The opening Saturday of the College Football Playoff delivered early tension but no points, as No. 10 Miami and No. 7 Texas A&M traded defensive blows in the first round matchup on campus.
Texas A&M finally showed some offensive life midway through the second quarter after struggling to move the ball early. Quarterback Marcel Reed jump-started the Aggies with a 59-yard strike to wide receiver Mario Craver, a play that pushed A&M deep into Miami territory and appeared to set up the game’s first score. However, the Hurricanes’ defense rose again. Forced to attempt a 22-yard field goal, Texas A&M watched as Miami linebacker Wesley Bissainthe broke through to block the kick, keeping the game scoreless with 11:32 left before halftime.
The blocked field goal capped a defensive opening half that had defined the game from the opening kickoff.
Texas A&M opened the contest with a methodical 12-play drive that chewed up nearly six minutes of clock but stalled in Miami territory and ended with a punt. The Hurricanes responded with a short five-play possession of their own before punting the ball back.
Momentum briefly swung Miami’s way late in the first quarter when Hurricanes defensive back Keionte Scott forced a turnover, knocking the ball loose from Reed inside Aggies territory. Defensive lineman Armondo Blount recovered the fumble at the Texas A&M 32-yard line, giving Miami a prime scoring opportunity. Yet once again, the Aggies’ defense held firm, and the quarter ended with the scoreboard unchanged.
The buildup to the matchup had been intense, with Miami leaning heavily into its swagger. Hurricanes legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis helped set the tone before kickoff, narrating a hype video that echoed through the stadium as Miami sought to recapture its championship pedigree on the playoff stage.
Saturday’s slate follows Friday night’s opening-round action, where No. 9 Alabama defeated No. 8 Oklahoma on the road in Norman. Later in the day, No. 6 Ole Miss — now led by newly promoted head coach Pete Golding after Lane Kiffin’s departure to LSU — is set to face No. 11 Tulane. The nightcap features No. 5 Oregon hosting No. 12 James Madison in another on-campus playoff showdown.
With Miami and Texas A&M locked in a scoreless battle early, the first round of the College Football Playoff has already underscored how thin the margins are in win-or-go-home football, where one blocked kick or forced turnover can define an entire season.