime-battery-frankfort-shoplifting-orland-park/ 

The following items were taken from Naperville police reports and press releases. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt:

A 33-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on a charge of manufacture, distribute advertise or possess with intent a lookalike substance at 8:53 p.m. Nov. 25 in the 1200 block of East Indian Trail in Aurora.
A 35-year-old man from Chicago was arrested on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving damage to an attended vehicle at 9:55 p.m. Nov. 25 at Bailey and Modaff roads.
A 19-year-old man from Elmwood Park was arrested on charges of speeding 35 mph or more over the posted limit, reckless driving, improper lane usage, disobeying a traffic control signal and driving without insurance at 1:43 a.m. Nov. 26 at Tudor Drive and North Aurora Road.
A 23-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on a warrant at 10:12 p.m. Nov. 26 at Boughton and Plainfield Naperville roads.
A 29-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on charges of speeding 35 mph or more over the posted limit, driving under the influence of alcohol and not having a registration plate on the vehicle’s front or rear at 10:59 p.m. Nov. 26 at West Ogden and West Jefferson avenues.
A 27-year-old man from Romeoville was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving damage to an attended vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving on a registration suspended for non-insurance and driving without insurance at 12:18 a.m. Nov. 27 in the 0 to 100 block of East Jefferson Avenue.
A 22-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on charges of speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol at 1:09 a.m. Nov. 27 in the 0 to 100 block of East Jefferson Avenue.
A 32-year-old man from Chicago was arrested on charges of improper lighting and driving under the influence of alcohol at 2:37 a.m. Nov. 27 at North Washington Street an North Avenue.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/naperville-police-arrests-blotters-dui-november/ 

1 In 4 Unemployed Americans Has A Degree – The Future Of White Collar Jobs

Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/03/2025 – 10:55

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/1-4-unemployed-americans-has-degree-future-white-collar-jobs 

Por JOHN PYE

El anfitrión Australia y el tres veces campeón Nueva Zelanda quedaron el miércoles en el mismo grupo para la ampliada Copa Mundial de Rugby en 2027, con el ganador probablemente enfrentándose al campeón defensor Sudáfrica en los cuartos de final.

Nueva Zelanda, actualmente número dos en el ranking mundial fue el último equipo extraído en el sorteo por el presidente de World Rugby, Brett Robinson, en Sídney. Australia ya había sido colocada en el Grupo A por encontrase en el segundo sector de equipos que estaban clasificados del séptimo al duodécimo lugar.

“Como australiano, siempre te encanta (jugar contra) Nueva Zelanda”, afirmó el capitán de los Wallabies, Harry Wilson, antes de proponer que el enfrentamiento de la Bledisloe Cup debería ser el partido inaugural del torneo. “¡El partido de apertura de una Copa del Mundo, no hay nada mejor que eso!”

“En la Copa del Mundo, si quieres ganarla, tienes que vencer a los mejores equipos, y ellos son obviamente uno de los mejores equipos del mundo”.

Los All Blacks mantienen una racha de 11 victorias consecutivas contra Australia, dos veces campeona del mundo, que ha caído al puesto número siete en el ranking. Chile y Hong Kong completan su grupo.

Sudáfrica, que busca su tercer título consecutivo, fue el penúltimo equipo extraído en el sorteo y quedó en el Grupo B con Italia, Georgia y Rumania.

El resultado significa que los finalistas de 2023 podrían encontrarse en los cuartos de final, si tanto los Springboks como los All Blacks encabezan sus grupos.

Inglaterra, ganador de la última Copa Mundial de Rugby celebrada en Australia en 2003, quedó en el Grupo F con Gales, Tonga y Zimbabue.

Argentina, sexta en el ranking, quedó en el Grupo C con Fiyi, España y Canadá, mientras que el tres veces finalista Francia se enfrentará a Japón, Estados Unidos y Samoa en el Grupo E. Irlanda está en el Grupo D con Escocia, Uruguay y Portugal.

“Hay muchos enfrentamientos — Inglaterra-Gales, Irlanda-Escocia — hay muchos grupos que van a ser equipos que se conocen entre sí y juegan entre sí a menudo”, comentó el entrenador de Australia, Joe Schmidt. Nueva Zelanda “estará mirando a Australia y pensando, ‘Bueno, al menos sabremos contra quién nos enfrentamos’.

El entrenador de Francia, Fabien Galthié, dijo que su equipo puede ganar el torneo después de quedarse corto como favorito en casa en 2023, cuando fue derrotado agónicamente por un punto en los cuartos de final por Sudáfrica.

“Sí, esa es nuestra ambición. De manera muy clara digo que sí”, afirmó Galthié. “Francia nunca lo ha hecho y esa es nuestra ambición. Ser para siempre los primeros. La presión siempre está ahí de alguna manera y eso es normal”.

El segundo del Grupo A se enfrentará al segundo del Grupo E, probablemente Japón, en los octavos de final y probablemente a Inglaterra en los cuartos de final. Los ganadores de los Grupos C y D están sembrados para encontrarse en los cuartos de final.

Los franceses asoman como los favoritos para ganar el Grupo E, lo que establecería un partido de octavos de final contra el segundo del Grupo D y un probable cruce de cuartos de final contra el ganador del choque entre que acaben segundo en los Grupos C y F.

El torneo se amplió a 24 equipos para la edición de 2027, que comienza en Perth el 1 de octubre y culmina en una final el 13 de noviembre en Sídney.

Los equipos fueron divididos en cuatro zonas de seis según las clasificaciones de World Rugby en el momento del sorteo.

La adición de cuatro equipos implicó la creación de una ronda de octavos de final por primera vez, una etapa que el presidente de World Rugby, Robinson, predijo que “traerá mayor riesgo, drama de eliminación más temprano y aún más entretenimiento desde los primeros partidos”.

___

Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/australia-y-nueva-zelanda-quedan-en-el-mismo-grupo-del-mundial-de-rugby-2027-argentina-contra-fiyi/ 

LONDRES (AP) — Es un trofeo de la Copa Mundial de fútbol de tamaño real, ensamblado con 2.842 ladrillos de Lego.

Lego se asoció con la FIFA para anunciar el miércoles el producto que lanzará la primera gama del Mundial de la clásica marca de juguetes danesa el próximo año.

La versión de Lego del trofeo, que se presentó por primera vez en el Mundial de 1974, tendrá exactamente la misma altura de 36,8 centímetros (14 pulgadas y medio).

Sin embargo, el trofeo de ladrillos de Lego será de plástico en lugar de oro macizo de 18 quilates y malaquita verde, y será más fácil de levantar que los 6,175 kilogramos (13,6 libras) del original.

Saldrá a la venta por 200 dólares en marzo e incluirá “una escena oculta que se puede abrir a través de una lengüeta extraíble en la sección superior del globo”, dijo Lego en un comunicado.

La FIFA mantiene el trofeo original en Zúrich.

El primer Mundial masculino de 48 equipos, coorganizado por Estados Unidos, Canadá y México, será inaugurado el 11 de junio.

___

Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/lego-lanzar-rplica-a-tamao-real-del-trofeo-del-mundial-como-parte-de-acuerdo-con-fifa/ 

The College Football Playoff committee injected a little extra anxiety into Notre Dame’s week of waiting.

The Irish (10-2) dropped one spot to No. 10 on Tuesday — with Alabama (10-2) jumping to No. 9 after its 27-20 win over Auburn — in the second-to-last CFP ranking before the 12-team bracket is set Sunday.

Because two spots are guaranteed to go to lower-ranked champions from the ACC or Group of Five conferences, that means the Irish are looking to hold on to the last at-large bid during their week off — when several other teams are playing in conference championship games.

CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek said in a Tuesday night news conference that idle teams can move in the final ranking based on the results of other teams’ championship games.

“There may be something that happens in a championship game that impacts an idle team,” Yurachek said. “Whether that’s their strength of schedule or some other data point that we use, or there could be a team that suffers a significant loss in a title game.”

Conference championship games are set — and many will have big College Football Playoff implications

Despite the uncertainty, there remains an obvious path to a second straight playoff berth for Notre Dame, which has won 10 straight after opening losses to No. 12 Miami and No. 7 Texas A&M.

Here’s a look at Notre Dame’s biggest obstacles to making the playoff.

No. 11 BYU

BYU running back LJ Martin celebrates scoring a touchdown during the first half against Central Florida on Nov. 29, 2025, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

This week: The Cougars (11-1) play No. 4 Texas Tech (11-1) in the Big 12 championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday on ABC-7.

The problem: As things stand, BYU would be out of the playoff, with the final two spots behind Notre Dame going to the two highest-ranked conference champions beyond the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12.

But the Cougars can force the committee’s hand by beating Texas Tech and securing a berth as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions. That would drop the Red Raiders to 11-2.

The Red Raiders suffered their lone loss at Arizona State in October and have wins over BYU, No. 15 Utah and No. 21 Houston. That resume likely would persuade the committee to give Texas Tech an at-large bid over Notre Dame, even if it loses in the Big 12 championship game.

The good news for Notre Dame: Texas Tech won its first meeting with BYU 29-7.

No. 9 Alabama

Alabama wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks runs after a catch against Auburn during the first half on Nov. 29, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

This week: The Crimson Tide play No. 3 Georgia (11-1) in the SEC championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday on ABC-7.

The problem: The committee decided the Tide’s resume — with losses to No. 8 Oklahoma and Florida State but wins at Georgia, against No. 14 Vanderbilt and at Auburn — is better than Notre Dame’s.

Alabama leapfrogging Notre Dame after a week in which both beat unranked teams sets up the CFP to give the Tide a playoff berth even if they lose to Georgia. That would eat up one of the at-large bids Notre Dame is eyeing.

But would that change if Alabama suffers a blowout loss to the Bulldogs in the SEC championship game?

Yurachek said Alabama-Notre Dame has been one of the fiercest debates within the committee, with representatives strongly in both camps.

“It’s just Alabama in a rivalry game on the road,” Yurachek said of what pushed the Tide ahead of Notre Dame. “Auburn has been an extremely tough place to play for many teams this year, such as Georgia and Vanderbilt, and the committee gave Alabama a little respect for winning that game, getting out early 17-0. The game got tied again, and Alabama, a gutsy call there late in the game to go for it on fourth-and-2 and then getting a turnover again late in the game.

“The committee just felt like that was enough of a win, of a metric, to push Alabama ahead of Notre Dame.”

The good news for Notre Dame: Alabama currently occupies the second-to-last at-large spot, leaving another bid for the Irish to claim.

No. 12 Miami

Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney celebrates his touchdown against Notre Dame during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Aug. 31, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/TNS)

This week: Off.

The problem: The comparison between Notre Dame and Miami (10-2) has been the biggest hot-button issue in the CFP rankings all season.

The Hurricanes beat Notre Dame 27-24 in the season opener. The Irish then lost 41-40 to Texas A&M. Since then, the Notre Dame defense found its footing under new coordinator Chris Ash, and the offense started to hum behind Heisman Trophy candidate Jeremiyah Love and first-year quarterback CJ Carr. The Irish have won 10 straight, including over No. 16 USC.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes lost to unranked Louisville and SMU and are not playing in the ACC championship game. Their lone ranked win was over Notre Dame.

Despite Miami’s head-to-head advantage, the CFP committee continues to keep Notre Dame ahead of the Hurricanes by more than one spot, but the gap has been closing. Yurachek has said it’s easier to use the head-to-head criterion when teams are ranked next to one another.

If the rankings shift enough that Miami and Notre Dame are next to each other, would the committee reconsider its hierarchy?

“The head-to-head is one data point that the committee will use,” Yurachek said. “It’s obviously easier to use that data point when the teams are back-to-back as opposed to when they’re separated by a team or two or three, as has been the case.”

The good news for Notre Dame: Miami didn’t make the ACC championship game; unranked Duke and No. 17 Virginia are playing for that title. So the Hurricanes can’t do anything this week to change the mind of the committee, which clearly has favored the Irish.

Yurachek explained the committee’s thoughts on why Notre Dame was ahead of Miami on Tuesday night, noting the Hurricanes were No. 18 in the first ranking after Week 10 because they had lost two of their last three games.

“Notre Dame is the winner of 10 straight,” he said. “During that 10-game winning streak, they’ve outscored their opponents 440 to 143. They’ve been very consistent offensively in how they run the ball, in how they pass the ball, very explosive offense. I think they’re third in explosive plays.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/notre-dame-college-football-playoff-ranking/