Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson told reporters on Monday that Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck told him that running right at Texas A&M was the best way to attack the Aggies' defense in the second half.
Miami ran 12 times for 38 yards in the first half. Beck completed eight passes in 13 attempts for 38 yards in the opening 30 minutes. Passing was difficult on Saturday in College Station with wind gusts over 20 miles per hour. Kickers combined to make two out of six field goal attempts.
Establishing the run in the second half, Miami ran 16 times for 137 yards. Most of that was Mark Fletcher Jr. Fletcher Jr. finished with 17 carries for 172 yards on Saturday. On his first three carries of the game, Fletcher ran for 24 yards.
Fletcher Jr. ran for six yards on his final four carries of the first half. After seven carries for 30 yards in the first half, Fletcher dominated the final 20 minutes, particularly on the Miami game-winning drive. Fletcher had 10 carries for 142 yards in the second half.
Kudos to Carson Beck for suggesting to UM OC Dawson at halftime that he should run up the middle more (as we and others were suggesting at the time).
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) December 22, 2025
Dawson: "I could have done better play calling, looking back at it. Carson felt running right at them was a good way to attack…
Change in strategy
Miami relied far more on the run in the second half. Beck completed six passes in eight attempts for 72 yards and a touchdown in the final 30 minutes. Fletcher Jr. had four carries for 41 yards in the second half. On his first two carries of the third quarter, Fletcher Jr. went for 37 yards.
Fletcher had a 16-yard run on his first carry of the fourth quarter before a dominant final drive. With Miami 86 yards from the end zone and 4:02 remaining in a game tied at three, Dawson relied on Fletcher to put Miami in scoring position.
Fletcher Jr. ran 56 yards on the first carry of the game-winning drive, then went for two, 12, three and two yards to put Miami into the red zone. Those five carries were the first plays Miami ran on the game-winning drive.
With Texas A&M now focusing on Fletcher Jr., Dawson called for a jet sweep with star freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney. Toney ran it in from five yards out on what is considered a TD pass from Beck for the only TD of the game and gave Miami a 10-3 lead with 1:44 remaining.
Miami dominated up front. The Hurricanes averaged 6.3 yards per carry, Fletcher posted 10.1 yards per rushing attempt and the Miami offensive line held a stout Texas A&M defense to six tackles for loss and two sacks.
Beck's experience in big games paid off for Miami. This was the first time Dawson called plays in such a meaningful game. Miami ultimately relied on what was working and won the game on both lines of scrimmage.