Rueben Bain might be one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Saturday could be his chance to make a statement. The College Football Playoff Saturday opener at Texas A&M puts Miami's star edge rusher on national TV against one of the best offensive lines in the country, a quarterback with big numbers and, yes, a group that has already given him plenty of bulletin-board material.
Rueben Bain projects to be top pick in 2026 NFL Draft
Bain comes into the CFP as a consensus All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. For the year he is at 37 tackles, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception. Pro Football Focus graded him at 93.0 on defense with 57 pressures this year.
That production is why some draft outlets have floated him as a possible No. 1 overall pick in 2026. But not everyone in the league is sold. In a recent post shared from The Athletic's Dane Brugler, Bain was described as "one of the more polarizing prospects in this class," with "plenty of Day 2 grades" from NFL scouts and several teams viewing him as more of a defensive tackle because of his frame and measurements at roughly 6-foot-2, 277 pounds with 30 3/4-inch arms and 9 1/4-inch hands.
Miami DL Rueben Bain will be one of the more polarizing prospects in this class. I talked more about it on today's pod.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) December 17, 2025
Plenty of Day 2 grades from NFL scouts. Viewed as a DT by several teams due to his size (6-2, 277, 30 3/4" arms, 9 1/4" hands).
Rueben Bain can silence any doubt against Texas A&M
The measurables say tweener, which is something that isn't as big of a deal in today's NFL, but still something to note. And NFL front offices are going to watch to see how he looks against an offensive line that is the opposite of a soft target.
Texas A&M's O-line has quietly been one of the best of the season. The Aggies were semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award and lead the SEC in fewest sacks allowed at just one per game, 11th nationally. They have given up only 12 sacks all year while throwing more than 30 passes per game and rank No. 1 in the country in fewest tackles for loss allowed at 2.8 per game.
Zuhn, a first-team All-SEC left tackle with PFF's highest pass-blocking grade in the nation, is the one who lit the fuse. He brushed off Bain on selection Sunday, saying he didn't think the Miami star would be "a threat that we need to worry about too much" and that A&M's line would "be able to handle him." On top of that, some outlets bumped Bain to second-team All-America or left him off entirely, while A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell grabbed some first-team honors.
For a guy who already keeps receipts, that is gasoline. Bain was literally writing down slights in a notebook and using them to fuel performances against Notre Dame and Florida. Add in a playoff game, a hostile SEC crowd and a line that's been talking up its own dominance, this is going to be fun to watch.