Running back Mark Fletcher Jr., fresh off a career-defining performance in Miami's 10-3 win at Texas A&M, plans to return for his senior season in 2026.
Side note in this story: Mark Fletcher has told Miami he’ll be back for 2026.https://t.co/qUZFZtGoYP
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) December 22, 2025
Mark Fletcher came in clutch for Miami against Texas A&M
Fletcher was the reason Miami had an offense at all when everything else was stuck in the mud. Fletcher ran 17 times for a career-high 172 yards, a ridiculous 10.1 yards per carry, and ripped off a 56-yard run on Miami's final possession to set up the game-winning touchdown.
Miami finished with 278 total yards and only 103 passing yards from quarterback Carson Beck (14 of 20, one touchdown, no interceptions). Fletcher accounted for 62% of Miami's total offense.
Mark Fletcher returning for 2026 is great Monday news to start my week. #GoCanes #CFPplayoff
— By Bill Whitehead🏆🏆 (@BillWhiteheadFL) December 22, 2025
The Miami-Texas A&M CFP matchup was a slugfest
Miami got the first scoreless first half in CFP history, then finally broke through on a 21-yard Carter Davis field goal early in the third quarter. Davis missed three field goals in gusty conditions after missing only two all season before Saturday.
Texas A&M outgained Miami 326-278 and held the ball for more than 33 minutes, but the Aggies never found the end zone for the first time all season. Miami sacked Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed seven times, forced three turnovers, and survived its lone giveaway (a fourth-quarter fumble by Malachi Toney).
After Toney's fumble with about seven minutes left, Miami's defense answered immediately, with Rueben Bain Jr. getting Reed twice on one series to force a punt. On the first play of the next drive, Fletcher broke that 56-yarder to the A&M 30. Miami leaned on him again and again until Toney scored on an 11-yard touchdown reception with less than two minutes left. Bryce Fitzgerald's second interception of the game ended A&M's last shot.
Miami advances to the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal against second-seeded Ohio State on Dec. 31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Mark Fletcher will return for his senior campaign
Miami expects to have its top two offensive playmakers back next season in Fletcher and Toney, which only makes the situation more attractive for transfer portal quarterbacks looking for a ready-made supporting cast.
Fletcher is at 1,978 career rushing yards, which ranks 13th in program history. If he simply repeats his 857 rushing yards from this season, he'd climb to fifth all-time. A 1,000-yard season would push him to third, trailing only Duke Johnson and Ottis Anderson.