As the Miami Hurricanes prepare for another high-stakes game, especially within program history, Rueben Bain Jr. is confident that they're clicking at the right time.
The Miami Hurricanes will continue to push towards history after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies in the first-round of the College Football Playoffs, with a final score of 10-3. It was a gruesome and scrappy matchup, which ended up being decided by defense. Edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. played a critical role in the team's victory, finishing the game with five tackles, four solos and one assist, four tackles for loss, including three second-half, crucial sacks, and a blocked field goal.
The 21-year-old didn't take lightly to the disrespectful comments towards him, specifically from Aggies' offensive linemen Trey Zuhn III, labeling him as a "non-threat."
Granted, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year didn't record a sack with the SEC's co-winner of the Jacob Blocking Trophy directly on the other side of the line of scrimmage, but he still left a massive imprint on the game.
It also displayed the Hurricanes' resilience, which helped them crack the 12-team bracket, despite all the odds against them. After losing to the Louisville Cardinals and SMU Mustangs in the span of three weeks, playoff hopes were on life support. However, the program responded with a dominant four-game winning streak to close the regular season. It was enough to convince the Selection Committee to earn a spot.
Bain Jr. certainly thinks the Hurricanes are "peaking" at the right time.
"I say we are," the First-Time All-ACC Honoree said. "I was talking to Akheem [Mesidor] and one of our coaches about this, because we've been talking about our path into the playoffs, praying, and everything is just going to happen for a reason. As time goes on, things start to reval itself. We'll just play football [how] we know we can play it. Everything is going to happen for a reason."
Not only do the Hurricanes have all the momentum on their side, but they also have a case to be the most battle-tested out of everyone left on the bracket, especially after the Aggies' matchup.
Bain Jr. alluded to his faith in God, which goes beyond the lines on the football field:
I actually had a verse before the [Aggies] game," he added. "Just saying that God has the final say. He knows everything that's going to happen and that's my mindset. It's not to worry because I know that at the end of the day, God has everything planned out. Everything's already set in stone, so whatever is going to happen is going to happen. I just go out and play free, have no worry, just go out with a mindset that I could just do what I want because I know at the end, everything happens for a reason."
It will surely be another intense battle for the Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinals against the Ohio State Buckeyes, on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31st, at Arlington, Texas, 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN.
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