The Texas A&M at Miami football game was one of the contests that ESPN Gameday picked at the end of their show on Saturday. Texas A&M at Miami is one of the biggest games in a slate full of them on Saturday. The Aggies and Hurricanes will kick off on Saturday at 3:30 PM at Hard Rock Stadium.
Former Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois head coach and Miami Jackson alum Lee Corso was the sole ESPN Gameday analyst who picked the Miami football team. Corso said “I’m going with the new coaches” which was likely in reference to the seven new assistants Mario Cristobal during the offseason.
Miami hired Shannon Dawson as offensive coordinator, Lance Guidry as defensive coordinator, Tim Harris Jr. as running backs coach, Kevin Beard as wide receiver coach, Cody Woodiel as tight ends coach, Jason Taylor as defensive line coach and Derek Nicholson as wide receivers coach during the 2023 offseason.
Former Michigan wide receiver, 1991 Heisman Trophy Winner and Superbowl XXXI Most Valuable Player Desmond Howard and former NFL punter Pat McAfee picked Texas A&M without little to no explanation. Kirk Hebrstreit picked Texas A&M explaining “Not hostile environment…A&M might have more fans there”
ESPN Gameday Host Rece Davis added to the comment from Herbstreit about Miami fans “Unless Florida State is in down they don’t care.” It’s an old trope about Miami football fans. Herbstreit in the past has praised the Miami crowd during night games. It’s always been a different vibe for Miami home night games.
Texas A&M should be the biggest Miami home non-conference game since the 41-8 2017 win over Notre Dame. ESPN College Gameday appeared on the Miami campus for the first time that morning. Herbstreit called the win over Notre Dame and the 28-10 victory over Virginia Tech the week prior.