Miami knocked off No. 23 Texas A&M, 48-33, getting revenge for last season's loss in College Station, Texas, and perhaps sending a message to the rest of the country that this is not the same Hurricanes team we saw in Mario Cristobal's first season at the helm. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke became the second quarterback in program history to throw five touchdowns in a single game, finishing 21 of 30 for 374 yards in the effort.
The Canes thrived in the second half after struggling in the early part of the game. After foolishly attempting to return the opening kickoff and getting buried inside the 15-yard line, Miami went three-and-out and had its punt blocked. That set up an easy 15-yard touchdown drive and 7-0 lead for Texas A&M. Following an Aggies field goal, the Canes cut the lead to 10-7, but another special teams error put them behind the 8-ball.
This time, it was a muffed punt that left the Aggies at the 5-yard line. Two plays later, it was 17-7 Texas A&M.
It was almost exclusively Miami from there through the final whistle. If not for penalties, the Canes may have taken total control of the game even sooner. In the end, it didn't matter as Van Dyke and the Miami offense overwhelmed the TAMU defense.
Van Dyke spun the ball around with three different receivers catching touchdowns, but it was Jacolby George who had the most notable day. George finished with 94 yards and three touchdowns on five receptions.
For the Aggies, Conner Weigman threw for 336 yards and two scores, but his two interceptions cost Texas A&M dearly. Evan Stewart was the star player on offense for the Aggies, finishing with 11 receptions for 142 yards.
Let's dive into some takeaways from teh game.
Miami was more dominant than the score suggests ...
The Hurricanes had to overcome two huge mistakes on special teams early in the game, mistakes that can derail a game for any team. For the Canes to not only come back and win but to do so by 15 points was impressive.
After starting the game with consecutive three-and-outs, Miami picked up at least one first down on the rest of their possessions. Even its worst drive thereafter resulted in a field goal. Kam Kinchens intercepted a pass in the third quarter to give Miami the ball at the Texas A&M 22, but the Canes offense only picked up 6 yards and had to settle for a field goal. Other than that, Miami only punted once in its final nine possessions. Seven of the other eight resulted in points, and one ended with a missed field goal.
The Aggies didn't have an answer for the Canes over the final three quarters.
... but The U ain't 'back' ... yet
Yes, this win was huge, and Miami fans should feel great. Still, there's no denying that many of the same disciplinary and mental mistakes that have plagued the Hurricanes for years are still present on this team.
Miami finished with 10 penalties for 115 yards. One was a defensive holding that extended a Texas A&M possession that resulted in points. There was also an illegal hands to the face call against the Aggies on a third down that would've ended the drive if not for an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Canes for taunting.
And it wasn't just the players making mistakes. Texas A&M faced a fourth-and-1 in the third quarter at the Miami 6. It sent in the jumbo package but took too long and needed to burn a timeout. Some how, some way, Miami came out of the timeout with 13 players on the field and had to burn a timeout itself. Luckily for the Canes, the Aggies weren't done screwing up; Texas A&M committed a false start that forced it to kick a field goal.
The Canes didn't pay for these mistakes Saturday, but if they don't tighten things up, they will eventually.
We saw the Tyler Van Dyke of 2021 again
The one thing Miami fans should be most excited about was the performance of Van Dyke. Last week, TVD threw for 201 yards and a score against Miami (OH) while averaging 9.1 yards per attempt. It was a promising start, but it was also against a MAC team. It's hard to put a lot of stock in games like that.
Saturday's effort was the real stuff against a defense filled with future NFL players. One of the reasons I was so high on the Hurricanes before the 2022 season was the play of Van Dyke in 2021. He looked like the kind of QB the Canes had been long missing, the kind a program needs to take a step forward. However, TVD regressed significantly in 2022.
This start to the 2023 season is immensely encouraging, particularly when you consider how shaky Clemson has looked so far. If Van Dyke keeps playing like this, the Canes could be a factor in the ACC title race.
The Aggies are still robotic on offense
No matter whether it's Bobby Petrino or Jimbo Fisher calling plays, Texas A&M's offense looks essentially the same: exotic formations that all result in the same 2- and 3-yard routes. Granted, Miami's defense deserves a lot of credit as it brought pressure constantly and forced Weigman into quick decisions, but TAMU allowed it to happen.
The Aggies averaged 5.3 yards per play on first down, but that number is skewed heavily by Miami playing shell coverage in the fourth quarter while nursing a two-score lead. For most of the game, the Aggies averaged under 4 yards per play on first down.
When you constantly put yourself in second-and-long, it forces you to get away from the run game while allowing an opponent to bring constant pressure. None of that is to say it's a problem the Aggies cannot or will not solve, but it's clearly a work in progress at this point of the season.
Texas A&M has something in Conner Weigman
It wasn't a great game for the new starter, but it wasn't bad, either. He finished with two interceptions, but the first wasn't his fault, and the second was a desperation heave on fourth-and-goal in the final minute. Between Weigman and playmakers like Evan Stewart, Noah Thomas and Amari Daniels, this offense has the ingredients to be good. It's up to the coaching staff to find the winning recipe.