COLLEGE STATION — The first College Football Playoff game at Kyle Field may have been the worst College Football Playoff game ever — at least by the offenses.
In the lowest-scoring game in CFP history, No. 7 Texas A&M (11-2) was upset 10-3 by No. 10 Miami (11-2) in the first round, ending the Aggies’ season.
The Hurricanes scored a go-ahead touchdown with 1:44 remaining in regulation, and A&M couldn’t answer. Miami advances to face No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
A&M was poised for back-to-back crowds dominated by Aggie fans if it advanced but couldn’t capitalize on the homefield advantage with over 104,000 fans at Kyle Field — the second-largest crowd in CFP history.
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Here are five thoughts from the first-round matchup.
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Worst CFP game ever?
Neither Miami nor Texas A&M looked very deserving of a College Football Playoff win. Saturday’s game at Kyle Field was the first CFP game without a score in the first half. Neither team scored a touchdown until there was 1:44 left in the game. The teams probably had Ohio State licking its chops back in Columbus, eagerly awaiting either opponent in the Cotton Bowl.
The game featured 10 punts, four missed field goals, four turnovers and one turnover on downs. It also featured just 13 combined points, the lowest combined score in CFP history — coming nowhere near the previous low of 30 points scored by Alabama and Clemson in the 2018 Sugar Bowl.
A&M’s missed opportunities came in the form of a blocked 22-yard field goal and a failed fake punt attempt that could’ve allowed Miami to take the lead before halftime. The Aggies also had a chance to take the lead twice in the fourth quarter. Once, they settled for a field goal and the second time, after recovering a fumble, they came up scoreless.
A&M also could’ve tied the game with under a minute to play, but A&M quarterback Marcel Reed threw his second interception of the game in the end zone.
However, Miami wasn’t much better at capitalizing on the opportunities served up on a silver platter.
The Hurricanes missed two field goals in the second quarter — one from 47 yards and one from 40 as time expired before half. They missed another in the third.
They also could not score after forcing two turnovers by Reed or when star freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney returned a punt 55 yards to the A&M 25-yard line. In fact, Miami lost four yards on the drive started by the lengthy Toney return.
However, Miami put together a game-winning touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. That one drive was ultimately the difference.
Marcel Reed, A&M offense severely limited
The A&M offense’s downward spiral continued in the biggest game the program has had in years.
In front of a roaring crowd at Kyle Field, Reed and the Aggies offense went quiet, held to just three points on 326 yards. The Aggies did not score their first points until there was 8:03 left in regulation.
While Reed helped move the offense with his legs early on, the Aggies couldn’t capitalize when they reached Miami’s side of the field. In the first quarter, Reed fumbled in Miami territory. In the second quarter, the Aggies missed a field goal from the Miami 5-yard line — and it took a 59-yard passing play to Mario Craver to get them there.
In the fourth quarter, A&M had the chance to take the lead when reaching the Miami 17-yard line but had to settle for a field goal to tie. The Aggies had that chance again later in the fourth after recovering a fumble but ended up punting from Miami territory. They also didn’t score in the final minute when reaching the Miami 5.
A&M was also without its star running back Le’Veon Moss for much of the second half, who left for the locker room with an injury in his first game back after missing two months.
Reed finished with 237 yards on 25-of-39 passing and two interceptions and 27 yards on 15 carries and a fumble. He was also sacked seven times.
Aggies’ best drive of the day comes up just short
A&M’s longest drive of the day came at the right time. After Miami went up 10-3 with under two minutes to play, the Aggies had a chance to answer.
They drove downfield 70 yards in 10 plays and reached the Miami 5-yard line. Reed had two completions for 14 yards on the drive.
On first down, Mario Craver couldn’t get one foot in the back of the end zone. On second down, Reed’s pass to Rueben Owens II was broken up.
Reed then threw his second interception of the day to Fitzgerald on third down, sealing the Miami win.
A&M defensive effort should’ve been enough
A&M couldn’t have asked for much more from its defense, which allowed just 10 points and 278 yards by the Hurricanes Saturday.
The Aggies held Toney to 31 total rushing and receiving yards. His biggest play of the day was a 55-yard punt return. He did, however, score the game-winning touchdown with 1:44 to play.
They also seemingly scared the Hurricanes out of throwing the ball for much of the first half where quarterback Carson Beck was 8-for-12 with just 31 yards passing. A&M sacked Beck twice as well. Beck finished with just 103 yards passing and a touchdown on the day.
On four consecutive drives in the second and third quarters, Miami crossed the A&M 30-yard line, but the Aggies allowed just three Miami points in that span.
When Miami had the chance to win the game late in the fourth quarter, Dalton Brooks forced Toney to fumble, and Daymion Sanford recovered, giving the A&M offense a chance to steal the win.
The A&M offense just couldn’t do anything at the other end.
The defense’s one lapse was in stopping the run. Miami back Mark Fletcher Jr. finished with 172 yards on 17 carries, averaging 10.1 yards per carry. He had a 56-yard run late in the fourth quarter, which set up the game-winning score.
Dismal showing by kickers
The best kicker in the stadium Saturday might’ve been the fan chosen to kick a field goal for $1.5 million on College GameDay.
He missed, but at least he was close.
A&M kickers Jared Zirkel and Randy Bond and Miami kicker Carter Davis combined to go 2-for-6 on field goal attempts Saturday. Wind may have been somewhat of a factor but not enough to excuse the embarrassing special teams showings.
Zirkel attempted the first kick of the day early in the second quarter and was blocked by Rueben Bain Jr.
Miami then attempted the next four field goals on consecutive drives, and Davis made just one, connecting from 21 yards while missing from 47, 40 and 35.
Bond then entered the game for A&M in the fourth quarter and kicked a 35-yarder, which he made to put A&M on the board.
At the end of the day, both teams are probably lucky the game wasn’t decided by a kicker’s foot.
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