The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Texas A&M Aggies College Football Playoff 2025 Edition

THE MIAMI HURRICANES WENT INTO KYLE FIELD AND BEAT THE #7 SEED TEXAS A&M AGGIES TO ADVANCE TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a hard fought, defensive slugfest, but Miami found a way to win the game 10-3 over the Aggies. Wow. WOW WOW WOW!!!!

Mike Schiffman pulled double duty with your game recap and 3 stars:

Let’s get into this edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly:

The Good

• A win! Winning is hard, and I’m never taking it for granted. IDC IDC IDC.
• IN THEIR PLAYOFF DEBUT, MIAMI WON A PLAYOFF GAME!!!
• THIS IS WHAT WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR!!! THIS IS WHAT WE’VE BEEN BUILDING THIS PROGRAM FOR!!! THIS MOMENT!!! THIS ACHIEVEMENT!!! THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT!!!!!!!!!
• I’m going to start up top: credit to Head Coach Mario Cristobal. He said he had a vision to get Miami back to the level of competing for championships, and this is proof of concept. No, it wasn’t perfect, and no, the job’s not done, but this is the biggest win for Miami in 23 years, and that’s a credit to Cristobal’s vision, and the realization of the vision.
• RB Mark Fletcher Jr. A career-high 172 yards on 17 carries, including a career-long 56 yard run on the game-winning touchdown drive. A&M struggled all year to stop inside runs, and Fletcher took full advantage of that deficiency.
• WR Malachi Toney. While the numbers weren’t the biggest he’s had, his late rushing TD game Miami the points they needed to win the game, and that’s good in my personal opinion.
• Toney’s numbers: 5 catches for 22 yards and a TD, 3 carries for 9 yards, 0/1 passing, 4 punt returns for 82 yards (long of 55). Again, not the most eye-popping numbers from him, but they were enough to help propel Miami to a huge, HUGE win.
• EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. 5 tackles, 4 TFLs, 3 sacks. For someone who “wouldn’t be an issue” for A&M’s offensive line to handle, he sure did a lot to help Miami win today.
• EDGE Akheem Mesidor. 5 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks. He, also, abused the A&M OL who talked shit for the last 2 weeks. You love to see it.
• Nickel Keionte Scott. In his return from a turf toe injury, the star DB had 10 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble. And he didn’t even start today. Regardless, he was his normal incredible self, and that helped Miami win the game.
• Safety Bryce Fitzgerald. The true freshman is always around the ball, and had 2 interceptions on the day, including the game-winning pick in the endzone to end A&M’s last gasp drive.
• Safety Jakobe Thomas. 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sack.
• Linebacker Mo Toure. 8 tackles, 1 pbu, which came on a contested catch in the endzone just one play before Fitzgerald’s game-winning interception. HUGE.
• Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe. 7 tackles.
• Defensive Tackles Justin Scott, David Blay Jr., Armondo Blount, and Ahmad Moten Sr. Though their statistical impact wasn’t as large as other positions, that quartet was integral in stifling A&M’s run game, providing constant interior pressure in passing situations, and dominated the vaunted A&M OL. Blount had a fumble recovery, but every one of these players was integral to this win.
• Honestly, the defense as a whole. If you played today for Miami, you deserve credit. This was a clinic of the highest order.
• No offensive line penalties. For all the talk of the Kyle Field environment impacting Miami’s OL, there was no effect. None. Zero. Not a false start. Not a holding. Not a hands to the face. NADA. And that makes me SO happy to say.
• Nickel Keionte Scott forced a fumble, and DL Armondo Blount recovered! That’s the first big play of the game for the Canes!

• EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. with a blocked FG to keep the game scoreless! YESSIR!!!!!

• LB Cam “Bobby” Pruitt with a HUGE hit on a punt return right as the receiver caught the ball. It’s a wonder A&M didn’t fumble that. Legit have no idea how he didn’t.
• WR Malachi Toney with a 55 yard punt return that was 1 step away from scoring, but a diving play by an A&M defender tripped him up by a shoestring. Great play to flip the field but DAMN!

• Miami stayed in punt safe defense, and stopped an A&M fake punt just before the half. Great rush by EDGE Akheem Mesidor, great coverage by S Bryce Fitzgerald!!!!!
• Miami finally broke the seal, scoring with a field goal on the first drive of the 3rd quarter.

• True Freshman S Bryce Fitzgerald with an interception, and return to the A&M 20 yard line!!!!

• RB Mark Fletcher with the run of his life. 56 yards down to the A&M 30 yard line to set Miami up for the go-ahead score.

• Superstar WR Malachi Toney scored on a jet sweep touch pass to give Miami a 10-3 lead!!!

• TRUE FRESHMAN SAFETY BRYCE FITZGERALD WITH THE GAME WINNING INTERCEPTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 175 yards rushing
• 5.7 yards per play
• 6.3 yards per rush — 2nd highest of the year (6.63 vs Bethune) and highest against FBS competition all season.
• 9 chunk plays — 2 passes (15+), 7 runs (10+)
• Only allowed 5 chunk plays — 3 passes (15+), 2 runs (10+)
• 9 TFLs
• 7 sacks
• 3 turnovers created — Scott forced fumble recovered by Blount, Fitzgerald interception x2
• +2 turnover margin
• Blocked FG — Bain
• Held A&M to 326 yards of offense
• Held A&M to 237 yards passing
• Held A&M to 89 yards rushing
• Held A&M to 4.3 yards per play
• Held A&M to 2.5 yards per carry
• Held A&M to 0/1 on 4th down
• Held A&M to 1/3 red zone scoring
• Held star A&M WR KC Concepcion to 4 catches for 33 yards. Had to address his impact, and we did.
• The advanced stats chart tells the story of a defensive rock fight, which Miami won. So the defensive stuff, great. The offensive stuff, bad (but I’m only putting this in one place).

The Bad

• Allowing a long, 13 play drive to start the game for A&M. This included 3 3rd down conversions, and 2 of those were QB scrambles where the LB spy failed miserably. Gotta do better.
• A quick 5 play drive, and a failed 3rd down on Miami’s first offensive drive. Gotta sustain possession better.
• Miami stalled quickly after getting an early turnover on a fumble. The offense really struggled early to sustain drives.
• Settling for a FG on the first drive of the 3rd quarter. I know those were the first points in the game, but when you’re in the low red zone, you HAVE TO come away with touchdowns.
• DT David Blay Jr. with a BAD offsides (with contact) to give A&M a 3rd down conversion early in the 4th quarter. Moment is too big for that, my man. I don’t care that that was Miami’s first non-intentional delay of game penalty of the day. Can’t have it. Period.
• DL Armondo Blount with a BAD roughing the passer penalty (helmet to helmet contact) on the final drive. Gifted A&M 15 yards on a play they completed for a nice gain. You can’t have that, even if their QB flopped, and your helmet hit his because you’re the same height and it wasn’t malicious. You can’t have it. Can’t even be in the vicinity to potentially have it.
• 4 penalties for 30 yards
• 2/3 red zone scoring
• Allowed 6 TFLs
• Allowed 2 sacks
• Allowed 21 first downs
• Allowed 8/18 on 3rd down (most conversions allowed all year)
• Allowed 33:14 time of possession (season-high for an opponent)

The Ugly

• Miami had 45 yards on the first 5 offensive drives.
• Miami with 69 yards total in the first half. That’s the fewest yards of the season, and the fewest 1H yards ever in the CFP.
• Beck started 6/8….for 9 yards on those drives.
• QB Carson Beck. Yes, he got Miami into the right play often in the run game, but he had the worst passing day of his long career. 14/20 (70% completions) for a paltry 103 yards and a touchdown. No interceptions, though.
• K Carter Davis. 1/4 on FG attempt. One. For. Four. 3 misses!!!!! YOU CANNOT HAVE THAT!!!!
• Miami called the offensive game like we had a true freshman QB in his first start. Baffling with a player of Beck’s skill, experience, and performance history.
• Miami went 0/5 on 3rd down on those drives.
• Season-low 49 offensive plays
• Season-low 278 yards of offense
• 7.4 yards per completion
• Season-low 103 yards passing
• Season-low 12 1st downs
• Season-low 3/12 on 3rd down (tied for % with Syracuse game, but worst raw number of times stopped)
• 4 penalties for 30 yards. Yes, I put this in bad and ugly, because 2 of the late penalties helped A&M walk down the field for a potential game-tying score. Worked out, but in a vacuum, those are ugly, ugly penalties to have against us.
• Miami missed a FG after Toney’s 55 yard punt return gave them the ball inside the 30.
• K Carter Davis missed a pair of FG attempts badly. Both wide right. The 2nd one just before the half was so far from the uprights it literally wasn’t in the camera shot from behind the goal posts.
• Oh hey. Davis missed YET ANOTHER kick, this time doinking it off the upright. That made him 1 for 4 on the day.
• Miami got a pair of A&M turnovers. They scored 0 points afterwards. That’s how you lose.
• Star WR Malachi Toney with a tough catch, but is stripped while trying to spin out of a tackle, fumbled, and it was recovered by A&M. It’s just one play, and he bounced back with the go-ahead score, but this could have cost Miami the game.

Team Grades

Offense: C-

This is a very “C’s get degrees” grade, but should realistically be lower. We passed this test — BARELY — so I’m playing a bit of the result here.

Miami’s passing game was non-existent. I know we want to give Malachi Toney the ball, but A&M was keyed up to stop him, and for the majority of the game that’s exactly what they did. Carson Beck was treated with kid gloves, as though he were a true freshman in his first-ever start. Credit to A&M’s defense, the best we’ve seen this season BY FAR, but the gameplan, and execution of the gameplan, left much to be desired on offense.

Defense: A+ x$2.5+Million

This was a MASTERCLASS from DC Corey Hetherman and the Miami defense. Texas A&M’s offensive line, a very, VERY good group, talked shit for 2 weeks, and got straight dominated by Miami’s defensive front. Constant pressure without the need to blitz, 9 TFLS, 7 sacks, and 2.5 yards per carry. And only 3 points allowed. What more could you want?!

The grade is A+ times $2.5million…or whatever the number of the raise that’s needed to keep Hetherman in Coral Gables. He’s a star in the making, and it’s only a matter of time until someone makes him their head coach. Until then, pay him whatever it takes to keep him in Coral Gables. WHATEVER IT TAKES. And I know this is supposed to be about the players, but I can’t wait until the next part to talk about Hetherman.

Back to the players, Rueben Bain took the trash talk personally, and delivered. Akheem Mesidor was a monster. I already talked about all 4 of the DTs up top. Linebacker play was solid, but had a couple moments of concern in coverage, and especially spying Marcel Reed. Still, I’ll take it.

The return of Keionte Scott was as seismic as we thought it would be. He’s incredible, and would have been an All-American and Thorpe Finalist (if not winner) if he hadn’t missed games with his foot injury. He changes everything to take Miami’s defense from very good to elite, and having him back was great to see.

Lastly but definitely not least: Bryce Fitzgerald. Not gonna lie to y’all: I didn’t think he’d be nearly this good. But boy am I glad I was wrong. He’s got a knack for the ball, and made 2 incredible interceptions, including the game-winning pick in the end zone to seal the victory. He’s incredible, I was wrong, and I can’t wait to see where his performance takes Miami in the short term, and where his development takes him long term.

Special Teams: F

Kickoffs were great. Punting was below average. Davis went 1/4 on FG attempts. ONE. FOR. FOUR.

The coverage units were great, especially Cam Pruitt with that huge hit.

And Malachi Toney is a monster in the punt return game. He brings explosiveness that his predecessors simply didn’t possess. He had a 55 yard punt return that was a literal inch (defender swiped the back of his ankle to make him trip) from going to the ‘partments for a touchdown. He’s a threat to score every time he has the ball and a joy to watch in the open field.

But again. Miami’s kicker went one. for. four. on FG attempts. It’s a miracle we won this game with that putrid performance from Davis.

Coaching: A+

This is the aggregate grade, because Miami won the biggest game for the program in 23 years. We can (and will) nitpick individual performance in a second, but overall, this staff had the team ready to go, and guided them to a hard-fought victory in a tough environment against the best team we’ve played all year, in the biggest game in over 2 decades. A+ and I won’t hear otherwise.

HC Mario Cristobal: B. Yes, there were some time management issues in 1H and 4th down kick vs go decisions that were dubious at best, but he had this team ready to play, kept them focused and engaged, and directed them to victory, close, low scoring, and intermittently sloppy though it was. IT WAS NOT PERFECT, but this is a damn good job to win a game that he personally, and Miami collectively, likely would have lost in the last 20 years. But we didn’t lose. We WON. And I’m giving Cristobal credit for his part in that.

OC Shannon Dawson: D-. The saving grace was the win, but this was putrid. Miami was gashing A&M with inside runs, something the Aggies struggled with all year long….but then Dawson went away from it. I think he got too comfy with the offense being “press the Malachi Toney button”, and when A&M did everything to take Toney away, Dawson had no answers. But the answer was right in front of him: RUN THE FUCKING BALL!!!! Mark Fletcher’s first 3 carries gained 7, 10, and 17 yards, respectively. We should have pounded the rock all day. But Dawson went deep into his #MaliCat/trick play series of offense….and it simply wasn’t working. Combine that with calling plays like Carson Beck was a true freshman in his first start, and I have many, MANY questions and complaints for Dawson. A win is a win so it’s not an F, but that’s only because at the end of the game tied at 3, Dawson got his head out of his ass and ran the ball between the tackles and gashed A&M immediately.

DC Corey Hetherman: A+ x(insert retention amount of $ here). What can I say that I haven’t already said? Hetherman has been one of the best coordinators in the country, exactly what Miami needed to revamp this defense, and his unit just held Texas A&M — a team that averaged 36 points per game — to not only the lowest total of the season, the lowest total for an Aggies team since they lost to Ole Miss 23-3……IN OCTOBER OF 2015!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FAM!!!!!!! WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT?!?!?!?!?!?!

I know I’ve picked nits, but kudos to all the staff, at every level, in every department, for helping get this team to this victory.

WOOOO!!! MIAMI MOVES ON TO THE CFP QUARTERFINALS!!!!!!

That’s it for this installment of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Hop in the comments and let me know your thoughts.

Go Canes