COLLEGE STATION, Texas. — The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes are back in the national championship spotlight, making the College Football Playoff for the first time.
Local 10 News is highlighting their journey with a Chasing A Championship special. Viewers can watch the special at 8 p.m. in the video at the top of this page.
Fans and the university have been waiting for the program to return to its tradition of playing meaningful December games — and now it has.
Miami’s defense, which is anchored by defensive linemen Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, helped lead the way.
While Bain’s sack numbers (4.5) on the season aren’t eye-popping, he often draws double teams, creating opportunities for the rest of the defensive line. Mesidor has eight sacks on the season, despite missing one game during the regular season.
Leading the way for the Hurricanes’ secondary is safety Jacobe Thomas.
In his first season with the Hurricanes after transferring from the University of Tennessee, Thomas recorded 48 tackles, 4 interceptions, 3 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
According to teamrankings.com, Miami ranks sixth in scoring defense (allowing 13.8 points per game), seventh against the run (86.8 rushing yards per game), and 11th in total defense (277.8 yards per game) under first-year defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.
To reach the playoffs, the Hurricanes needed strong wins down the stretch, allowing just 41 points over their final four games.
The defense could also get a boost if nickelback Keionte Scott returns.
Scott tied a previous career-best with swatting five passes this season. He also handed Hetherman an active blitzer with getting three sacks.
On offense, quarterback Carson Beck, who transfered from Georgia, had a strong finish to his 2025 season and first with the Hurricanes.
For the season, Beck threw 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has been particularly effective on the road, completing 76% of passes and posting a 13:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio away from home.
When Beck has the ball, he often looks for true freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney, who has had a historic season.
Toney’s 84 receptions were most among FBS freshmen, and his 970 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns set freshman records for the school.
He also recorded 89 rushing yards on 17 attempts with a touchdown, and 82 passing yards with two passing touchdowns. Including punt return yards, Toney has over 1,300 all-purpose yards this season.
Other key offensive players for Miami include future first-round offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, running backs Mark Fletcher Jr. and Girard Pringle Jr., and wide receiver CJ Daniels. In their last three games, Miami’s offense has averaged more than 470 yards per game and nearly seven yards per play.
Texas A&M Outlook
No. 7 Texas A&M started the season as one of the nation’s top teams, in contention for a top-four seed and a first-round bye.
But the Aggies ended the season on a shaky note. They mounted the largest comeback in school history to beat South Carolina after trailing by 27 points at halftime, then lost 27-17 to rival Texas in their final regular-season game.
Quarterback Marcel Reed, one of the top dual-threat players in college football with 466 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, has been inconsistent. On third downs, Reed has thrown for four touchdowns and three interceptions, completing just 49% of passes—and only 45% when facing third-and-six or longer.
Despite that, Texas A&M has wide receiver KC Concepcion (886 yards, 12 total touchdowns) and Mario Craver (825 yards, four touchdowns), both of whom also contribute in the running game.
The Aggies’ defense is equally impressive. They lead the nation in limiting opposing third-down conversions (22.7%), are tied for the FBS lead in sacks (41), and rank 19th overall in total defense (309.8 yards per game).
The winner of Saturday’s game will face No. 2 Ohio State in the second round of the CFP in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m.
Kick off for Saturday’s game at College Station is set for noon.
