ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The firm hired by Michigan to search for a football coach to replace Sherrone Moore has contacted representatives for Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because they were not authorized to share details of the search.

Moore was fired on Wednesday, when the school said an investigation uncovered his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Two days later, Moore was charged with three crimes after prosecutors said he “barged his way” into the apartment of a woman he’d been having an affair with and threatened to kill himself.

College football’s winning program suddenly needs a coach.

After the 35-year-old Dillingham was linked to numerous open jobs last month, he said he was not leaving his alma mater.

Two weeks ago, Drinkwitz agreed to a six-year contract that increases his average compensation to $10.75 million annually.

Michigan is hoping to hire a coach this month, helping its chances of retaining recruits and keeping key players out of the transfer portal in January.

Dillingham, who is from Scottsdale, Arizona, graduated from Arizona State in 2013 and started his coaching career as an assistant for the Sun Devils. After coaching at Memphis, he was the offensive coordinator for Auburn, Florida State and Oregon before returning to Arizona State.

Dillingham orchestrated a quick turnaround, leading the Sun Devils to the Big 12 championship and the College Football Playoff for the first time last year.

Arizona State was 8-4 this season, improving Dillingham’s record to 22-16 over three seasons.

The 42-year-old Drinkwitz is 46-28 in six seasons at Missouri after going 12-1 in a year at Appalachian State. He has built the Tigers into a steady Southeastern Conference program, earning five straight bowl bids.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Blake Horvath to Eli Heidenreich.

That’s the connection that led Navy to such a memorable season — and the two of them came through again on the biggest play of the biggest game.

Horvath threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Heidenreich with 6:32 remaining — on fourth-and-goal — and No. 22 Navy rallied to beat Army 17-16 on Saturday. Heidenreich, the career and single-season leader in yards receiving for the Midshipmen, caught six of Horvath’s seven completions on the day.

“Who wouldn’t go to him?” Horvath said. “Talk about an all-time Navy legend. You’re going to be talking about Eli Heidenreich for years and years and years.”

Although it was clearly a passing situation, and Heidenreich was Navy’s top target, he was single covered over the middle.

“Tried to bring some pressure on them,” Army coach Jeff Monken said. “Good throw and good catch.”

With President Donald Trump in attendance, Navy (10-2) got its second straight victory over Army (6-6), and the Midshipmen won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for a second straight season. The Black Knights have not beaten a Navy team that was ranked by the AP since 1955.

Horvath was fortunate to have the chance to throw that decisive touchdown pass. On second-and-goal from the 1, he lost the ball while attempting a tush push. Army linebacker Eric Ford had a chance to scoop it up, but Navy running back Alex Tecza lunged over to prevent that, and Heidenreich eventually fell on the ball back at the 8.

“That’s probably the last thing you want to see on the 1-yard line is you turn around and the ball is just bouncing behind you,” Heidenreich said. “I was blocking down. I thought he had pushed in, and kind of out of my peripheral I saw it going behind me.”

On the next play, Horvath was nearly sacked, but he was able to throw the ball toward Tecza as he went down. The ball fell incomplete instead of being caught around the 15, which was just as well for Navy because it made going for it on fourth down a more viable option.

“I kind of felt like we had to,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said. “The nature of what they do offensively, despite how well we played in the second half, you may not get the ball back.”

Even after Heidenreich’s touchdown and an Army punt, Navy still had to escape one more near-turnover. On third-and-3 from the Army 43, the ball popped loose on a run by Horvath, but he was able to catch it out of the air. It came loose again and the Black Knights recovered, but after a review, Horvath was ruled down before the second fumble — a yard short of the line to gain.

Tecza then ran for the first down that enabled Navy to kneel out the clock, and Horvath appeared to wave goodbye at the Army sideline. There was a bit of a ruckus near midfield after the final kneel-down before things eventually calmed down for the traditional singing of the alma maters.

“They want to talk all their crap during the game and act like they’re so tough,” Horvath said. “The excuse last year was that they played a conference championship game before us. This year, we’ll see what it is.”

The Black Knights were trying to turn the tables on Navy after a ranked Army team — which had just won the American Conference title — lost to the Midshipmen last year.

The teams traded touchdown drives to start the game, each lasting 13 plays, 75 yards and over seven minutes. Horvath had a 5-yard scoring run, and Army quarterback Cale Hellums answered with a 2-yarder. Army’s first drive didn’t end until 5 seconds into the second quarter.

Then it was a while before anyone reached the end zone again. With Army up 10-7 late in the second quarter, the ball slipped out of Horvath’s hand while he was looking to pass. Army recovered the fumble at its own 45 with 20 seconds to play and moved into range for a 45-yard field goal by Dawson Jones.

Navy’s defense stiffened in the second half, but the Midshipmen still flirted with disaster. Horvath threw an interception in the third quarter that was initially returned to the end zone — before a replay showed Army’s Justin Weaver had a knee down when he picked off the pass at the Navy 32. The Black Knights had to settle for three — Dawson connected on a career-long 48-yard kick.

Navy’s Wing-T offense has been explosive this season. The Midshipmen entered the day with an FBS-high 10 plays of at least 60 yards. Army mostly kept them contained, but Horvath slipped free for a 37-yard run that set up a third-quarter field goal that made it 16-10.

After Hellums’ underthrown pass was intercepted by Phillip Hamilton, giving Navy the ball at the 50 with 11:19 to play, Tecza’s 24-yard run made it first-and-goal from the 5.

Trump tossed the coin before the game at midfield, then returned at halftime to walk from the Navy sideline to the Army one.

One that got away

Army defensive lineman Jack Bousum, who is from Annapolis, had a big game against his hometown team. He finished with 1 1/2 sacks and a fumble recovery.

The takeaway

Army: The Black Knights were the better team in the first half Saturday but didn’t do much offensively after that.

“They beat blocks,” Monken said. “We didn’t sustain the blocks we needed to.”

Navy: Horvath made some big plays and some bad ones, and the Navy defense was stout in the second half. The Midshipmen finished tied for first in the AAC this year but missed out on the league title game because of tiebreakers. This victory matters more to them anyway.

Up next

Army: Faces UConn in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 27.

Navy: Faces Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2.

The Indiana Hoosiers had never had a flippin’ Heisman Trophy winner. Until now.

On Saturday night, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza became the program’s first winner of college football’s most prestigious individual honor. As he lifted the trophy and etched his name into the history books, Mendoza grinned.

It was the smile of someone who believed he could help Indiana do something it had never done before — all alongside his brother (and backup), Alberto. It was also the smile of a player who knew he needed to grow and develop as a quarterback by leaving Cal for Indiana. He did just that … and so much more. 

In his first and only season as the Hoosiers’ starting quarterback, Mendoza has thrown an FBS-best 33 touchdowns, and he’s rushed for six more. Under his tutelage, the Indiana offense has broken program records for both touchdowns and points. He is one of the most accurate passers in the country, and he’s had a knack for making the big play when his team needs it most. Mendoza’s game-winning touchdown throw to Omar Cooper Jr. against Penn State is the one that got labeled a Heisman moment, but it was far from the only clutch play made by Mendoza when Indiana’s perfect season was on the line. And he always delivered.

The Hoosiers are the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s College Football Playoff and one of the sport’s true national title contenders. This comes on the heels of Indiana’s first Big Ten championship since 1967 and the first 12-0 regular season in program history.

Not bad for a quarterback who was ranked No. 134 among quarterbacks in the Class of 2022. Mendoza was initially committed to Yale before flipping to Cal. He redshirted as a freshman and continually developed year over year to become one of the best quarterbacks in the country. It’s quite possible he’ll be the first quarterback taken in next April’s NFL Draft as well. 

And he was my choice to win the Heisman Trophy as well. I voted for Mendoza as my top choice, followed by Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 2 and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez at No. 3. 

It was a difficult vote, as it always is. The Heisman race felt very wide-open deep into November, which is unusual. And it certainly ended in a very different place than it started, back in August when Arch Manning was the betting favorite to win the award and just about every SEC starting quarterback found himself among the top preseason contenders.

When I vote for the Heisman Trophy, I don’t only look at individual production or a team’s overall win-loss record. I consider the story of the season. I like to imagine, say five years from now, thinking back on this year’s season and what I’ll remember most. I like to factor that into my Heisman vote, because I do think (most years) that the winner should be tied to the story of the season. 

What I’ll remember about the 2025 season is Indiana’s pursuit of perfection. I’ll think about Curt Cignetti and his program cementing itself as serious contender, far from a warm-and-fuzzy story or a flash in the pan like many thought they were a year ago. And I’ll certainly think about Fernando Mendoza, the quarterback of the flippin’ Indiana Hoosiers and the program’s deserved first Heisman Trophy winner.

Offensive lineman Tommy Tofi (San Francisco, California/ Archbishop Riordan High School) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.

Tofi will play in the annual East vs. West matchup inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 10, 2026, live on NBC and Peacock, which marks the twenty-sixth anniversary of the event.

The nationwide Road to the Dome tour will honor 100 Navy All-Americans with live and virtual jersey presentations. The series will be released weekly through social platforms across NBC Sports.

Tofi was selected by the Navy All-American Bowl Selection Committee, comprised of the All-American Bowl, 247Sports, and NXGN. Navy All-Americans are eligible for the Navy All-American Bowl Player of the Year Award, Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, Defensive Player of the Year Award, Navy All-American Bowl Man of the Year, and Navy All-American Bowl Game MVP Award.

About the All-American Bowl

As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the NBA, WNBA, Notre Dame Football, the Premier League, and primetime’s #1 show for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 631 draft picks; 103 Super Bowl champions; 274 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit nbcsports.com/college-football/navy-all-american-bowl or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).

Offensive lineman Joshua Sam-Epelle (Douglasville, Georgia/ Douglas County High School) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.

Sam-Epelle will play in the annual East vs. West matchup inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 10, 2026, live on NBC and Peacock, which marks the twenty-sixth anniversary of the event.

The nationwide Road to the Dome tour will honor 100 Navy All-Americans with live and virtual jersey presentations. The series was released weekly through social platforms across NBC Sports.

Sam-Epelle was selected by the Navy All-American Bowl Selection Committee, comprised of the All-American Bowl, 247Sports, and NXGN. Navy All-Americans are eligible for the Navy All-American Bowl Player of the Year Award, Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, Defensive Player of the Year Award, Navy All-American Bowl Man of the Year, and Navy All-American Bowl Game MVP Award.

About the All-American Bowl

As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the NBA, WNBA, Notre Dame Football, the Premier League, and primetime’s #1 show for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 631 draft picks; 103 Super Bowl champions; 274 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit nbcsports.com/college-football/navy-all-american-bowl or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).

Running back Deshonne Redeaux (Westlake Village, California/ Oaks Christian School) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.

Redeaux will play in the annual East vs. West matchup inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 10, 2026, live on NBC and Peacock, which marks the twenty-sixth anniversary of the event.

The nationwide Road to the Dome tour will honor 100 Navy All-Americans with live and virtual jersey presentations. The series was released weekly through social platforms across NBC Sports.

Redeaux was selected by the Navy All-American Bowl Selection Committee, comprised of the All-American Bowl, 247Sports, and NXGN. Navy All-Americans are eligible for the Navy All-American Bowl Player of the Year Award, Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, Defensive Player of the Year Award, Navy All-American Bowl Man of the Year, and Navy All-American Bowl Game MVP Award.

About the All-American Bowl

As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the NBA, WNBA, Notre Dame Football, the Premier League, and primetime’s #1 show for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 631 draft picks; 103 Super Bowl champions; 274 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit nbcsports.com/college-football/navy-all-american-bowl or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).

Defensive lineman JD Hill (Mission Viejo, California/ Mission Viejo School) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.

Hill will play in the annual East vs. West matchup inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 10, 2026, live on NBC and Peacock, which marks the twenty-sixth anniversary of the event.

The nationwide Road to the Dome tour will honor 100 Navy All-Americans with live and virtual jersey presentations. The series was released weekly through social platforms across NBC Sports.

Hill was selected by the Navy All-American Bowl Selection Committee, comprised of the All-American Bowl, 247Sports, and NXGN. Navy All-Americans are eligible for the Navy All-American Bowl Player of the Year Award, Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, Defensive Player of the Year Award, Navy All-American Bowl Man of the Year, and Navy All-American Bowl Game MVP Award.

About the All-American Bowl

As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the NBA, WNBA, Notre Dame Football, the Premier League, and primetime’s #1 show for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 631 draft picks; 103 Super Bowl champions; 274 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit nbcsports.com/college-football/navy-all-american-bowl or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).

Quarterback Briggs Cherry (Chattanooga, Tennessee/ Baylor School) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.

Cherry will play in the annual East vs. West matchup inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 10, 2026, live on NBC and Peacock, which marks the twenty-sixth anniversary of the event.

The nationwide Road to the Dome tour will honor 100 Navy All-Americans with live and virtual jersey presentations. The series was released weekly through social platforms across NBC Sports.

Cherry was selected by the Navy All-American Bowl Selection Committee, comprised of the All-American Bowl, 247Sports, and NXGN. Navy All-Americans are eligible for the Navy All-American Bowl Player of the Year Award, Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, Defensive Player of the Year Award, Navy All-American Bowl Man of the Year, and Navy All-American Bowl Game MVP Award.

About the All-American Bowl

As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the NBA, WNBA, Notre Dame Football, the Premier League, and primetime’s #1 show for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 631 draft picks; 103 Super Bowl champions; 274 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit nbcsports.com/college-football/navy-all-american-bowl or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).

Linebacker Adam Bywater (Holladay, Utah/ Olympus High School) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.

Bywater will play in the annual East vs. West matchup inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 10, 2026, live on NBC and Peacock, which marks the twenty-sixth anniversary of the event.

The nationwide Road to the Dome tour will honor 100 Navy All-Americans with live and virtual jersey presentations. The series was released weekly through social platforms across NBC Sports.

Bywater was selected by the Navy All-American Bowl Selection Committee, comprised of the All-American Bowl, 247Sports, and NXGN. Navy All-Americans are eligible for the Navy All-American Bowl Player of the Year Award, Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, Defensive Player of the Year Award, Navy All-American Bowl Man of the Year, and Navy All-American Bowl Game MVP Award.

About the All-American Bowl

As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the NBA, WNBA, Notre Dame Football, the Premier League, and primetime’s #1 show for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 631 draft picks; 103 Super Bowl champions; 274 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit nbcsports.com/college-football/navy-all-american-bowl or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).

Linebacker JJ Bush (Theodore, Alabama/ Theodore High School) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.

Bush will play in the annual East vs. West matchup inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 10, 2026, live on NBC and Peacock, which marks the twenty-sixth anniversary of the event.

The nationwide Road to the Dome tour will honor 100 Navy All-Americans with live and virtual jersey presentations. The series was released weekly through social platforms across NBC Sports.

Bush was selected by the Navy All-American Bowl Selection Committee, comprised of the All-American Bowl, 247Sports, and NXGN. Navy All-Americans are eligible for the Navy All-American Bowl Player of the Year Award, Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, Defensive Player of the Year Award, Navy All-American Bowl Man of the Year, and Navy All-American Bowl Game MVP Award.

About the All-American Bowl

As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the NBA, WNBA, Notre Dame Football, the Premier League, and primetime’s #1 show for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 631 draft picks; 103 Super Bowl champions; 274 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit nbcsports.com/college-football/navy-all-american-bowl or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).

The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes and the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies are set for a high-stakes clash in the first round of the College Football Playoff Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Kyle Field in College Station, TX. Both programs are making their first-ever CFP appearances.

Each school brings strong play in the trenches and multiple, high-end skill position players into the game, but each has a quarterback who has made “questionable decisions” in high leverage moments.

Fun Fact: Both Miami and Texas A&M recorded wins against Notre Dame this season.

Fun Fact II: The Hurricanes were the dominant power in college football for 20 years securing five national titles from 1983-2003. This season, however, was just the second season with at least ten wins in the last 22 years.

Lets dive into the schools, a few of the top players, and the stats that make up each side.

Game Details and How to watch Miami at Texas A&M

• Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
• Time: 12:00PM Eastern
• Site: Kyle Field
• City: College Station, TX
• TV/Streaming: ESPN

Game Odds for Miami at Texas A&M

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

• Moneyline: Miami Hurricanes (+150), Texas A&M Aggies (-180)
• Spread: Texas A&M -3.5 (-110)
• Total: 51.5 points

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the college football schedule!

Texas A&M Aggies

Head Coach: Mike Elko
2025 Record: 11-1 (7-1)
Offense Ranking: 7
Defense Ranking: 21
Strength of Schedule: 18

Texas A&M’s season was a breakthrough campaign under Mike Elko, powered by a Top 10 SP+ profile and one of the nation’s most disruptive defenses. The Aggies post an 11–1 record highlighted by wins over Notre Dame, LSU, and Missouri, pairing a balanced, Top 20 offense with a defense that ranks fifth in success rate allowed and first nationally on third down. Their offense blends steady efficiency with explosive passing, generating 6.56 yards per play while the run game consistently stays ahead of schedule. Defensively, an elite front produces the No. 2 havoc rate and No. 1 sack rate on passing downs, smothering opponents with backfield penetration and negative plays. Despite a narrow loss to Texas, Texas A&M is firmly in the CFP National Title conversation thanks to dominant metrics, big-game wins, and consistent week-to-week performance.

The Texas A&M Aggies Offense

Texas A&M’s offense pairs a Top 40 rushing attack with a Top 30 passing game to generate 6.56 yards per play (21st) and a 46.5% success rate (28th). The Aggies consistently stay ahead of schedule, ranking 12th nationally in standard-downs success rate, while producing explosive gains through the air with a 21.5% explosive completion rate (12th) and strong 10.0 adjusted net yards per attempt. Their run game creates steady chunk yardage thanks to elite yards-before-contact numbers and a low 1.9% pressure rate allowed by one of the SEC’s best offensive lines. The result is an offense that marries efficiency, explosive-play capability, and physical trench play to keep defenses off balance.

Texas A&M Player to Watch on Offense: QB Marcel Reed

Marcel Reed is the dynamic dual-threat centerpiece of Texas A&M’s 7th ranked offense, combining opportunistic passing with explosive upside as a runner. He completes 61.8% of his 338 attempts for 2,932 yards with a strong 25–10 TD-INT line, posting 8.2 yards per dropback and a 9.1 ANY/A while pushing the ball downfield at a 14.0 yards-per-completion clip. On the ground, Reed has rushed for 536 yards at 6.78 yards per carry with a 46.8% success rate, showcasing both burst (16.9% of carries gaining 10+ yards) and tough yardage creation (3.28 yards before contact). PFF grades indicate a rounded, but somewhat flawed profile, with a 69.1 offensive grade, 66.9 passing grade, and 64.1 rushing grade, highlighted by a 72.0% adjusted completion rate but bogged down by a 17-to-18 big time throw-to-turnover worthy play rate. Reed’s blend of poise, explosiveness, and multidimensional playmaking elevates A&M’s offense and positions him as one of the SEC’s emerging quarterbacks.

The Texas A&M Defense

Texas A&M’s defense is one of the most disruptive units in the country, ranking Top 5 nationally in success rate allowed and boasting the No. 2 overall havoc rate. The Aggies overwhelm opponents at the line of scrimmage, generating the nation’s No. 1 sack rate on passing downs and pairing it with elite run defense that holds opponents to just 36.2% rushing success (10th). Their pass coverage forces inefficiency, allowing only a 32.2% passing success rate and one of the lowest rates of positive dropbacks in FBS, while thriving against both man and zone looks thanks to strong tackling and forcing tight windows. Overall, the defense’s combination of backfield penetration, third-down dominance, and explosive-play prevention makes it the backbone of A&M’s CFP run.

Texas A&M Player to Watch on Defense: Edge Cashius Howell

Cashius Howell delivered a standout season as Texas A&M’s premier edge threat, leading the defense with a staggering 22 havoc plays, 11.5 sacks and 16.0 TFLs. His pass-rushing profile is elite across the board, generating 39 pressures on 246 rushes (15.9%), ranking first on the team in total disruptions, and flashing strong finishing ability with nine sacks created and a forced fumble. Howell’s PFF grades reinforce his impact: a dominant 90.4 pass-rush grade, 78.6 tackling grade, and an overall defensive mark of 80.0, supported by 12 sacks, 27 hurries, and 41 total pressures. Despite drawing extra attention from protections, he maintains efficiency with a 2.65-second average time to first pressure and a 16.2% third-down pressure rate, consistently wrecking drives. Altogether, Howell’s blend of explosiveness, discipline, and advanced pass-rush polish made him one of the SEC’s most disruptive defensive playmakers and a centerpiece of A&M’s top-tier defense.

Miami Hurricanes

Head Coach: Mario Cristobal
2025 Record: 10-2 (6-2)
Offense Ranking: 16
Defense Ranking: 10
Strength of Schedule: 41

Miami turned in one of its most complete seasons of the Cristobal era, pairing a Top 16 offense with a Top 10 defense to reach 10–2 with underlying metrics that fully validate the record. The Hurricanes operate with impressive efficiency on both sides of the ball, ranking 10th nationally in offensive success rate and 8th defensively, while averaging 6.32 yards per play and holding opponents to just 4.51 YPP. Their offense is methodical but productive, thriving on standard-downs efficiency and elite protection (No. 2 nationally in pressure rate allowed), which helps sustain drives and produce a Top 20 scoring rate. Defensively, Miami disrupts opponents through a Top 10 havoc rate, stingy run defense, and excellent coverage numbers, especially against zone concepts where they allow only 4.9 yards per dropback. Ultimately, Miami’s blend of efficiency, ball security (+9 turnover margin), and week-to-week consistency make it the ACC’s lone hope of bringing home a CFP National Championship.

The Miami Hurricanes Offense

Miami’s offense operates as an efficient, rhythm-based unit that ranks 10th nationally in success rate while averaging 6.32 yards per play (26th) despite limited explosiveness. The Hurricanes thrive on staying ahead of schedule, posting a Top 10 standard-downs success rate and converting 78.4% of new-set opportunities behind an offensive line that allows the second-lowest pressure rate in the country (1.4%) behind future 1st round RT Francis Mauigoa. Their passing game is remarkably accurate with a 73.9% completion rate and Top 10 marks in both passing success rate and adjusted accuracy,  allowing Miami to sustain drives. Complemented by a steady, committee-based rushing attack and one of the slowest tempos in the nation (130th), Miami’s offense wins through efficiency, protection, and precision rather than elite playmaking (110th in explosiveness).

Miami Player to Watch on Offense: QB Carson Beck

Carson Beck turned in a bounce back campaign after transferring in from Georgia, completing 74.7% of his passes for 3,072 yards and a 25–10 TD-INT line while ranking among the nation’s most accurate quarterbacks. His PFF passing grade (82.4) and adjusted completion rate (81.5%) reflect high-level command of the offense, consistently delivering on-time, in-rhythm throws with only a 3.8% turnover-worthy play rate. Beck paired that precision with strong down-to-down reliability, posting a 49.7% success rate and 9.0 ANY/A despite facing pressure on 14% of dropbacks and taking sacks on just 2.5% of them. He contributed only situationally on the ground, adding 108 yards and a touchdown with a modest 31% rushing success rate. Altogether, Beck’s steadiness, accuracy, and efficiency helped Miami get this far, but his carelessness (10 INTs) could be Miami’s downfall if not reeled in for the Playoff.

The Miami Hurricanes Defense

Miami’s defense is one of the ACC’s most suffocating units, ranking Top 10 nationally in both success rate allowed (34.5%) and yards per play allowed (4.51). The Hurricanes overwhelm opponents with disruption, posting a Top 10 havoc rate driven by a dominant defensive line that contributes a No. 4 national pressure rate and holds offenses to just 4.0 yards per rush. Their coverage is equally sharp, allowing only a 34.1% passing success rate and excelling against zone concepts where they give up just 4.9 yards per dropback, the sixth-best mark in the country. Combine that with strong situational play, including a Top 10 scoring defense and the No. 9 third-down defense, and Miami fields a complete, consistently stingy unit that anchored the team’s 10-2 season.

Miami Player to Watch on Defense: Edge Rueben Bain

Rueben Bain is Miami’s most dangerous edge presence, piling up 49 tackles, 14 havoc plays, 10 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks while maintaining an elite 90.7% tackle success rate. His ability to generate pressure at scale stood out - posting 49 total pressures on 369 pass-rush snaps (13.3%) - while creating six sacks and forcing a fumble, showing he could both win early, and finish plays. Bain’s pass-rush profile was complemented by strong run defense, where he produced six run stops and anchored the edge with physical, assignment-sound play. His PFF defensive grades reinforce that well-rounded impact: a dominant 93.0 overall grade bolstered by a 92nd% pass-rush grade and strong marks in both run defense and tackling. Bain is a complete, every-down defensive end whose blend of power, technique, and motor made him the centerpiece of Miami’s top-tier defense.

Texas A&M and Miami: Team Stats and Betting Trends

• The Aggies are 5-7 ATS this season
• The Hurricanes are 7-5 ATS this season
• The OVER has cashed in 8 of the Aggies 12 games this season (8-4)
• The OVER has cashed in 5 of the Hurricanes’ 12 games this season (5-7)

Rotoworld Best Bets

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Eric Froton (@CFFroton): Carson Beck OVER 0.5 Interceptions

When Carson Beck faces elevated competition, interceptions are sure to follow, often in bunches. He has been intercepted by USF (2 INTS), Florida, Louisville (4!), SMU (2) and Pitt, while avoiding miscues against the dregs of their ACC schedule. With A&M’s menacing defensive front causing disruption at a S-Tier level, I expect Beck to be frequently moved off his spot creating multiple turnover opportunities. With Beck currently listed at a neutral -114 to throw an interception, I’m taking his reasonable Over 0.5 interceptions line.

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the college football calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, stadium information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Best bets our model is projecting for this week’s playoff game between Miami and Texas A&M

• Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards Texas A&M a play on the Moneyline.
• Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play ATS on Texas A&M -3.5.
• Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 51.5.

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