Dec. 8, 2025, 6:04 a.m. CT

Texas A&M finished the 2025 regular season with an 11-1 record, including a 7-1 finish in SEC play, and despite losing to rival Texas 27-17 at the end of the year, the Aggies secured the No. 7 seed in the College Football Playoff, and, instead of the predicted rematch vs. Notre Dame, No. 10 Miami (FL) (10-2) will head to Kyle Field for an early first round game on Saturday, December 20.

Sunday’s final CFP rankings were as controversial as we all assumed they’d be after 7-5 Duke defeated Virginia in the ACC Title Game, resulting in Tulane and JMU earning the 11 and 12 seeds, and leaving Texas, BYU, and Vanderbilt on the outside looking in. After defeating Notre Dame earlier this season, it was more than fair to include Miami instead of the Fighting Irish, who both ended the regular season with identical 10-2 records.

On paper, Texas A&M and Miami are very similar on both sides of the ball, as starting quarterbacks Marcel Reed and Carson Beck both threw for 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, combined with defensive lines that produced over 30 sacks, and offensive lines that allowed just 11 (Miami) and 12 (Texas A&M ) sacks on the year.

It’s no wonder the committee thought this would be a good matchup. For Aggie fans, they’ll be familiar with the broadcast crew on ABC and ESPN, as Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath, and Taylor McGregor will call the game and report from the sidelines three weeks after calling Texas A&M’s loss to Texas.

After Texas A&M was selected as the No. 7 seed, McElroy, like most of us in the college football media landscape, felt the Aggies deserved a higher seed, possessing a higher-ranked strength of schedule and strength of record.

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“If I’m A&M, I have a bit of a gripe. Look at their strength of schedule at 16th, sitting one spot behind Ole Miss, who’s strength of schedule is 41st.”

Texas A&M vs. Miami will air on ABC and ESPN at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20.

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