Heading into the matchup between No. 7 Texas A&M football and No. 10 Miami on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Kyle Field, the two programs have had distinctly different — yet somewhat similar — seasons. 

The Aggies were No. 19 in the preseason AP Poll, then strung together 11 wins before falling to then-No. 16 rival Texas in the final game of the regular season. Meanwhile, Miami was 5-0, then dropped a pair of one-score games against middling SMU and Louisville teams in the middle of the season.

What the Aggies and Hurricanes do have in common is their wins over Notre Dame. The victory over the Fighting Irish is the highest ranked win on both teams’ records and earned both a spot in the College Football Playoff. Miami and A&M each also managed to work their way up to No. 3 this season and now find themselves facing off in the first round.

Marcel Reed, redshirt sophomore quarterback, Texas A&M

The Aggies starter under center was having a historic season for the Maroon and White, with the most passing touchdowns for A&M since the days of Johnny Manziel. However, redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed seemingly played himself out of Heisman Trophy contention after throwing two brutal interceptions against the Longhorns. 

The 25 passing touchdowns Reed boasts could be even greater if it weren’t for an extremely spotty deep ball that has often overthrown wide-open receivers down field. As a dual-threat talent, Reed has also accumulated 466 yards and six touchdowns on the ground; he’ll need every bit of that mobility to avoid the Category 5 Hurricane pass rush. The Aggies’ offensive livelihood will depend on Reed being consistent through the air and his ability to stay composed under pressure.

KC Concepcion, junior wide receiver, Texas A&M

As the Aggies most reliable pass catcher this season, junior wide receiver KC Concepcion has been elite since he traded NC State Wolfpack red for Aggie maroon. With nine receiving touchdowns — the most in the Southeastern Conference — Concepcion is addicted to finding the end zone, so expect him to put points on the board against Miami.

Concepcion isn’t just an elite offensive weapon but a playmaker on special teams, 1 of just 5 players nationally with multiple punt return touchdowns in 2025. The First Team All-SEC wide receiver and return specialist is going to leave his mark on in his final game at Kyle Field before he eventually hears his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Taurean York, junior linebacker, Texas A&M

The Aggies’ defensive captain has been a starter since arriving in College Station from Temple High School. Junior linebacker Taurean York is the eyes and ears for defensive playcaller and coach Mike Elko. With green-dot duty, York is going to be responsible for diagnosing the Miami offense before the Hurricanes can graduate from tropical storms.

With 68 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss along with a single sack, York was named to the 2025 All-SEC Third Team. What he doesn’t have in eye-popping measurables or athleticism, York more than makes up for in game IQ. York is a football intellectual and knows where to be in order to halt opposing offenses; he’ll need to be fully locked in against Miami’s lethal aerial attack.

Carson Beck, 6th-year redshirt senior quarterback, Miami

The two-time national championship winner with the Georgia Bulldogs shocked the college football atmosphere when he announced his transfer from “between the hedges” to Miami. In the final season of his collegiate career with the Hurricanes, 6th-year senior QB Carson Beck has looked more of the same. He proved to still be accident prone, with his 10 interceptions leading the Atlantic Coast Conference, including four thrown in Miami’s loss to Louisville.

While Beck hasn’t found the same individual success as his Hurricane QB predecessor — eventual No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft Cam Ward — he’s gotten the job done for Miami, earning the program’s first CFP berth. If Beck can stay calm and get the ball in his playmakers hands, watch out for Miami to rack up plenty of points.

Rueben Bain Jr., junior defensive lineman, Miami

One of the top edge rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft, junior defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. hasn’t piled up sacks this season, but he has been an absolute game-wrecker for the Miami defense, embarrassing opponents’ offensive linemen all year. 

The Aggie offensive line is certainly going to have its hands full trying to contain the ACC 2025 Defensive Player of the Year. However, A&M graduate student offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III said the Aggies aren’t afraid of the man nicknamed “Hurricane.”

“I don’t think he’ll be a threat that we need to worry about too much,” Zuhn said. “You know we have great players, we got a great offensive line, so we’ll be able to handle him.”

Malachi Toney, freshman wide receiver, Miami

Former three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, freshman WR Malachi Toney has been a breakout star for the Hurricanes offense in 2025. The Miami native is an elite Swiss — or rather Floridian — Army knife with 970 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns, to go along with 89 yards and one touchdown on the ground. He’s also not afraid to throw the ball with two passing touchdowns this season.

Toney took home ACC overall and offensive rookie of the season this year and will demonstrate exactly why he earned those honors when he exposes the Aggies’ secondary. The true freshman only turned 18 in September and will have no problem getting into the end zone at Kyle Field.