FULL PREVIEW: Texas A&M Football vs. Miami Hurricanes

After a warmup for Texas A&M football against New Mexico that had many Aggie fans positively overflowing with excitement, the first real test of the season is on deck for the Aggies in the form of the Miami Hurricanes. Last year’s matchup between these two is recalled with infamy by both fanbases—of course, for very different reasons. The Hurricanes remember that muggy September evening as a night where they couldn’t get anything going offensively and only managed 9 points against a dreadful Aggie team. Fans of the Maroon and White remember their own torrid offensive performance, not only due to the general malaise surrounding that side of the ball last year, but also the fact that the Texas A&M football team was down a couple of men due to some untimely suspensions; namely, star receiver Evan Stewart.

The Aggies still managed to eke out a win—it was technically only by one score, but also the loosest definition thereof (an eight-point margin). This was almost entirely thanks to the escapades of Ainias Smith and Devon Achane, who combined for 204 of the Aggies’ 264 total yards—in other words, 77% of their total. Yet of these two, only Smith will be in Miami on Saturday—Achane was off to the NFL at the conclusion of last season, and, although drafted by the Dolphins and now ostensibly residing there, they open their season in LA against the Chargers the following day, so one would presume he won’t make an appearance at this matchup.

Welcoming Ainias and crew to Hard Rock Stadium will be a salty Hurricane defense led by a rising star at DC, Lance Guidry, a retooled OL under the tutelage of Cristobal himself, and a revamped offensive attack that returns an extremely gifted quarterback in Tyler Van Dyke and is coordinated by Dana Holgerson disciple Shannon Dawson. Will the Aggies bring enough firepower to survive the storm (pun not intended)? Can the Aggie defense once more suffocate the Miami attack? Let’s dive in and find out.