No. 10 Miami earned its first College Football Playoff victory in program history, edging No. 7 Texas A&M 10–3 on Saturday night in a defensive struggle at Kyle Field.

The Hurricanes (11-2) broke a 3-3 tie late when quarterback Carson Beck found Malachi Toney for an 11-yard touchdown with 1:44 remaining, capping a methodical drive that finally cracked the Aggies’ defense.

“We knew this was going to be a fight,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “This was grown-man football. Our guys stayed disciplined, stayed physical, and never flinched. That’s winning football.”

The game featured a scoreless first half, with both defenses dominating field position and limiting explosive plays. Miami opened the scoring with a third-quarter field goal before Texas A&M answered with one of its own early in the fourth.

Miami’s defense delivered the final blow when defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted Marcel Reed in the end zone with 24 seconds left, sealing the Hurricanes’ victory.

“That’s what we preach — finish,” Fitzgerald said. “Everybody did their job all night. We trusted the call, trusted each other, and made the play when it mattered.”

Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. powered Miami with a physical performance, rushing for 172 yards and helping control the clock in a game where possessions were limited.

“We weren’t worried about stats,” Fletcher said. “We just kept leaning on them. Eventually something was going to break.”

Beck finished 14 of 20 for 103 yards and the decisive touchdown, while Reed was pressured throughout and threw two interceptions.

Miami now advances to the quarterfinals, where it will face No. 2 Ohio State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

“This team believes,” Cristobal said. “We’ve got more work to do, but tonight showed who we are.”