Doubt Carson Beck at your own peril... Although he did not play the greatest game of his college career, he did enough to help his Miami Hurricanes defeat the Texas A&M Aggies in the No. 7 vs. No. 10 College Football Playoff game last week. Miami advanced by the final score of 10-3. Beck was able to find Malachi Toney for six, whereas Marcel Reed was able to find Miami DB Bryce Fitzgerald, twice...
No, this did not stop ESPN college football analyst Booger McFarland from throwing shade at Beck.
"For public consumption, Texas A&M needs to win because they may be able to at least pinch Ohio State. Miami has zero chance with Carson Beck."
He even had the audacity of saying he would rather have Dan Orlovssky over Beck at quarterback...
"I'd rather have you than Beck."
I’d rather have you than Beck https://t.co/ZJ7ndbiXWL
— Booger (@ESPNBooger) December 20, 2025
Over the last three years, all Beck has done is win at two Power Four programs of note. He went 24-3 over 27 starts the two previous seasons at Georgia. Two of his losses were to Alabama, with the other being on the road at Ole Miss in a wet one. 13 games into his Miami tenure, Beck has gone 11-2. Yes, the Louisville and SMU losses were not all that great, but he has beaten Notre Dame and Texas A&M.
Miami might be up against it the rest of the way, starting with the Cotton Bowl vs. Ohio State up next.
Booger McFarland chose to be extra petty in evaluation Carson Beck
When it comes to evaluating Miami's chances of surviving and advancing all the way to the national title bout, it has everything to do with seeding and matchups. Potentially getting to play a "home game" at Hard Rock Stadium in the national title bout may not be in the cards for the Hurricanes. It is their lot in life as the No. 10 seed. Regardless, they are a dangerous team because of their seeding.
What we saw last week over in College Station was an offensive plan of attack put forth by Shannon Dawson to not put Beck in a bad spot. Outgoing Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein had no issues trying to make Reed beat the Hurricanes defense and the wind. It is why he threw two picks to Fitzgerald to lose the game. Beck may be turnover prone, but he also knows how to lean on his guys.
In the end, Beck is the ideal quarterback for this team. He is so immensely talented, but people will continue to doubt him because he does not check all the boxes you put out before him. Beck is a flawed player, but one who has nothing left to lose. There is a chance he could play more cool, calm, and collected than his Cotton Bowl counterpart in Julian Sayin. Miami is playing with house money.
McFarland might be so incredibly down on Beck, but so far, the guy is 1-0 as a starter in the playoff...