Miami outlasts Texas A&M in CFP debut, advances to Cotton Bowl
Hurricanes hold off Aggies, cap late TD by Malachi Toney with 1:52 left; Carter Davis missed three field goals in gusty conditions as Miami advances to face Ohio State
Miami outlasted Texas A&M 10-3 in a College Football Playoff first-round game at Kyle Field, advancing to the Cotton Bowl to face defending champion Ohio State on Dec. 31. The Hurricanes earned the win behind a late, tiebreaking touchdown and a stingy defensive performance, denying the Aggies a chance to extend their season.
Miami’s victory was powered by a late scoring drive that culminated in Malachi Toney’s 11-yard touchdown catch with 1:52 remaining, giving the Hurricanes the lead and the final margin. The game’s only other points came on a 21-yard field goal by Miami kicker Carter Davis early in the third quarter, after what was described as the first scoreless first half in CFP history, as winds gusted through Kyle Field. The field goal finally put points on the board after a defensive standoff that dominated the opening 30 minutes.
Miami’s offense leaned on running back Mark Fletcher Jr., who finished with a career-best 172 yards on the ground, helping to control the clock and keep Texas A&M’s offense bottled up for much of the day. Miami’s defense delivered several key stops, and cornerback Bryce Fitzgerald provided a critical insurance play with an interception in the fourth quarter that helped seal the win for the Hurricanes. The Aggies had driven into the red zone late, presenting a legitimate opportunity to force overtime, but quarterback Marcel Reed threw the interception in the end zone as time expired.
The win keeps Miami’s title hopes alive, extending their pursuit of a sixth national championship and their first since 2001. Next up, the Hurricanes will meet Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 31. The loss also snaps a long drought for Texas A&M, which has not won a national championship since 1939.
The result also fits into the broader context of Miami’s postseason trajectory this season: the Hurricanes earned the final at-large playoff berth over Notre Dame with a season-opening 27-24 win over the Fighting Irish, setting the stage for their CFP run. The win over Texas A&M marks a milestone in a postseason where every game carries high stakes and a chance to redefine a program’s trajectory for the new year.
In the immediate aftermath, analysts highlighted Miami’s resilience in adverse conditions, keeper-ball control, and the defense’s ability to limit a potent Aggies offense. Texas A&M, meanwhile, will regroup after an offense that struggled to sustain drives in hostile weather, with Reed’s late turnover serving as the last crossroad of their season. While both programs competed at a high level on one of college football’s biggest stages, the day ultimately belonged to Miami’s late-game execution and defensive resolve.
As the Cotton Bowl spotlight awaits, Miami will look to build on this blueprint: balanced rushing, a tight backfield, and a defense that can bend but rarely break in critical moments. The Aggies, left to ponder what might have been on a night when a single play defined the outcome, will aim to regroup for next season as they work toward returning to national prominence.
In the longer arc of the season, both programs had clear stories of progress and persistence, whether Miami’s climb in a loaded playoff field or Texas A&M’s effort to rebound from a challenging schedule with a young quarterback at the helm. The implications of this first-round result extend beyond the wind and the final score, shaping expectations for both programs heading into bowl season and the next wave of recruiting battles and conference play.