Making history isn’t always enough.
Texas A&M has made history by reaching the College Football Playoff for the first time. Attaining that goal means so much to a program that, historically, has come up just short of greatness. It means the Aggies are on the cusp of joining college football’s elite.
“I think it means that we’re ascending in the direction we want to go,” second-year A&M coach Mike Elko said. “But we didn’t just want to make the playoffs. That’s obviously the first step. You can’t compete for national championships if you’re not even in the party.
“We don’t want to be the ones that just get invited and then have to go home. Now, the focus is about taking this thing to the next level and continuing to compete as long as we can with this team.”
The next step in the climb for No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1) is facing No. 10 Miami (10-2) on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT at Kyle Field in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
“We don’t want to be the ones that just get invited and then have to go home. Now, the focus is about taking this thing to the next level and continuing to compete as long as we can with this team.”
- Texas A&M head football coach Mike Elko
The winner ascends to face No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Getting there requires the Aggies to defeat an opponent that is like a mirror image of themselves.
Both A&M and Miami captured narrow wins over Notre Dame. Both blew out Florida. Both are led by quarterbacks who’ve had eerily similar seasons.
A&M’s Marcel Reed has passed for 2,932 and 25 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. Miami’s Carson Beck has thrown for 3,072 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
The similarities don’t stop there.
They both have powerful offensive lines that rarely allow sacks. A&M has given up 12 sacks. Miami has allowed 11.
Both have All-American receivers. A&M has KC Concepcion and Mario Craver. Miami has freshman Malachi Toney.
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
An impact player as a receiver, rusher and returner, KC Concepcion earned concensus All-American honors.
Both are ranked among the nation’s top 20 in scoring. Both have defenses that are ranked among the top 20. Both have strong pass rushes. A&M leads the nation with 41 sacks. Miami has 34.
Both have defenses that excel on third down. A&M leads the nation by holding opponents to a 22.73 percent success rate on third down. Miami is 10th with a 29.94 percent success rate.
However, Miami also ranks among the nation’s top 20 in third-down conversions. Finding a way to deny the Hurricanes on the pivotal down is obviously a huge key to success for the Aggies.
“They’ve been very successful when their tape is slanted toward third-and-6 or less,” Elko said. “We’ve been very successful when our tape is slanted toward third-and-7 or more.
“I think that that probably plays a little bit of a role, too. Who wins the early downs to create the third down situation will be a big part of it.”
Another big key to A&M’s success figures to be its running game. The Aggies might have running back Le’Veon Moss back from injury, which will be a significant boost.
Will Huffman, TexAgs
Le’Veon Moss practiced during Tuesday’s media availability. He has not played since Oct. 11.
Regardless of whether Moss, Rueben Owens II, EJ Smith or anyone else is carrying the football, they face a stern test against Miami, which is seventh in the nation in run defense.
A&M’s offensive line vs. Miami’s defensive line could be the game’s most decisive matchup.
“When you’re playing a defensive line like this, you’ve got to stay in front of the chains,” Elko said. “I think that’s going to be really, really important.
“I think you’re really trying to figure out what the best way to go at all of that is. I don’t think it’s, ‘They’re really good at stopping the run, so we have to establish the run.’
“I do think how we kind of neutralize or combat their strengths is important, and we might have to find a creative way to do that.”
That may ultimately mean finding a creative way to continue the ascension to get where the Aggies want to go.
