In a defensive slugfest that lived up to the stakes, No. 10 seed Miami pulled off a gritty 10–3 victory over No. 7 Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday in College Station, Texas. The Hurricanes advanced to the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic to face No. 2 Ohio State on Dec. 31, 2025, earning their first CFP win in program history. What made the game even more memorable was the redemption story of freshman receiver Malachi Toney, who erased a costly mistake with a clutch, go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. (Jacksonville Journal-Courier)
A Defensive Battle From the Start
This game was not decided by offensive fireworks — far from it. Both teams came into the matchup boasting strong units, but Miami’s defense set the tone early. The Hurricanes harassed Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, part of a defensive effort that included multiple sacks, pressure that forced errant throws, and turnovers that kept a high-powered Aggies offense in check. (ESPN)
Miami limited Texas A&M, a team that entered the contest averaging 36.3 points per game, to just a single field goal. That kind of resistance is rare at the CFP level and a testament to the disciplined game plan and physical play by the Hurricanes’ defenders. (ESPN)
Mark Fletcher Jr. and the Long Drive
While the game was a low-scoring tussle for much of the afternoon, Miami’s offense finally broke through thanks to a massive performance from running back Mark Fletcher Jr. Fletcher set a career-high with 172 rushing yards, controlling the ground game and wearing down the Aggies’ front seven. (ESPN)
His explosiveness — including a career-long 56-yard run on the first play of the decisive drive — gave Miami life when they needed it most and set the stage for the play that would decide the game. (ESPN)
Toney’s Redemption Arc
The best moments in sports often come after adversity, and Miami’s winning touchdown was exactly that.
Freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney had just suffered a turnover earlier in the fourth quarter when a catch was stripped by Texas A&M’s Dalton Brooks and recovered by Daymion Sanford. Visibly frustrated on the bench, Toney could have easily let that play derail his momentum. (Jacksonville Journal-Courier)
But Toney stayed poised, and on the very next Miami possession, with less than two minutes remaining, he caught the game-winning 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Carson Beck. That score pushed Miami out in front 10–3 and ultimately secured the win. (Jacksonville Journal-Courier)
Teammates immediately celebrated the freshman’s redemption, underscoring how much confidence the Hurricanes have in him despite his youth. (Jacksonville Journal-Courier)
Clutch Defense Seals the Win
After Toney’s touchdown gave Miami the lead, Texas A&M had one final chance to tie the game. Instead, the Hurricanes’ defense delivered one last big play.
Defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted a pass in the end zone — his second interception of the game — ending the Aggies’ comeback attempt and sending Miami to the next round. (ESPN)
That play capped a day in which the defense consistently pressured Reed, recording seven sacks and multiple tackles for loss while forcing mistakes that kept the Aggies off the scoreboard. (ESPN)
Miami’s Road to the Cotton Bowl
Miami improves to 11–2 on the season and extends its winning streak to five games after a stretch in which they dropped two of three earlier in the year. (Jacksonville Journal-Courier)
With this victory, the Hurricanes will travel to face No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl semifinal on Dec. 31, 2025 — a matchup that pits Miami’s suffocating defense and resurgent run game against one of the nation’s most consistent programs. (Jacksonville Journal-Courier)
The win also represents the first CFP victory in Miami’s history, a milestone that will be celebrated in Coral Gables long after the final whistle. (ESPN)
What This Game Says About Miami
This wasn’t a vintage offensive performance. In fact, Miami’s scoring was minimal until the final minutes. But college football — and especially playoff games — often come down to who makes fewer mistakes, who seizes opportunities, and who answers adversity with resilience.
Miami did all of those things on Saturday:
- Played rock-solid defense against a high-powered offense. (ESPN)
- Relied on a physical rushing attack led by Fletcher Jr. to control tempo. (ESPN)
-, Most importantly, delivered in the clutch through Malachi Toney’s redemption touchdown. (Jacksonville Journal-Courier)
Final Score and Summary
Miami 10, Texas A&M 3 — a defensive affair that will be remembered for heartbreak, resilience, and the emergence of a new playmaker in one of the biggest moments of the season. (ESPN)
The Hurricanes now turn their attention to Ohio State and a chance to play for a national title — a possibility they earned the hard way. (Jacksonville Journal-Courier)
