David Pollack Picks College Football Playoff Winner of Texas A&M-Miami
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
One of the biggest opening games of the 2025 College Football Playoff will take place on Saturday at 12 pm ET on ABC/ESPN, featuring the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies (11-1) against the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (10-2).
The Aggies come into the game having won 11 consecutive games to start the year. However, they suffered a setback in their final game, losing to the No. 13 Texas Longhorns (9-3) with a score of 27-17. This loss caused the Aggies to drop out of the top four seeds, which would have put them in position for a bye and knocked them out of the SEC Championship Game.
The Miami Hurricanes, on the other hand, have made it to the playoff in a controversial fashion. They finished the season with 10 wins, including four consecutive victories. However, they did not compete in the ACC Championship Game, and despite not playing in the final weekend, Miami moved ahead of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-2) in the final rankings.
It’s worth noting that Miami defeated Notre Dame 27-24 in Week 1, but for much of the latter part of the season, the Fighting Irish had been ranked higher than the Hurricanes.
On “See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack,” the college football analyst selected his predicted winner for the game. According to Pollack, the outcome will depend on whether Miami can protect quarterback Carson Beck.
“The only way that Miami can win is if they can keep the pressure off Beck,” Pollack said. “If they can keep A&M guessing. If they can stay balanced. Like they’re not going to throw the football every play. When they get pass happy, Miami is not a good version of itself… Coin flip, but Texas A&M is at home, and that matters to me. So, I’ll take A&M.”
Beck has had a strong season since transferring from the Georgia Bulldogs. He has thrown for 3,072 yards, with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while completing 74.7% of his passes. Additionally, the team features one of the top young receivers in freshman Malachi Toney, who has accumulated 970 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
The Aggies boast one of the strongest defensive lines in college football. They are led by Cashius Howell, who has recorded 14 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks this season. The Aggies are tied for first place in sacks and ranked second in tackles for loss.
With contrasting paths to the playoff and little margin for error, Texas A&M and Miami enter Saturday’s matchup knowing that one decisive stretch could define their seasons. Whether it comes down to protection up front, defensive pressure, or handling the moment, the Aggies and Hurricanes are both facing a game that could reshape how their seasons and programs are viewed moving forward.
Related: College Football Playoff Coach Facing the Most Pressure Revealed
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos