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

The Miami Hurricanes outlasted the Texas A&M Aggies 27-24 in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Kyle Field on Saturday, advancing to the Cotton Bowl to face defending champion Ohio State on Dec. 31. It marked the CFP debut for both programs, with Miami having earned the final at-large playoff berth after a season-opening win over Notre Dame that helped set the stage for this showdown.

After a scoreless first half—the first such half in CFP history—the Hurricanes finally got on the board when Miami placekicker Carter Davis connected on a 21-yard field goal early in the third quarter, a kick that finally broke the drought in gusty winds that hampered kicking all day. Davis would miss three field goals in total, a rare misfire for a unit that had been reliable throughout the season, but his third-quarter make gave Miami a lead that the defense and run game would help protect the rest of the way.

The Hurricanes leaned on a patient, physical plan that eventually found its teeth in the fourth quarter. With less than two minutes remaining, Malachi Toney broke the deadlock with an 11-yard touchdown catch that capped a late Miami drive and gave the Hurricanes a 27-24 lead. It was a tiebreaking score that Miami had been seeking all game, and it arrived just as Texas A&M had mounted what looked like a final, game-winning push. The Aggies had moved into the red zone on the prior possession, but a late interception in the end zone by Marcel Reed sealed the outcome for Miami.

The game had emphasized the balance of power for Miami, which leaned on a big rushing performance from Mark Fletcher Jr. The Miami running back rushed for a career-high 172 yards, repeatedly breaking tackles and grinding out tough gains that kept the Hurricanes’ offense on schedule. Fletcher’s production bridged the gap when the passing game found its rhythm late, and his yardage helped steady a Miami offense that had been stymied by Texas A&M’s defense for much of the afternoon.

Miami’s defense also made some crucial plays, including a fourth-quarter takeaway that helped turn back one of Texas A&M’s late drives. The Aggies, who entered the game with hopes of a breakthrough performance in their CFP debut, found it difficult to sustain consistent push against a Hurricanes unit that refused to wilt under the pressure. One notable moment came when Bryce Fitzgerald picked off a pass in the fourth quarter, giving Miami the field-position boost it needed to maintain the late lead.

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed provided late drama with a scramble and a sequence into the red zone on the final drive, but his attempt to finish the game with a scoring throw was foiled by the end-zone interception, preserving the Hurricanes’ advantage. Reed’s late decision-making ultimately defined the outcome, as Miami converted just enough on offense and rode Fletcher’s relentless running to the finish.

The victory extends Miami’s season arc toward its national-championship ambitions, a banner the program has pursued since its last title in 2001. For Texas A&M, the loss deepens a national-championship drought that stretches back to 1939, a statistic the Aggies will be left to grapple with as they regroup for the next challenge.

Looking ahead, Miami will travel to Dallas to take on Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31, a date that pairs the Hurricanes with a defending champion who has dominated the playoff conversation for years. The matchup will pit Miami’s ground game and defensive resilience against a Buckeyes staff that brings broad national expectations and a history of postseason success.

This result also reshapes the CFP narrative for the season, confirming that the path to a national title remains open for a Miami program that showed grit under pressure and a late-game poise that could define its trajectory in December. The road to a potential sixth championship remains long, but the Hurricanes’ win at Kyle Field established a clear, tangible step toward that larger goal, with Fletcher’s breakout performance and Toney’s late touchdown serving as the keystone moments of an eventful playoff debut.

In the immediate aftermath, the Hurricanes celebrated a hard-fought win that they had to claw out to secure a high-stakes rematch against a storied opponent. The CFP experience for both teams will be a topic of analysis in the days to come, as Miami moves on to face a familiar, high-profile challenger in the Cotton Bowl and Texas A&M reconciles the result with a program accustomed to postseason relevance, even as its title drought persists.