Texas A&M Aggies junior linebacker Taurean York reflects on the last time he faced the Miami Hurricanes, but hopes for a different result in the College Football Playoffs.
The Miami Hurricanes have all the momentum on their side after finishing the regular season on a dominant note: a four-game winning streak, averaging 450 total yards, and recording 19 touchdowns. They defeated each opponent by an average margin of 27.5 points, including a ranked Pitt Panthers team in the grand finale. The offense is clicking and the defense displayed great resilience. After being away from the field for days, it all needs to translate on one of the biggest stages in college football, the playoffs.
The team is set to face the Texas A&M Aggies, who finished the regular season with an 11-1 record. They also recorded the most sacks in the nation, 41, tying with the Oklahoma Sooners. The team will certainly look to hold onto that production and disrupt Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck. He was at the helm of their late success, completing 89 of 112 passes, 79.5 percent, for 1,125 yards, recording 11 touchdowns and one meaningless interception.
The 23-year-old is playing, what Mario Crisotbal describes as, "at a really high level." Given all the weapons surrounding him, Malachi Toney, Mark Fletcher Jr., Keelan Marion, CJ Daniels, Elija Lofton, and many other players who stepped up during the battles of injuries, the Hurricanes have the depth to be extra dangerous. However, if the Aggies manage to take away his rhythm, then it could lead to catastrophic results.
The last time these two programs met on the field, it was on September 9th, 2023, at Miami Gardens, FL. The Hurricanes secured the victory, with a final score of 48-33. It was an absolute takeover after the first quarter. Tyler Van Dyke was the quarterback and completed 21 of 30 passes, 70 percent, for 374 yards and five touchdowns. Henry Parrish Jr. rushed 10 times for 50 yards. Jacolby George caught the most touchdowns, three, which was the most in a single game during his collegiate career, including 94 yards.
Junior Aggies linebacker Taurean York was one of the few players that was on the field when that happened. He elaborated on what happened in that loss:
"How much we didn't do our job," he said. "How had it looked on defense. It was a rough week, but that's in the past. We're looking forward to the playoff game."
The Hurricanes are much more dangerous this time around than in 2023, with an offense that can score in multiple ways and a defense that has proven to stand strong against the best opponents.
It will certainly be a fun matchup at College Station, Texas, on Dec. 20th, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC.
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