Miami OL will have its toughest test this season against elite Texas A&M DL

The Miami offensive line should have its biggest challenge in 2025 against an elite Texas A&M defensive line. Texas A&M is second nationally, averaging 8.67 tackles for loss per game and tied with Oklahoma, posting 3.42 sacks per contest.

The player to watch for Texas A&M will be defensive end Cashius Howell. Howell is 14.0 tackles for loss and is tied for fourth nationally with 11.5 sacks. Per Adam Lichtenstein of the Sun Sentinel, Howell is 16th nationally among defensive players with 200 or more snaps with a 90.5 Pro Football Focus pass rushing grade.

Miami is fifth nationally, holding opponents to 3.50 TFLs and eighth, keeping opponents to 0.92 sacks per contest. Lichtenstein noted Miami has the fourth best pass blocking grade and was the fourth most efficient OL nationally per PFF. Miami was also fourth nationally allowing 47 quarterback pressures.

Miami has the 10th-best PFF run blocking grade per Lichtenstein. Right tackle Francis Mauigoa earned the 2025 Jacobs Trophy as the top blocker in the ACC. Mauigoa is sixth nationally among offensive tackles with an 85.9 overall grade and third nationally with an 88.8 pass blocking grade per the ACC.

Per Lichtenstein, Texas A&M is 25th in run defense grade, the Aggies are 38th, permitting 127.08 rushing yards per game and 58th allowing 4.03 yards per carry. Texas A&M has an inconsistent run defense that Miami should be able to exploit on Saturday.

Keeping Texas A&M from creating negative plays on defense is one of the biggest questions for Miami. Texas A&M has really thrived over the last five games. The Aggies have at least 10.0 TFLs in four of the past five games. Texas A&M has at least four sacks in six 2025 games.

Mario Cristobal has built the Miami roster from the inside out. Saturday is arguably the biggest test for Miami in the trenches during the Cristobal tenure. If Miami can establish the run on Saturday, it can slow down the Texas A&M pass rush.