Miami Stuns Texas A&M as Aggies’ Playoff Run Ends in Defensive Battle
So here’s what happened in one of the most surprising and tense games of the opening round of the College Football Playoff, and unfortunately for Texas A&M fans, it didn’t end the way they hoped. On Saturday night in College Station, the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies were upset 10–3 by the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes in a game that was defined far more by defense, missed chances, and late drama than flashy offense.
Coming into the matchup, Texas A&M was favored and playing at home, while Miami had only just slipped into the playoff field after the final CFP rankings were revealed earlier in December. Still, from the very beginning, it was clear this was going to be a grind-it-out type of game. In fact, history was made in the wrong way, as the first half ended scoreless, marking the first time a College Football Playoff game had gone into halftime with a 0–0 score.
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Opportunities were there for the Aggies, but they kept slipping away. Field goals were missed, drives stalled, and turnovers crept in at the worst moments. Texas A&M struggled to convert on third and fourth downs, and three costly turnovers would ultimately define their night. Miami wasn’t exactly sharp either, missing multiple field goals of their own, but their defense consistently bent without breaking.
The second half finally brought points, though not many. Miami opened the scoring with a field goal, and after more back-and-forth punts and missed chances, Texas A&M managed to tie the game in the fourth quarter with a short field goal after a long, exhausting drive. At that point, it felt like the Aggies might finally be turning the momentum in their favor.
Instead, the game swung sharply the other way. Miami put together their best drive of the night, covering 86 yards in just six plays. That drive was powered almost entirely by running back Mark Fletcher Jr., whose explosive runs carved up the Aggies’ defense. The drive ended with the game’s only touchdown, a short pass to freshman receiver Malachi Toney with under two minutes remaining.
Texas A&M wasn’t done yet. The Aggies moved quickly down the field and reached the Hurricanes’ five-yard line with seconds left, setting up a potential game-tying moment. But on third down, Miami freshman cornerback Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted quarterback Marcel Reed in the end zone, sealing the upset and ending Texas A&M’s playoff hopes.
While Miami moves on to face Ohio State in the quarterfinals, Texas A&M is left to look back on a season that ended with missed opportunities and a playoff game where defense ruled, but offense never quite showed up when it mattered most.
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