Mario Cristobal’s Hurricanes Are Built to Win-But Can They Finish the Job?
Mario Cristobal was born for this job. A Miami native, a former championship-winning player for the Hurricanes, and now the head coach tasked with bringing The U back to national prominence-Cristobal’s connection to the program runs deeper than most. And after Miami’s gritty 10-3 win over Texas A&M in the College Football Playoff, it’s clear he’s built a roster that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the country.
But while the win punched Miami’s ticket to the Cotton Bowl and silenced some doubters, it also raised a few familiar questions. The Hurricanes have the talent.
That much is undeniable. The bigger question-especially after Saturday’s slugfest-is whether Cristobal can coach this team across the finish line when it matters most.
Talent Up and Down the Roster
Let’s start with the good. Miami’s roster is loaded with playmakers and trench warriors that look the part of a national contender.
Mark Fletcher Jr. was the offensive workhorse, pounding out 172 yards on the ground and delivering a back-breaking 56-yard run in the fourth quarter that set up the game-winning score. He ran with purpose, power, and patience-everything you want from your lead back in a playoff atmosphere.
On the other side of the ball, Rueben Bain Jr. was a one-man wrecking crew. The All-American defensive end racked up three sacks and four tackles for loss, living in the Aggies’ backfield and setting the tone for a defense that refused to break. Freshman Bryce Fitzgerald sealed the deal with a clutch interception in the end zone with just 24 seconds left-an instinctive, veteran-level play from a young player who’s clearly ahead of schedule.
This is what Cristobal has done best: recruit, develop, and stack a roster full of physical, fast, and fearless athletes who can win at the highest level.
But the Execution? Still a Work in Progress
As impressive as the win was from a personnel standpoint, the way it unfolded left plenty of room for concern. Miami ran just 49 offensive plays.
That’s not a misprint. And while they had moments of promise, the Canes only managed two drives over 70 yards and came away with just three points from four trips inside the Aggies’ 30-yard line during the critical “middle eight” minutes of the game.
That kind of inefficiency in scoring territory is the stuff that keeps playoff dreams from becoming championship realities.
Then there were the penalties-some called, some not-that stalled drives and nearly swung momentum in Texas A&M’s favor. A late hit out of bounds that wasn’t flagged, mental errors at key moments, and a conservative game plan that leaned more toward playing not to lose than going for the kill shot.
That’s where the questions about Cristobal’s in-game decision-making come in. It’s not a new storyline, either.
These concerns followed him from Oregon and FIU, and they’re still lingering now.
Cristobal’s got the Jimmys and the Joes. But when it comes to the X’s and O’s-especially in tight, high-stakes games-there’s a legitimate debate about whether the coaching staff is maximizing this group’s potential.
Malachi Toney: Freshman, Star, and Resilient as They Come
One of the brightest spots for Miami was freshman sensation Malachi Toney. He didn’t light up the stat sheet, but his fingerprints were all over the game.
He caught five passes, ran the ball three times, and even attempted a pass. The Aggies keyed in on him all afternoon, and that attention opened up opportunities for Fletcher and others to make plays.
Toney’s most defining moment wasn’t a highlight reel touchdown or a flashy juke-it was how he responded to adversity. After a costly fumble late in the game, he didn’t sulk.
He got back on the field, blocked with intensity, and stayed locked in. And when his number was called again, he delivered-using his elite burst to find the edge and get into the end zone for what would become the game-winning score.
That’s the kind of response you want from a veteran, let alone a freshman. Toney’s nickname may have preceded him, but he’s earning every bit of it on the field.
A Win for the ACC, and a Statement for the CFP
This was more than just a Miami win-it was a win for the ACC and a shot of adrenaline for the College Football Playoff as a whole. After a string of blowouts in recent years, this year’s semifinals have delivered drama, defense, and road upsets.
The Hurricanes’ survival and advance performance helps quiet some of the noise around their selection as the final at-large team and sets up a heavyweight Cotton Bowl clash with No. 2 Ohio State.
The ACC had been 0-3 in the last five CFPs. Now?
They’ve got a team in the final four and a legitimate shot to make noise on New Year’s Eve. That’s a big deal for a conference that’s been fighting to reclaim national respect.
For Texas A&M, A Painful End to a Promising Season
On the other sideline, Texas A&M walks away with a bitter taste. This was a team that won 11 games, reached the playoff, and had a shot at the SEC title game late in the season.
But the finish? Brutal.
The Aggies haven’t thrown a touchdown pass against an FBS opponent since mid-November. They turned the ball over too often (a -9 margin over their final four games), gave up chunk rushing yards when it mattered most, and couldn’t get the one stop they needed late in the game.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a program that looked like it had finally turned the corner. Head coach Mike Elko summed it up bluntly: “We came up five yards short and we’ll have to live with that over the offseason.”
The Bottom Line
Cristobal has Miami on the doorstep of something special. The win over Texas A&M was a testament to the talent he’s brought in and the toughness his team plays with. But the questions about whether this staff can coach their way through the gauntlet of the postseason remain unanswered.
The Cotton Bowl against Ohio State will be another test-one that could either validate the rebuild or expose the cracks in the foundation. Either way, the Hurricanes are back in the spotlight. Now it’s time to see if they’re ready to own it.