The No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies are set to make their College Football Playoff debut when they host the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes at Kyle Field on Saturday.
It’s a somewhat surprising matchup, given the drama surrounding the final couple of at-large CFP bids between Notre Dame, Miami and Alabama. Miami jumped from No. 12 in the penultimate CFP poll into the No. 10 spot without playing on conference championship week. Alabama didn’t fall after its SEC title game loss to Georgia, which set up an Alabama-Oklahoma rematch. The Hurricanes have their Week 1 win over Notre Dame and Texas Tech’s dominance over then-No. 11 BYU to thank for their improbable, last-minute jump.
Here are five storylines to watch for A&M’s first-round CFP matchup vs. Miami.
Playoff Kyle Field
Sports Roundup
A very popular aspect of the expanded CFP format is the introduction of home playoff games.
Kyle Field’s reputation as one of the rowdiest and loudest environments in college football speaks for itself, but this is the first time the Aggies have hosted a CFP game. Even with the game’s 11 a.m. start time, Kyle Field will still have a little extra juice on Saturday.
Miami has gone into a couple of famously hostile environments this season, visiting Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium and Florida State’s Doak Campbell Stadium, but neither of those environments are quite Kyle Field.
While 67,277 fans at Florida State was surely plenty of noise for Miami to deal with, Kyle Field holds over 100,000 fans. Expect noise to be significant factor for the Miami offense.
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The Aggies QB was in the Heisman Trophy race at one point, but a bumpy finish to his season caused him to fall out of contention. Reed has thrown six interceptions in his last four games against Power Four competition, capped by an ugly performance at Texas.
Meanwhile, Miami has an elite defense that specializes in rushing the passer and could force Reed to make mistakes. The Hurricanes allow just 13.8 points and 277.8 yards per game.
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) looks to pass downfield against Samford during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas.
Sam Craft / AP
Pro Football Focus has the Hurricanes’ defense graded as the third-best unit in the nation and the No. 2 pass rush in the sport. Reed finished the regular season tied for the second-most turnover-worthy plays in the SEC, with 11 of those coming in his final five games. That’s a trend that needs to change for A&M to advance.
Keeping Reed comfortable and not putting him in difficult situations against an elite defense will be key.
Coaching carousel impact
A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein is officially the next head coach at Kansas State and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman is leaving for the same role at Kentucky.
While both coordinators are sticking around through the rest of the Aggies’ season, they now have to balance their obligations to A&M with their obligations to their next jobs.
“I’ll be back and forth,“ Klein explained. ”There will be responsibilities during the day when I’m in College Station prepping for the playoff game, whichever round that we’re in that week. And then anytime there’s a break and in the evenings, coming back here and getting going on recruiting, beginning to start building a staff and building relationships with our players.”
That’s just the craziness of the college football calendar. Mike Elko isn’t too worried. Of note, Klein is the Aggies’ offensive play-caller, but Bateman doesn’t call A&M’s defense plays. Elko handles that himself.
“I think it’s a very collaborative process that we go through on offense,” Elko said. “I have a ton of confidence in Collin, in who he is as a man, and who he is as a competitor, that he’ll give the focus and energy that he needs to to ensure that this thing is done the right way and finished the right way.”
Strength on strength
One area that will go a long way to deciding the game will be how Miami’s offense matches up with A&M in the trenches.
Miami’s offense ranks 20th in the country in third down conversion rate at 47.2%, but is facing an A&M defense that ranks first in the nation in third down defense, holding opponents to a 22.7% conversion rate. A lot of that has to do with A&M’s pass rush, led by SEC Defensive Player of the Year Cashius Howell, which is tied with Oklahoma for the most sacks in the country.
Meanwhile, Cristobal’s team does a terrific job of protecting Carson Beck. PFF grades Miami as the No. 4 pass-blocking unit in the nation and the Miami offensive line has allowed the eighth-fewest sacks in FBS.
When Miami has the ball, the battle in the trenches between the Hurricanes’ offensive line and Aggies’ defensive line will be crucial.
Bulletin board material
Lastly, who doesn’t love a little bit of bulletin board material?
A&M’s All-SEC offensive tackle Trey Zuhn III offered some pointed comments when he was asked about the keys to stopping Miami superstar pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr.
Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (4) tries to grab Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla.
Colin Hackley / AP
“I haven’t had time to watch film yet since it just got announced. I don’t think he’ll be a threat we need to worry about too much. We’ve got great players, great offensive linemen, we’ll be able to handle him,” he said.
Bain was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and is one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL draft. PFF credits Bain with 58 pressures this season, including a 10-pressure performance against Florida State.
“When I hear stuff like that, I just always say the same: No comment,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said when asked about Zuhn’s comments.
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