The Miami Hurricanes, ranked 10th, upset the 7th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies 10-3 in the first round of the College Football Playoff (CFP) in College Station, Texas. Miami, which wasn’t in the playoff picture until the final CFP rankings, will face No. 2 Ohio State in the quarterfinals on New Year’s Eve.
The game’s turning point came when freshman cornerback Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted A&M quarterback Marcell Reed in the end zone with 24 seconds left, sealing Miami’s victory. Freshman receiver Malachi Toney scored the sole touchdown on a short pass late in the game.
Both teams struggled offensively, combining for just 2 of 6 field goals and multiple turnovers, with the first half ending scoreless—the first such occurrence in CFP history. Miami’s running back Mark Fletcher Jr. shone with 172 rushing yards, aiding Toney’s touchdown drive.
Miami joins Alabama, which also advanced by overcoming a 17-0 deficit to defeat No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24. Other teams advancing include Oregon, which beat No. 12 James Madison 51-34, and Ole Miss, who defeated No. 11 Tulane 41-10. In the upcoming quarterfinals, Alabama will face No. 1 Indiana while Oregon State plays Texas Tech and Ole Miss takes on No. 3 Georgia State, all on January 1st.
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