Abella Danger moment draws attention as Miami tops Texas A&M in CFP, setting up Ohio State showdown

ESPN’s broadcast of the College Football Playoff first-round game between the Hurricanes and Texas A&M drew social-media attention when it showed Abella Danger, a Miami native and full-time student at the university, in the crowd at College Station during the second half. The moment came as No. 7 Miami defeated No. 3 Texas A&M 10-3 to advance to a CFP quarterfinal against No. 2 Ohio State on Dec. 31.

Miami seized a late lead after a scoreless tie for much of the game, with quarterback Carson Beck connecting with wide receiver Malachi Toney for an 11-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to give the Hurricanes the edge. The decisive drive came after a 3-3 stalemate, and Miami held on to complete a victory that kept its CFP hopes alive despite intense scrutiny of its selection earlier in the season.

Danger, a prominent Miami figure with an estimated 9.4 million Instagram followers, posted about the moment on social media after the game. In an Instagram Story, she said the late touchdown and the team’s win brought her to tears, writing, “Ya’ll I never imagined a touchdown could make me cry the way a touchdown made me cry toray [sic]. Okay I’m done talking about the game but honestly i have never in my life witnessed anything like that.” Danger’s post underscored the broad fan reaction the moment generated online as Miami celebrated the victory.

The win capped a controversial path to the CFP for Miami, which had secured the final at-large bid after its August victory over Notre Dame. Notre Dame, which had reached the national championship game in January, was left out of the field, fueling ongoing debate about the selection criteria and the Hurricanes’ placement in the playoff field.

Miami’s next test comes in a CFP quarterfinal against Ohio State, the second seed, on Dec. 31. The matchup pits the Hurricanes against a team that has been a consistent title favorite, and the result will determine whether Miami can advance to the playoff semifinals. The game drew heightened attention not only for the on-field stakes but also for the high-profile social-media moment that followed the broadcast.

As the season neared its end, fans and analysts weighed the performance of Miami in the broader context of the playoff field, including the program’s controversial path to the tournament and how it fared against a top-tier Texas A&M squad. Regardless of the discussions surrounding the selection process, the Hurricanes secured a spot in the CFP quarterfinals and will face one of college football’s perennial powers as they chase a historic run through the playoff field.