When Miami and Texas A&M clash in the first round of the College Football Playoff this Saturday in College Station, one matchup looms larger than the rest: the Hurricanes’ elite run defense against the Aggies’ dynamic ground game. It’s strength-on-strength, and whoever wins this battle in the trenches could very well punch their ticket to the semifinal.
Let’s start with Miami, which has built its defensive identity around stopping the run. The numbers speak for themselves - seventh in the country in rushing yards allowed per game (86.93), 10th in opponent yards per carry (2.90), and eighth in rushing touchdowns allowed (just eight all season).
The Hurricanes have held eight of their 12 opponents under 100 rushing yards in 2025. That’s not just consistency - that’s dominance.
But they’re going to be tested in a big way. Texas A&M brings a deep, physical, and versatile rushing attack that ranks 25th nationally in yards per game (192.67) and 28th in yards per carry (4.99).
The Aggies don’t rely on just one back - they’ve had five different players rush for over 180 yards this season. That kind of depth is rare, and it keeps defenses guessing.
Sophomore Rueben Owens has been the tone-setter in the backfield, leading the team with 112 carries for 618 yards and five touchdowns. But the real X-factor?
Quarterback Marcel Reed. The sophomore signal-caller is a true dual-threat - second on the team in rushing yards (466) and tied for the team lead with six rushing touchdowns.
His ability to extend plays and keep drives alive with his legs adds a layer of unpredictability to the Aggies’ offense that’s hard to scheme against.
Texas A&M has eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark in seven games this season, showing they’re more than capable of taking over a game on the ground. But there’s a blueprint for slowing them down - and South Carolina provided it.
The Gamecocks were the only team to hold the Aggies under 100 rushing yards all season, limiting them to just 64 yards on 29 carries. In fact, A&M managed negative nine rushing yards in the first half of that game, thanks in part to two sacks and a dominant defensive front.
Now, to be fair, A&M flipped the script in that game. Trailing 30-3 at halftime, they abandoned the run and went to the air - and it worked.
Reed went 16-of-20 for 298 yards in the second half, leading a stunning 31-30 comeback win. That comeback showed just how dangerous the Aggies can be when they’re forced to throw - but it also revealed how vulnerable their run game can be when they fall behind early.
That’s where Miami’s defensive mindset comes into play. If the Hurricanes can jump out to an early lead and force A&M to become one-dimensional, they’ll be in control.
And they’ve already proven they can shut down elite rushing offenses. Just look at what they did to Notre Dame in the season opener.
The Irish came in ranked 17th in rushing yards per game (203.42), with star back Jeremiyah Love averaging over 114 yards per game. Miami held him to just 33 yards on 10 carries - his lowest output of the season.
That’s the same Love who finished third in the Heisman voting and scored 18 rushing touchdowns this year.
Even when Miami did give up some yardage on the ground - like the 194 rushing yards to Virginia Tech in the second-to-last game of the regular season - they still controlled the game, winning 34-17. That tells you this defense doesn’t panic. They bend at times, but rarely break.
Mentally, Miami has been in playoff mode since their loss to SMU. That setback seemed to flip a switch - and now, with the postseason here, the Hurricanes are locked in.
No distractions, no looking ahead. Just Texas A&M, and the mission to go 1-0 this weekend.
This is the kind of matchup that defines playoff football. Miami’s front seven will be tested by a deep and creative Aggies rushing attack.
Texas A&M’s offensive line will need to win battles at the point of attack against one of the most disciplined run defenses in the country. And if either team can impose its will on the ground, it might just be the difference between advancing and going home.