It still doesn’t feel completely real, but the Aggies are in the College Football Playoff, hosting the Miami Hurricanes at 11 a.m. this Saturday at Kyle Field. At this point in the season, you likely know all there is to know about this A&M squad, but what can we learn about the Canes? For that, we reached out to State of the U, SB Nation’s Miami team site. Check it out.

Good Bull Hunting: Miami has had a bit of a roller coaster season, going from top five, to 18th in the initial Playoff rankings and finally sneaking in at No. 10. Quite the roller coaster season! But it’s gotten you where you wanted to be. What’s the pulse of the fanbase?

State of the U: “Rollercoaster” is a bit of hyperbole, and “sneaking in” was more a matter of the committee being outside of their rational minds for 6 weeks, but that’s besides the point. Miami is a very good team who lost 1 game because the QB had the worst game of his career, and another with a middling performance but 4 of the worst calls I’ve ever seen. STILL, losses are losses, and Miami has to move forward….and did. 

The fanbase is excited. Making the CFP was a firm non-negotiable goal for this season, so being here is a fulfillment of that vision. Don’t take that to mean we’re comfortable just being here and will phone it in. We’re excited for the opportunity, and will do our damndest to send A&M into the offseason with a 2 game losing streak. 

GBH: After a home-and-home in 23/24 (with each team winning at home), we can all agree that this is the rubber match to determine Aggie/Hurricane bragging rights for the foreseeable future, yes?

SOTU: It works out to be that way, yes. But that’s a footnote to this story, really. The importance of this game is much larger, with both teams trying to make it to a round of the playoffs they’ve never seen before. And, with little history and no future games on the books, this isn’t like Miami beating Florida by 53 points total in the last 2 years. THAT is something that we will remind them of at every available opportunity. But, it will be nice to have a CFP win, and with it bragging rights over A&M. I’ll clear a spot on my bookshelf for them. 

GBH: Carson Beck was obviously a high-profile transfer this offseason. How do you feel his time at Miami has panned out?

SOTU: Beck has been very good for Miami this year. He’s had 2 of the worst games of his career (against Florida and Louisville), but set the single-season completion percentage record, and is absolutely on fire over the last 5 games (yes, including the SMU loss). As he’s gained confidence in his reconstructed elbow, and with the ascension of superstar true freshman Malachi Toney, Beck has taken his game to the level we expected, and have previously seen. 

Even with Beck playing better than nearly every QB who has ever suited up for the Hurricanes there’s one thing he can’t overcome: following directly behind Cam Ward and the best single season that any Miami QB has ever had. It’s tough following a supernova star like Ward, who led Miami to the #1 offense in America BY FAR. People aren’t going to say it, but every discussion of Beck has an unspoken comparison to Ward and his incredible 2024 season. When making that comparison, Beck falls short. But, when evaluating his performance this season, Beck passes with flying (but not perfect) colors. 

GBH: Offensively, what does Miami do well, and what is their biggest struggle?

SOTU: Miami is one of the most efficient teams in the country. Beck completes nearly 75% of his passes, the run game is consistent if a bit pedestrian, and the offensive line is among the best in the country. Those things all combine to make the offense go. 

The biggest struggle is a lack of explosiveness. Miami is a very plodding offensive team, stringing together 12+ play scoring drives with regularity, but seldom hitting nuclear, 40+ yard touchdown plays. That’s been Miami’s biggest struggle for years…with the 2024 Cam Ward and the Bomb Squad team excluded. If Miami can’t find their way into a few 20+ yard explosives on Saturday, things could get tough for the Canes. 

GBH: Defensively, what does Miami do well, and what is their biggest weakness?

SOTU: Miami has one of the best defensive lines in the country, and they’ve taken over games and kept teams bottled up. Miami has the #6 rushing defense in the country, and that is the foundation of everything. The passing defense also allows fewer than 200 yards per game, so don’t think that just because the run defense is the top item, the other part of the picture isn’t noteworthy. 

The weakness of the defense isn’t just one thing. It was broken assignments against Notre Dame that allowed the Irish to hang around. It was missed tackles against Louisville and SMU (Miami’s 2 losses). It was the run defense against Virginia Tech. It was 3rd down defense against FSU and Syracuse (two games Miami won handily). Luckily, Miami has righted the issues after each game, so that’s a positive.

GBH: Who would you say are the Hurricanes’ five biggest playmakers?

SOTU: Easy list. On offense, the best true freshman in the country: WR Malachi Toney. And, if I had to pick only one other player, All-American RT Francis Mauigoa. (pronunciation: Maui-no-uh)

On defense, EDGEs Rueben Bain Jr. — an All-American — and Akheem Mesidor set the tempo up front. Nickel Keionte Scott would have been a finalist for the Thorpe Award, but missed several games with injury. He may return for the playoffs. And S Jakobe Thomas, a Tennessee transfer, has been sublime. Oops, I broke the prompt and gave you 6 players. My bad. 

GBH: Miami has struggled at times on the road this year, falling to SMU and struggling with FSU. How do you think they will handle what promises to be a very raucous crowd at Kyle Field?

SOTU: Miami didn’t struggle with FSU. That was a fluke of 10 minutes but whatever. 

Honestly, Miami has handled road environments well in the last 2 years. It’s really about focusing on the game, not the environment. And several key players say they like the noise of playing on the road. Carson Beck has started for 3 years at 2 schools and been to the playoffs every time. There are plenty of veteran leaders with 30+ games experience. And, though he hasn’t won at Miami yet, Cristobal has coached in major moments before. All that to say that I think this team is focused on the process, and will be ready for the moment. It’s the A&M team lining up across from them that will present the biggest hurdle, not the noise, not the stage, not the narratives. The players on your very, VERY good team. 

GBH: What does the script need to look like in order for Miami to get the dub?

SOTU: Same as it ever was: on offense, run the ball, hit timely throws, stay out of 3rd and long situations; on defense, stop the run, contain Reed from making off-script explosives, and be physical at every available opportunity. And, somebody is going to have to make a positive, game changing play in a key moment. Likely a few of them. 

GBH: Alright, prediction time. How do you see this one playing out?

SOTU: I might be in the minority here, but I believe this will be the best game of the first round of the CFP. I think these teams are near mirror images of each other from a roster construction, physicality, and athleticism standpoint. Both teams have incredible star power, and I can’t wait to see how that affects the game. 

I think Miami is playing with plenty of enthusiasm, and they’re going to beat A&M up on the DL and ride that to a win. That’s my hope, at least, so that’s what I’m going with. A classic game in a big moment. 

Final score: Miami 31, A&M 27

Thanks so much to the folks at State of the U for taking the time to chat with us. Be sure to follow them on X @TheStateoftheU and read their work atState of the U.

#BTHOmiami