The Texas A&M Aggies fell to the Miami Hurricanes in a defensive battle, losing 10-3 in the first round of the CFP at Kyle Field. This is not the ending Coach Elko and his team envisioned after locking up their first playoff game, and they will be back to the drawing board for next season.
For the better part of 60 minutes, the Aggie defense gave Marcel Reed a fighting chance to take over the game, but that moment never came. Every time the offense would get the ball in scoring position, they could not close the deal. The running game never got going, and Marcel Reed wasn’t accurate enough when they truly needed him to be.
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Now, for the next few days, they will have to deal with all the outside noise, coaching changes, the transfer portal, and an early start to constructing next season’s roster. They have some key players returning, and Coach Elko is on a freshly signed deal to continue elevating the Aggies to new heights.
Here are the individuals who stood out—and those who need to elevate their game after the first-round loss to Miami:
Stock Up: Mario Craver
Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Mario Craver (1) runs the ball abasing Miami Hurricanes cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) during first half of the first round game of the CFP National Playoff at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
In his first game back at 100% health, Craver led all receivers with 95 yards and a handful of key plays that kept the Aggies within striking distance. He just inked a new deal and will be back next season to keep the momentum going.
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Game Stats: 7 receptions, 92 yards
Stock Up: Tyler Onyedim
Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim (11) celebrates a sack during first half of the first round game of the CFP National Playoff against the Miami Hurricanes at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Onyedim was the most disruptive defender on the Aggie side of the ball. He was in the backfield all night and recorded one of the two sacks logged by A&M. He’s been a solid addition to the IDL rotation, and there will be some big shoes to fill next season.
Game Stats: 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Stock Up: Dalton Brooks
Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies safety Dalton Brooks (25) reacts after stripping the ball from Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (10) during the second half of the first round game of the CFP National Playoff at Kyle Field.
Brooks has been one of the few Aggies this entire season to create turnovers consistently, and he forced a huge fumble to give the Aggies a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter. While it didn’t materialize, it’s a great foreshadowing of what hopefully will be a big year for Brooks in 2026.
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Game Stats: 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Stock Down: Offensive line
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – DECEMBER 20: Marcel Reed #10 of the Texas A&M Aggies drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2025 College Football Playoff First Round Game at Kyle Field on December 20, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
This was just a bad day overall for the A&M offensive line. With a veteran group and several NFL-caliber players, they were beaten far too often, never allowing the running game or Reed to find a rhythm.
Game Stats: 82 rushing yards, 2.5 average, 0 touchdowns, 7 sacks
Stock Down: Marcel Reed
Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) drops back to pass against the Miami Hurricanes during first half of the first round game of the CFP National Playoff at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
For the second game in a row, Reed failed to throw a passing touchdown and was out of sync all game long. It’s unfortunate because he had a good season, but the pressure was too much to handle, forcing him to commit several costly turnovers.
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Game Stats: 25/39 completions, 237 passing yards, 2 interceptions / 15 rushes, 57 yards, 1 fumble
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: A&M football stock report following the CFP, 10-3 loss to Miami (FL)