Toney scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:44 left in the game on an 11-yard pitch pass from quarterback Carson Beck. It was the lone touchdown of the game and came after Toney lost a fumble earlier in the quarter.
Bryce Fitzgerald clinched the win for the Hurricanes with an interception on a throw from Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed in the end zone in the closing seconds. It was Fitzgerald’s second interception of the game.
Stream Texas A&M football vs. Miami live on Fubo (free trial)
Miami running back March Fletcher Jr. set up the game-winning score for the Hurricanes after breaking out for a 56-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Fletcher finished with 17 rushes for a career-high 172 yards.
Overall, Miami’s defense forced three turnovers ― two interceptions and a fumble recovery ― as the Aggies struggled to move the ball all game. The Hurricanes limited the Aggies to 326 total yards, with 70 of them coming on the final drive.
Miami kicker Carter Davis got the first score of the game on a field goal in the third quarter. He missed three total field goals in the game, but Texas A&M’s kicker Jared Zirkel missed a kick as well as the wind was an issue for both teams.
The Hurricanes will face No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal game. Miami is seeking its first national championship since 2001.
USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates from the first-round College Football Playoff game between Texas A&M and Miami. Catch up here:
Texas A&M vs Miami score
Texas A&M vs Miami highlights
Texas A&M-Miami CFP live score: Hurricanes 10, Aggies 3 (Final)
Texas A&M-Miami final stats
Bryce Fitzgerald picks off Marcel Reed in the end zone
Bryce Fitzgerald has his second interception of the game, and this one seals the game as he picks off a pass from Marcel Reed in the end zone.
That should do it, as Miami will kneel out the clock to clinch the win and advance to the quarterfinal.
Malachi Toney scores touchdown to give Miami late lead
Malachi Toney takes a pop pass from Carson Beck and runs it in from 11 yards out to give Miami a 10-3 lead with 1:44 left in the game. That’s a massive makeup play for Toney, who lost a fumble earlier.
The scoring drive is six plays for 86 yards and takes 2:18 off the game clock. Texas A&M is out of timeouts for its final drive, needing a score.
Mark Fletcher gets Miami in field goal range with 56-yard run
Mark Fletcher broke through for a 56-yard run on the first play of the Miami drive and got all the way to the Texas A&M 30-yard line. Two plays later, he broke out for a 12-yard run to get the Hurricanes to the Aggies’ 16-yard line.
At the two-minute timeout, Texas A&M has two timeouts and Miami will likely try to take as much time off the clock as possible.
Malachi Toney fumbles ball away after catch
Following a first-down grab, Malachi Toney is casual with the football and loses a fumble. Daymion Sanford recovers the fumble that was forced by Dalton Brooks.
Texas A&M will have a chance to take the lead late.
Randy Bond ties game with field goal
Randy Bond goes down right the middle with a 35-yard field goal to tie the game 3-3 with 8:03 left in the game. The Aggies really needed that score, capping off a 16-play, 67-yard drive that took 7:30 off the game clock.
End of third quarter: Miami 3, Texas A&M 0
Miami will enter the fourth quarter holding a 3-0 lead over Texas A&M. The Hurricanes took the lead on a 21-yard field goal from Carter Davis. Davis also missed a 35-yard field goal in the quarter.
Texas A&M had 14 total yards in the third quarter. The Aggies’ third quarter ended on a Rueben Bain sack of Marcel Reed.
Carter Davis misses third field goal of game
Carter Davis misses his third field goal of the game, with his 35-yard field goal going off the left upright. Miami squanders another opportunity to add points to the board. The Hurricanes lead 3-0 with 7:13 left in the third quarter.
Bryce Fitzgerald intercepts Marcel Reed pass
Bryce Fitzgerald intercepts a high pass from Marcel Reed and returns it 36 yards to the Texas A&M 20-yard line. Miami has a chance to extend its lead midway through the third quarter.
Carter Davis hits field goal to open scoring
We have points. Carter Davis hits a 21-yard field goal to give Miami a 3-0 lead with 10:34 left in the third quarter.
Miami’s scoring drive is nine plays for 72 yards and takes 4:26 off the game clock. The Hurricanes had five plays of over 10 yards on the drive.
Miami will open on offense to start second half
After deferring possession in the first half after winning the coin toss, Miami will open the second half with the ball on offense.
Halftime: Texas A&M 0, Miami 0
Texas A&M-Miami halftime stats
Carter Davis misses second field goal of game
Carter Davis’ 40-yard field goal attempt before halftime sails wide right and the game will be scoreless at halftime.
Texas A&M fake punt attempt fails
Texas A&M attempts a fake punt from its own 46-yard line right after the two-minute timeout. Punter Tyler Smith’s pass is not a bad one, but it is well defended and the Aggies turn the ball over on downs.
Miami will take over from the Texas A&M 46-yard line.
Carter Davis misses Miami field goal
Following Malachi Toney’s massive punt return, Miami’s offense cannot generate anything and has to settle for a 47-yard field goal. However, Carter Davis’ kick misses wide right and the score remains 0-0 with 3:30 left in the first half.
Malachi Toney massive punt return
With both teams struggling to put any points on the board so far, Malachi Toney returns a punt 55 yards to the Texas A&M 25-yard line to give Miami its first major scoring opportunity. It’s the Hurricanes’ first time in Aggies’ territory.
Rueben Bain blocks Texas A&M field goal
Rueben Bain Jr. blocks a 22-yard field goal attempt by Texas A&M kicker Jared Zirkel and another Texas A&M scoring opportunity is thwarted. The Aggies were set up for a scoring opportunity inside the Miami red zone by a 59-yard completion from Marcel Reed to Mario Craver on the first play of the drive.
End of first quarter: Texas A&M 0, Miami 0
We’re scoreless through one quarter in the CFP first-round matchup between Texas A&M and Miami. The Aggies have twice gotten the ball into Miami territory, but have punted and lost a fumble.
Keionte Scott forces Marcel Reed fumble
With Texas A&M driving again, Keionte Scott gets to Marcel Reed as he is scrambling backwards for a 3-yard loss, but more importantly, Scott knocks the ball loose from Reed with Armondo Blount recovering the fumble.
Miami punts on first possession
Miami gets one first down, but is forced to punt from its own 23-yard line following an incomplete pass from Carson Beck on third down.
Texas A&M will begin its second drive from its own 38-yard line following a 39-yard punt from Hurricanes’ punter Dylan Joyce.
Texas A&M opening drive ends in a punt
Texas A&M has a long opening first drive, but it comes up empty as the Aggies punt facing a fourth-and-11 from the Miami 43-yard line. A false start on fourth-and-6 forced them into a punting situation instead of going for it.
The Aggies ran 12 plays on their opening drive. Miami will open its first drive from its own 8-yard line.
Texas A&M will open CFP first round on offense
Miami wins the opening coin toss and defers to the second half. Texas A&M will receive and open on offense. The Hurricanes will defend the south goal.
Pregame
ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ picks Texas A&M-Miami winner
Here’s a look at who the ESPN ‘College GameDay’ crew picked to win the first-round game between Texas A&M and Miami. Alex Caruso joined the crew as the celebrity guest picker. He replaced original picker Johnny Manziel.
Desmond Howard: Miami
Nick Saban: Miami
Pat McAfee: Texas A&M
Kirk Herbstreit: Texas A&M
Alex Caruso (guest picker): Texas A&M
Nick Saban calls College Station ‘hardest place to play in SEC’
Nick Saban knows a thing or two about playing at Kyle Field in College Station. The former Alabama coach went 5-1 in six games facing off against the 12th man.
Previewing Saturday, Dec. 20’s CFP first round matchup between Miami and Texas A&M at Kyle Field, Saban called Texas A&M ‘the hardest place to play in the SEC.’
Texas A&M-Miami football history
Miami is 3-2 all-time against Texas A&M. Most recently, the teams played a home-and-home in 2022 and 2023. The Aggies won 17-9 in 2022 in College Station, Texas, while the Hurricanes earned a 48-33 win in Miami Gardens in 2023.
Sept. 9, 2023 (Miami Gardens, Fla): Miami 48, Texas A&M 33
Sept. 17, 2022 (College Station, TX): Texas A&M 17, Miami 9
Sept. 20, 2008 (College Station, TX): Miami 41, Texas A&M 23
Sept. 20, 2007 (Miami): Miami 34, Texas A&M 17
Dec. 8, 1944 (Miami): Texas A&M 70, Miami 14
Marcel Reed stats
Marcel Reed seemed to be a Heisman Trophy contender for much of the 2025 college football season. That played a huge role in helping the Aggies finish 11-1 and earn a CFP berth.
Here’s a look at Reed’s stats during his three years with Texas A&M:
2023: 21-of-36 passing (58.3%) for 374 yards, one touchdown and one interception; 13 rushes for 45 yards and one touchdown
2024: 147-of-240 passing (61.3%) for 1,864 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions; 116 rushes for 547 yards and seven touchdowns
2025: 209-of-338 passing (61.8%) for 2,932 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions; 89 rushes for 466 yards and six touchdowns
Carson Beck stats
Carson Beck earns the start against Texas A&M for the first-round of the CFP. How Beck performs against a tough Texas A&M defense could determine if the Hurricanes can pull off the road upset in College Station.
Here’s a look at Beck’s stats in his five collegiate seasons, including his first season with Miami:
2021 (Georgia): 10-of-23 passing (43.5%) for 176 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions
2022 (Georgia): 26-of-35 passing (74.3%) for 310 yards and four touchdowns
2023 (Georgia): 302-of-417 passing (72.4%) for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions
2024 (Georgia): 290-of-448 passing (64.7%) for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions
2025 (Miami): 263-of-352 passing (74.7%) for 3,072 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions
Why did Carson Beck transfer to Miami?
Miami is likely not in a position to play in the first round of the CFP if not for the addition of quarterback Carson Beck in the transfer portal.
USA TODAY Network writer John Leuzzi explains why Beck chose to transfer to the Hurricanes, leaving behind Georgia, another CFP team.
What TV channel is Texas A&M vs Miami on today?
TV channel: ABC | ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)
Texas A&M-Miami will air live on ABC and ESPN, with Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Greg McElroy (analyst) on the call for the game, along with sideline reporters Molly McGrath and Taylor McGregor.
Streaming options available on the ESPN app or Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial.
Texas A&M vs Miami time today
Time: Noon ET | 11 a.m. CT
Date: Saturday, Dec. 20
Location: Kyle Field (College Station, Texas)
The CFP first-round game between the Aggies and Hurricanes is set for a noon ET kickoff (11 a.m. CT) on Saturday, Dec. 20, from Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.
Texas A&M vs Miami predictions
Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY Sports: Texas A&M 24, Miami 20
Marcel Reed and the Aggies’ offense can make a couple more plays than Carson Beck and the Hurricanes, as Texas A&M earns the win in a defensive battle. The game will come down to the final quarter, with the Aggies making a last-minute stop to prevent the Miami victory.
Here’s who experts within the USA TODAY Sports Network picked to win Texas A&M-Miami in the CFP:
Matt Hayes: Texas A&M
Jordan Mendoza: Miami
Paul Meyerberg: Miami
Erick Smith: Texas A&M
Eddie Timanus: Texas A&M
Blake Toppmeyer: Miami
Craig Meyer: Miami