Not even the referees were going to stop Miami's defense from putting Texas A&M down

Miami was not going to be denied, not even by the referees.

The Hurricanes had to survive a mad onslaught from Texas A&M in the final two minutes to hold on for a 10-3 win over the Aggies in their CFP first-round game from Kyle Field. Bryce Fitzgerald officially ended the game with an interception off Marcel Reed in the end zone with 24 seconds remaining.

But before the freshman got his second pick of the game, it looked like the Aggies' real 12th man — the officials, were going to do everything in their power to get Texas A&M in the end zone. 

With Texas A&M on 2nd and 5 from their 30, Reed completed a short pass that would've given the Aggies a first down, but the officials flagged Armando Blount on a very questionable roughing the passer call that got Texas A&M into Miami territory and kick-started their drive.

Replays showed Blount battling on the inside and laying a shoulder into Reed. But the Texas A&M quarterback sold it like he had gotten hit at full speed and the officials fell for the acrobatics. Had the Aggies gone on to tie the score, that call would have been one of the key points on the drive. But justice prevailed in the end.

It was one of the few mistakes, if we can call it that, the Hurricanes' defense had their best effort of the season. They completely shut down any idea of a Texas A&M run game, holding the Aggies to 89 yards on 35 carries (2.5 yards per carry). Miami recorded seven sacks and three turnovers. 

Now Miami will move on to the quarterfinals and head to the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas to take on the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. That game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on December 31.