When Miami took the field against Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff, it wasn’t just a win-it was a defensive statement. And at the heart of that statement was Akheem Mesidor, who turned in one of the most dominant performances we’ve ever seen on this stage.
Mesidor racked up 11 quarterback pressures-the second-most ever recorded in a College Football Playoff game. That’s not just a good day at the office; that’s the kind of performance that gets etched into postseason lore. He added five total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks, anchoring a Miami defensive line that overwhelmed Texas A&M from the opening whistle.
Miami’s front seven didn’t just win the battle in the trenches-they owned it. The Hurricanes generated 21 total pressures, nine tackles for loss, and seven sacks.
It was a relentless assault, and Mesidor was the tone-setter. His pass rush grade of 90.2 and win rate of 38% tell the story: he wasn’t just beating his man-he was living in the backfield.
He wasn’t alone, either. Rueben Bain was right there with him, creating havoc off the edge.
Bain finished with seven pressures, five tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, and even got his hand on a field goal attempt. It was a complete performance from a player who’s been rising fast all season.
Texas A&M managed 326 total yards, but that stat doesn’t tell the full story. Despite reaching Miami territory six times-and the red zone three times-they walked away with just three points.
That’s a credit to Miami’s defense clamping down when it mattered most. The Hurricanes held the Aggies to just 89 rushing yards on 35 carries, and quarterback Marcel Reed, while throwing for 237 yards, was picked off twice and lost a fumble.
That’s three turnovers forced by a defense that smelled blood.
Mesidor’s season-long production has been nothing short of elite. He now sits at 55 pressures, 51 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 2025-a resume that’s starting to look like Day Two gold for NFL scouts heading into the 2026 Draft.
His performance against Texas A&M earned him a 79.2 PFF grade, fourth among all defenders in the CFP first round. Miami had two other defenders in the top 10: Bryce Fitzgerald, who led the round with an 85.6 grade, and David Blay, who checked in with a solid 78.1.
Surprisingly, Bain didn’t crack the top 10 overall in PFF’s rankings for the round-but don’t let that fool you. He tied for the best edge rusher grade in the nation at 93.0, alongside Texas Tech’s David Bailey.
And Bain stood alone as the only Power Four edge rusher to earn top-10 marks in both run defense and pass rushing. That’s rare company.
What Miami’s defense did in this game was more than just dominant-it was surgical. With Mesidor and Bain leading the charge, they didn’t just beat Texas A&M.
They dismantled them. And if this is the level Miami’s front seven is going to bring for the rest of the postseason, the rest of the bracket better be on high alert.