Former Aggie star De'Von Achane sports rival Miami colors after a brutal CFP bet. He's paying his dues, proving sportsmanship even after a tough loss.
College football wouldn't hit the same without a little friendly wager floating around the edges.
The stakes are rarely money, because the best bets are the ones that sting your pride. And in the South, few punishments are more irritating than being forced to wear the wrong colors, especially when "the wrong colors" belong to the team that just sent your school packing.
On Saturday, former Texas A&M running back and current Miami Dolphins weapon De'Von Achane appeared to pay up after losing a bet tied to the Aggies' College Football Playoff loss to Miami.
A social media photo making the rounds showed Achane in a Miami Hurricanes jersey, flashing the "U" hand sign. That's the universal signal for, "Yep, I lost," and he wore it like a pro, because if you're going to talk the talk, you've got to survive the walk of shame when it goes sideways.
For Aggies fans, it's the kind of moment that's both hilarious and mildly infuriating.
Achane is one of your guys, but he's also a competitive animal, and competitive animals make bets. The fact he actually followed through - no excuses, no dodging - makes it even better.
In an era where college athletics can feel like constant transaction and drama, this was the rare thing everyone can enjoy: harmless embarrassment, a good sport, and a quick reminder that rivalry energy doesn’t disappear just because a player is in the NFL now.
And Achane can afford the humiliation, because he's been cooking defenders all season.
With two games left in the regular season, he's been carrying the Dolphins' offense like it’s a personal project. Third in the NFL in rushing yards (1,267), first in yards per carry (5.8), fifth in total yards (1,726), and tied for ninth in total touchdowns (12). He's also the kind of player who keeps the All-Pro conversation within shouting distance if he continues to stack weeks like this.
So yes, he wore the Miami jersey. Yes, it was painful. And yes, it's also exactly what sports are supposed to be sometimes ... petty, funny, and loud, without being mean.
Aggies might not love the photo, but they can respect the guy for paying his tab.