Shannon Dawson finally woke up and let Miami's hero take over vs. A&M

Miami's first-round College Football Playoff game at Texas A&M was always going to come down to toughness. It ended up being about trust, too. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson spent most of the afternoon looking for answers against an Aggies defense that kept shrinking the field. When it was time to win it, Miami stopped overthinking and fed Mark Fletcher Jr. 

No. 10 Hurricanes beat No. 7 Texas A&M 10-3

The No. 10 Hurricanes beat No. 7 Texas A&M 10-3 Saturday at Kyle Field, advancing to face Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31. Miami did it with 172 rushing yards from Fletcher on 17 carries, a defense that forced three turnovers, and one late six-play, 86-yard touchdown drive that finally broke a game that felt stuck in mud.

For two quarters, it looked like Miami might waste the opportunity. The first half was scoreless, and the Aggies had the better of it early, outgaining Miami before the break.

Miami finally got on the board in the third quarter when Davis hit a 21-yard field goal at the 10:34 mark, a nine-play, 72-yard march that at least proved the Hurricanes could string something together.

Texas A&M tied it 3-3 on a 35-yard Randy Bond field goal with 8:03 left in the fourth, finishing a 16-play, 67-yard drive that chewed up over seven minutes. A&M finished with 326 total yards to Miami's 278.

RB Mark Fletcher Jr. was the difference maker

With the score tied and under four minutes left, Fletcher ripped off the play that changed everything, popping a 56-yard run down the right sideline.

Two minutes later, Miami finished the job. Malachi Toney cashed in an 11-yard touchdown reception (basically a sweep) with 1:49 left, capping a six-play, 86-yard drive. Beck finished 14 of 20 for 103 yards and that one score. Toney's touchdown was the only trip to the end zone either team managed.

Miami's defense did the rest. Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed threw two interceptions and the Aggies turned it over three times overall. Beck and the offense didn't have to be pretty because Rueben Bain Jr. and the pass rush were sharp all day long. Bain finished with three sacks.

Now the Hurricanes get Ohio State next, and after what Fletcher just did in College Station, Miami will want to lean on him again on New Year's Eve.