"The U" is back!
For 20-plus years, it served as the most-overused conversation starter in college football. Unless we're talking about Texas. Yet we're finally back to the point where the phrase is neither premature hype nor a sarcastic way of saying the Hurricanes are "fake good."
No. 10 Miami can finally say it's back in the national consciousness for real – even if we couldn't go all the way in until Bryce Fitzgerald's interception in the end zone with 24 seconds remaining sealed a 10-3 victory against No. 7 Texas A&M at Kyle Field in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday.
Miami (11-2) made the CFP as an ACC at-large and have won five straight games since a 26-20 overtime loss at SMU on Nov. 1. Miami coach Mario Cristobal said on the ABC post-game interview the victory was "more validation."
"They made a decision 40-some days ago to change the narrative," Cristobal said.
Now, Miami will travel to the Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 1 to face No. 2 Ohio State – which instantly rekindles memories of the last time "The U" was on top before the Buckeyes pulled a 31-24 upset in the BCS national championship game at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3, 2003.
SN AWARDS: 2025 All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year
How Miami beat Texas A&M in first round of CFP
Miami took possession with 4:02 remaining in a 3-3 game, and that's when running back Mark Fletcher made the play of the game. Fletcher took a sprint draw up the middle for a 56-yard run, and that set up a 11-yard TD run on a pop pass from Carson Beck with 1:44 remaining. That sent Hurricanes legend Michael Irvin into a frenzy on the sideline.
MARK FLETCHER ALL DAMN DAY #PMSCFP pic.twitter.com/mBfeeHQRkF
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 20, 2025
MORE: How Mark Fletcher turned the tide against Texas A&M
That was an impressive response considering Toney fumbled on the previous drive with 7:03 left in the game.
Texas A&M (11-2) mounted a last-minute drive, but Fitzgerald's second interception on third and goal sealed the victory.
It was admittedly an ugly victory. The first quarter was scoreless. The second quarter was full of special teams drama. Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. Blocked a 22-yard field-goal attempt by Jared Zirkel with 11:32 left in the first half. That spoiled the only play of 20 yards or more in the first half – a 59-yard pass from Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed to Mario Craver.
Miami kicker Carter Davis missed field-goal attempts of 47 and 40 yards, respectively, the first which spoiled a 55-yard punt return by Toney. The second came after Texas A&M tried a fake punt on an incomplete pass from punter Tyler White to Ashton Bethel-Roman.
The Hurricanes took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 21-yard field goal by Davis, who missed a third field goal in the third quarter. Texas A&M tied the game on a 35-yard field goal by Randy Bond with 8:03 remaining.
MORE: Greatest Miami Hurricanes of all time
Beck – a Georgia transfer – picked up his first CFP victory. He finished 14 of 20 for 103 yards. Fletcher added 17 carries for 172 yards.
Bain had three of Miami's seven sacks and pushed into the conversation as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Hurricanes have serious defensive talent, too. Reed was limited to 25 of 39 passing for 237 yards. The Aggies had 89 rushing yards on 2.5 yards per carry.
MORE: SN's latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft
When was last time 'The U' was back?
Miami won its last national championship in 2001 – the season before the legendary No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown with the Buckeyes. The Hurricanes beat No. 9 Florida State 16-14 in the Orange Bowl the following season on Jan. 1, 2004.
Saturday marked the first time since that game the Hurricanes beat a top-10 team in a postseason game – a brutal 20-year lull that started when No. 10 LSU beat No. 9 Miami 40-3 in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30, 2005.
Cristobal is right. This victory is validation for the ACC, which crowned a five-loss conference champion in Duke in the conference championship game and failed to get a team into the quarterfinal round in the first 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024. It is validation for the College Football Playoff committee, which can rest on victories by No. 9 Alabama and Miami in the first round now.
Most of all, it's validation for the idea that "The U" might finally be on the way back. A victory against a SEC opponent never hurts. This sets up a fantastic matchup with Ohio State – who will be in the role of the defending national champion this time. The Hurricanes will be heavy underdogs this time, and once the nostalgia fades from that last matchup in Tempe, there will be a realization.
The Hurricanes are playing in a huge game on New Year's Day. What does Cristobal think about that? He put it out there after getting hugs from his family and Irvin through the chaotic post-game scene. Miami is "real good" now.
"The Miami Hurricanes are just getting started," Cristobal said.
MORE: Updated College Football Playoff bracket