The Miami Hurricanes are back in the national spotlight - and they’re making sure everyone knows it.
After grinding out a 10-3 win over Texas A&M in College Station, Miami punched its ticket to the Cotton Bowl and a College Football Playoff quarterfinal showdown with Ohio State. It wasn’t pretty, but playoff football rarely is.
What matters is the scoreboard, and Miami’s side of it showed more points. That’s a win, and for a program that’s been clawing its way back into national relevance, it’s a big one.
A Statement Win in a Gritty Game
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t the kind of offensive explosion that lights up highlight reels. But Miami’s defense came to play, and in a hostile environment like Kyle Field, that’s often what separates winners from the rest.
Holding Texas A&M to just a field goal? That’s a tone-setter.
It’s the kind of defensive performance that gives a team belief - not just in its scheme, but in its identity.
Now, Miami sits at 1-0 in the newly expanded College Football Playoff, and there’s no time to rest. Next up: a Cotton Bowl date with No.
2 Ohio State on New Year’s Eve. But before we look ahead, it’s worth noting that Miami’s players didn’t just celebrate their win - they made sure to send a message.
Miami Sends a Message - Loud and Clear
While the Hurricanes were celebrating their biggest victory in years, they didn’t forget who wasn’t on the field - namely, Notre Dame and star running back Jeremiyah Love. Love, who finished third in the Heisman voting and has already declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, became a target of Miami’s postgame celebration.
The Hurricanes didn’t hold back, calling out Love and the Fighting Irish in the locker room and on social media. It’s not exactly subtle, but it’s also not surprising.
This is Miami - swagger is part of the brand. And when you knock off two of the teams that beat Notre Dame this season, including the Irish themselves, you’re going to have something to say.
Miami’s win over Texas A&M - another team that handed Notre Dame a loss - gave the Hurricanes a little extra ammo. And they used it.
The message? Miami belongs in the playoff.
Notre Dame doesn’t.
What’s Next: A Massive Challenge in Arlington
Now comes the real test. The Hurricanes will face a rested and motivated Ohio State team that saw its undefeated season slip away in the Big Ten Championship against Indiana. The Buckeyes opened as 10.5-point favorites, and while the line has dipped slightly to 9.5, Miami enters the Cotton Bowl as a clear underdog.
And let’s not sugarcoat it - Miami will need more than 10 points on the scoreboard to hang with Ohio State. The Buckeyes have firepower, depth, and experience.
But Miami isn’t walking into AT&T Stadium just to make up the numbers. There’s real talent on this roster, and if the defense can replicate what it did in College Station - and the offense finds another gear - this could be more of a game than the spread suggests.
Head coach Mario Cristobal knows his team has work to do. The win over Texas A&M was gritty, but far from perfect.
There are breakdowns to fix, drives to finish, and a game plan to build that can challenge one of the most complete teams in the country. But for the first time in a long time, Miami is playing meaningful football in late December - and that matters.
The Bigger Picture: Miami Is Back in the National Conversation
This win marks a turning point for the Hurricanes. For a program that’s been chasing its past for years, this playoff victory isn’t just a milestone - it’s a message.
Miami isn’t just here to make noise; they’re here to compete. And in a playoff system that demands you prove it on the field, that 10-3 scoreline in College Station means everything.
Beating Texas A&M in their house, with the stakes this high, is a signature moment for Cristobal’s tenure. And while the Hurricanes dropped games to Louisville and SMU in ACC play, they’ve shown they can rise to the occasion against top-tier opponents. That’s the kind of trajectory that can carry a team deep into January.
So yes, the road ahead is steep. Ohio State is a powerhouse for a reason.
But Miami’s already done what many thought they couldn’t - win a playoff game, on the road, against a team many expected to advance. Now, they’ve got a shot to do it again.
And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from this Miami team, it’s that they’re not afraid of the moment - or of letting the college football world know they’ve arrived.