All we hear is the mighty SEC this, and best league ever that. But the Miami Hurricanes of the ACC tried to change that thinking on Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

The Hurricanes rolled into College Station, Texas and it was their defense that stole the show. They bullied around the 11-1 Texas A&M Aggies of the SEC, winning 10-3. It wasn't pretty, but if you like defense, then Miami gave you a five-star show.

And another black eye for the SEC.

For a month or more, Miami was on the outside looking in with the CFP selection committee. Texas A&M was unbeaten through 11 games and a title contender, but facts are facts and they were getting fat feeding off the bottom of the SEC. All seven of the league wins were against teams in the bottom half of the league

On Saturday, Miami proved it was the better team. And that they belonged in. this postseason.

And will continue to play on.

“What does it mean for us? Forty-plus days ago, we were lower than low,'' Miami coach Mario Cristobal said after losses to Louisville and SMU. "We found a way to bring a different level of energy every single day and lift each other and the program up.

"Here we are with a chance to keep playing. That’s all that matters now. 1-0.” 

No. 10 seed Miami now advances to the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31, where No. 2 seed — but betting favorite — Ohio State awaits. Texas A&M goes home, losers of two straight after winning those 11 games in a row. 

Here is the game story from Miami Roundtable writer Anthony Aguirre. 

Miami's defense — a problem for the Hurricanes the past few years — forced three Texas A&M turnovers and held them to just 89 yards rushing on 35 carries. Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed threw for 237 yards, but had two interceptions and a lost fumble.

The final turnover came in the final minute, where a potential game-tying touchdown drive ended with an interception in the end zone by Bryce Fitzgerald with 24 seconds to go.

Miami quarterback Carson Beck threw for only 103 yards all day, but running back Mark Fletcher had 172 yards rushing on 17 carries. He had a 56-yard run, the longest play of the day. 

On a crazy windy day at Kyle Field, it was difficult to throw the ball, and just as hard to make kicks. The Aggies missed a field goal, and Miami's usually reliable Carter Davis was just 1-for-4 on field goal attempts.

The game was scoreless at the half — the first College Football Playoff game ever with no points scored in the first 30 minutes. The teams traded field goals in the second half after stalled drives, and Miami didn't take the lead for good until Miami quarterback Carson Beck threw an 11-yard TD pass to Malachi Toney with 1:44 left in the game. 

The Aggies quickly marched downfield and had that one last chance before Reed's final pick ended their day — and their season.

And it's the Hurricanes who got their biggest win in maybe two decades. Miami has five national championships, but none since 2001. They've been a member of the ACC since 2004, and have never once won a conference title in a league they were supposed to dominate.

They lured Cristobal, a former Miami player, back in 2021, and added resources to be more competitive on a national scale. Now 11-2 and three games from a title, the plan seems to be working.

“Every stadium we go in, I hear people saying — Miami go home,” former Hurricane great Michael Irvin said. “We plan on going home. Because home is where the national championship will be played.”

It was also a big day for the much-maligned ACC, which botched its title-game tiebreakers and were embarrassed to have five-loss Duke win its championship game without making the CFP.

But the league has had some good bragging moments all year. Florida State beat Alabama earlier this year, Louisville beat Kentucky 41-0 in the final week of the season, and Clemson beat South Carolina, too. Miami also beat Florida of the SEC back in September.

The SEC likes to brag that there is a huge gap between the two leagues, but Miami is proving otherwise. This game came down to a late touchdown by Miami — and A&M's inability to find the end zone.

“We weren’t able to get it done. We came up five yards short, and that’s something we’ll have to live with through the offseason,” Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said.

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Tom Brew is the National Editor-in-Chief at Roundtable Sports. You can follow him in Twitter (X) @tombrewsports

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