Game Details

Matchup: 10 Miami Hurricanes at 7 Texas A&M

Date: Saturday, 12/20/2025

Recent History

Last matchup: September 9th, 2023 – Texas A&M 33, Miami 48

All-time series record: Miami 3 wins, Texas A&M 2 wins

Last game at Texas A&M: 17-9 wins for the Aggies in 2022

Miami Hurricanes Outlook

The Miami Hurricanes are back to competing for national championships as they have made the College Football Playoff for the first time. The fans and the university have been waiting for this program to get back to its winning ways and tradition of playing meaningful games in late December, and here we are.

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The Canes are led by their incredible defense, with Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor at the forefront of it all. According to PFF, Bain has recorded 58 pressures, including seven sacks. While sack production isn’t dominant, he draws a lot of double teams, freeing up everyone else on the defensive line. Mesidor, who a lot of NFL scouts believe can sneak into the first round, has recorded 44 pressures, including eight sacks (missed one game in the regular season).

They are undoubtedly one of the best pass-rushing duos in the country and will require all the attention on Saturday from the Aggies. Under first-year coordinator Corey Hetherman, the Hurricanes rank sixth in scoring defense (allowing 13.8 points per game), seventh in rushing defense (allowing 86.8 rushing yards per game), and 11th in total defense (allowing 277.8 total yards per game). To finish the year, Miami needed to win out and impress the playoff committee with dominant wins. In that span, the defense allowed 41 points combined across the four games.

The defense may have the return of nickel Keionte Scott, who PFF has graded the third-best player on the Miami defense. That would be tremendous if he could make a return and a boost to a defense that is already outstanding.

On the offensive side of the ball, Carson Beck ended the regular season on a heater. In the month of November, he completed over 76% of his passes for nearly 1,400 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. He threw three interceptions in that span, but for the season, Beck has thrown 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. What’s been impressive about Beck is his ability to play well on the road. When on the road, Beck completes 76% of his passes (three points higher than at home) and has a 13:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

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His main target and best offensive player has a lot to do with that. Malachi Toney has recorded:

84 receptions (led all FBS freshmen)

970 receiving yards (new Miami freshman receiving record)

7 receiving touchdowns (tied for most by a UM freshman)

89 rushing yards (over five yards per carry)

That is his real statistical numbers for his freshman year at Miami. It may look like video game numbers, because in reality, it is. When you include his punt return yards, Toney has recorded over 1,300 all-purpose yards this season.

I don’t know if that was enough to tell you about this young man, but when it is all said and done, he may be one of the best Hurricanes to play in this program, and that is saying a lot. With that being said, he will be a significant factor in this offense on Saturday.

Other notable offensive players are a future first-round pick OT Francis Mauigoa, RB Mark Fletcher Jr, WR CJ Daniels, and a sneaky one, RB Girard Pringle Jr.

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In their last three games, the offense has averaged over 470 total yards and nearly seven yards per play. On the flip side, the Aggies did not end the season on a high note.

Texas A&M Outlook

The Aggies, just like Miami at one point during the season, were on top of the college football world. They were one of the best teams in the country, trending toward a top-four seed and securing that first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.

But they ended the season looking different.

Texas A&M had to complete the biggest comeback in school history to defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field after being down 27 points at halftime. The Aggies came back and won the game 31-30, but didn’t look great at all in the process of doing so. The last game of the regular season was the rivalry game against the Texas Longhorns, which they lost, 27-17. A big reason was due to Marcel Reed’s inconsistent play down the stretch.

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The quarterback is one of the best dual-threat players in the country (466 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns this season), but Reed has times when he’s not at his best. On third down this season, Reed has thrown for four touchdowns and three interceptions. His completion percentage is 49% on third downs. Whenever Reed is in a 3rd and six or longer situation, his completion percentage drops to 45%.

When defenses get the Aggies into obvious passing situations, Reed struggles, but he has great playmakers around him. Out of the teams in the College Football Playoff, Texas A&M leads all teams with over seven YAC yards per reception. WR KC Concepcion has 886 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns this year. Mario Craver is another playmaker who has 825 yards and four touchdowns. He is also used in the Aggie running game.

But just like Miami, what makes Texas A&M great is its stout defense.

The Aggies have the best opposing third-down conversion percentage in the country at 22.7%. They are tied at the top of the FBS in sacks with 41, and rank 19th overall in defense (309.8 yards per game).

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Cashius Howell is at the forefront of that defense, as he’s recorded 12 sacks and 40 total pressures. PFF has graded S Marcus Ratcliffe as one of their better defensive players this season, and he has been backing that up on tape. He is second on the team in tackles and lines up almost everywhere for Mike Elko.

Dayon Hayes is the other pass rusher alongside Howell who has been pressuring the quarterback at a great clip (30 pressures, but only four sacks). Elko is known for being one of the best defensive minds in college football, and his matchup against OC Shannon Dawson will be one to watch in the battle of the playcallers on Saturday.

What’s at Stake

To move on and play in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: The winner awaits the Ohio State Buckeyes and Jerry’s World on December 31st.

National relevance: If Miami wins this game, it further proves to high school kids and even college players that Miami is a true contender going forward.

Prediction

Miami and Texas A&M are virtually identical to each other in terms of personnel and how they have been. Both teams have been at the top of the college football world this season, only to drop off. With that being said, these teams don’t get the respect they deserve, still, for how great they are.

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The trenches will be an interesting battle, but I believe that the Canes have shown me more on both sides of the ball than the Aggies, with all due respect. I favor them in that matchup, which will be crucial.

It’s going to come down to two things. There is one certainty, and it’s that the defenses of both teams are going to show up and continue to play great like they’ve had all season. The quarterback who plays clean and effective football will lead their team to victory. The last factor is which game-changer will turn the game on its head.

In this matchup, I like Toney to be the ultimate game-changer and win this game for Miami at the end.

Final Score Prediction: Miami 30, Texas A&M 23