The Miami Hurricanes game at Texas A&M on the 17 has been named as one of “College football’s 10 most important games in September” by Brad Crawford of 247 Sports. Miami should be more competitive in College Station than they were in a 44-13 loss to Alabama in Atlanta to open the 2021 season.
Miami at Texas A&M could be decided by the Hurricanes’ offense versus the Aggies’ defense. Miami finished 23rd nationally in 2021 averaging 34.1 points per game. Texas A&M was third in scoring defense in 2021 allowing just 15.9 points per game. The Aggies return nine starters, including five on defense.
Texas A&M signed the highest-ranked class ever in 2022. The Aggies signed four five-star defensive linemen in the 2022 class. That includes Monsignor Pace alum Shemar Stewart who chose Texas A&M over Miami. Texas A&M safety Antonio Johnson was named a preseason All-American by Pro Football Focus.
Head coach Mario Cristobal, offensive tackle Zion Nelson and quarterback Tyler Van Dyke have received most of the Miami Hurricanes preseason hype. The Miami game at Texas A&M will be the first major test of the Cristobal era. Miami opens with Bethune-Cookman and Southern Mississippi before traveling to College Station.
"7. MIAMI AT TEXAS A&M | SEPT. 17“Are we putting too much stock in Miami this season under first-year head coach Mario Cristobal in the ACC? No, because he has a top-end quarterback in Tyler Van Dyke who is going to make everyone around him better, not to mention the Hurricanes’ impressive group of returning starters on the other side of the football.Those factors could cause chaos for Texas A&M playing a team with nothing to lose in this non-conference tilt. There’s considerably more pressure on the Aggies to succeed this fall in a big way as a playoff hopeful after signing the highest-rated class in modern recruiting history.”"
Miami will need to have a balanced offense and good performance defensively against Texas A&M. Under new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis Miami is expected to have a more balanced offense this season. Miami has not defeated a Power Five non-conference opponent since Notre Dame in 2017.
Winning at Texas A&M or at Clemson in November would be program-making wins for Cristobal in his first season with the Miami Hurricanes. Miami won both games of a home-and-home against Texas A&M in 2007 and 2008 the last time the programs played. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series against the Aggies 2-1.