Miami outlasts Texas A&M in dramatic CFP debut, advances to Cotton Bowl

Miami earned the final at-large College Football Playoff spot over Notre Dame with a 27-24 victory over Texas A&M in the CFP first-round game at Kyle Field on Saturday, advancing to the Cotton Bowl to face defending champion Ohio State on Dec. 31. The decisive moment came when Malachi Toney, Miami's wide receiver, captured an 11-yard touchdown with under two minutes remaining to break a 24-24 tie and put the Hurricanes in front for good.

Texas A&M twice moved into field-goal range late, but the Aggies could not corral a tying score. The biggest swing came when Miami's kicker Carter Davis missed three field goals in gusty winds, including a 21-yard try in the third quarter that finally put the Hurricanes on the scoreboard after the first scoreless half in CFP history. The Canes found balance behind a productive ballcarrying effort from Mark Fletcher Jr., who rushed for a career-high 172 yards on 25 carries to anchor the offense.

Miami's defense tightened in the final minutes as Texas A&M attempted to mount a comeback. In the closing moments, Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed tried to orchestrate a scoring drive in the red zone, but an end-zone interception sealed Miami's victory and prevented overtime.

Miami's win keeps alive the program's bid for a sixth national championship and its first since 2001. The Hurricanes will travel to Dallas to meet Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 31, a matchup that will pit two of the sport's most storied programs against each other. Texas A&M, meanwhile, saw its national-title drought stretch at least another season, with the Aggies continuing to search for a championship that has eluded them since 1939.

The CFP debut for both teams drew the attention of college football fans as the Hurricanes navigated a difficult road to the playoff field, while the Aggies aimed to vault back into national contention after a season of high expectations. The wind-driven conditions added an element of unpredictability, particularly for the kicking game, but Miami found enough offense to survive a late scare and earn a meaningful postseason matchup with a legitimate title contending program.

The win also reinforced a narrative about the Hurricanes’ resilience and depth. Fletcher's breakout performance underscored Miami's commitment to a bruising ground game, while Toney's late-score connection underscored the team's big-play ability when it matters most. For Texas A&M, the result was another setback in the broader pursuit of a national title, one that has remained elusive for the program since the 1939 season.