Miami breaks Texas A&M’s heart with last second interception, wins 10-3
Texas A&M and Miami faced off for a brunch time brawl in College Station in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday. Here’s a recap of what turned out to be a defensive struggle and a wild finish.
The Story
It was boring, it was low scoring and in the end it was the same heartbreak that Texas A&M fans have felt for years.
Miami and Texas A&M faced off for their first round game to start off the Saturday slate, and it was offensively challenged to say the least. It was sloppy on special teams, which was aided by huge winds inside Kyle Field. And, through three quarters, there were three points scored from both teams.
In the end, Miami became the second team in the first two years of the 12 team playoff to win on the road during the first round. They also joined Alabama as the two teams that were shockingly included in the CFP over Notre Dame to win their first round games and help the committee save at least a little face with everyone outside of South Bend.
Neither offense looked great in this one. It was so bad that Texas A&M’s first play of the fourth quarter, a 15-yard completion, went for more yards than they had in the entire third quarter (14). There were four missed field goals and four turnovers. Finally, in the fourth quarter, Miami broke through as RB Mark Fletcher Jr broke his longest run of the season for 56-yards and got Miami deep in A&M territory. He was most of the offense for the Hurricanes finishing with 17 carries for 172 yards. After getting down inside the ten yard line, Miami’s do everything freshman wideout Malachi Toney was able to punch it in to take a 10-3 lead.
Texas A&M fought back on their final drive and got all the way down to the Miami five-yard line with under :30 seconds to go. Ultimately, Marcel Reed threw his second interception of the game and Miami was able to leave College Station with a win. They’ll play Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on December 31.
The Stats
0-4: Marcel Reed had 31 touchdowns in his first 11 games of the season. In the Aggies final two games against Texas and Miami, he had zero and threw four interceptions.
6: College kickers have missed six field goals through the first two games of this year’s College Football Playoff. Miami and Texas A&M missed four today.
103: Texas A&M was held to 103 yards less rushing than their season average. Coming into this game they were second in the SEC with over 192 rushing yards per game.
7: Texas A&M’s offensive line led the SEC in fewest sacks allowed this season with just 12 allowed in their first 12 games. Miami had seven on Saturday against a Texas A&M offensive line with 177 combined starts.
The Social Media reaction
The CFP committee after Miami and Alabama won their playoff game pic.twitter.com/r3gHog6obM
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) December 20, 2025
Miami only won because Texas A&M was worn down by the grind of the SEC schedule
— Three Year Letterman (@3YearLetterman) December 20, 2025
Mark Fletcher Jr. when Miami needed him most pic.twitter.com/Og8KO3JY90
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) December 20, 2025
Michael Irvin on the Miami sidelines looking like a man who hasn’t experienced playoff success in decades. pic.twitter.com/VX2DOi40wl
— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) December 20, 2025
Mike Elko on Texas A&M’s offensive struggles against Miami
“We lost the game at the line of scrimmage. I think it got worse in the second half.
“We just couldn’t keep them off us. We couldn’t get the run game established.
“We became one-dimensional.” pic.twitter.com/pVUmbVkO7e
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) December 20, 2025
My god the stench of A&M and Miami fans in one place must smell like an active landfill with Axe body spray crop dusted on top
— Three Year Letterman (@3YearLetterman) December 20, 2025
Miami lost in one of these stadiums. Can you guess which one? pic.twitter.com/sujo6DYneB
— PonyACCess (@ACCessPony) December 20, 2025
Miami/Texas A&M highlights pic.twitter.com/CprJeYxL8s
— Pypeline (@Pypeline_) December 20, 2025
After watching Texas A&M and Miami today, I can confidently say that Notre Dame already lost to both of these teams.
— Jon Tweets Sports (@jontweetssports) December 20, 2025
