Taurean York, Texas A&M set to host Miami at Kyle Field in CFP

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko would rather steer clear of discussing timelines, so he wouldn’t say if he’s ahead of the timeline he set when he took over as the Aggies’ head football coach two years ago.

Elko’s mantra for the Aggies all season has been about “finishing.” There’s still much to be accomplished to truly finish their quest for the national championship, but Texas A&M has certainly made school history with its first College Football Playoff berth.

“It’s unique for sure,” Texas A&M junior captain Taurean York said. “You understand for sure that you’re the first team ever in Aggie history to go and be in the College Football Playoffs. It’s a big challenge, but we’re looking forward to it.” 

Texas A&M was 7-0 at Kyle Field this season. The Aggies have drawn more than 100,000 fans in 10 consecutive home games, dating back to last season. Moreover, they averaged 106,159 per game this season.

‘A really special moment’

“Obviously an exciting day for Texas A&M football,” Elko said. “An opportunity to be in the Playoff, opportunity to host a game at Kyle Field. I think that will be a really special moment for this program. … Obviously the first time we’ve had playoff football here in College Station, so obviously excited to see the 12th Man turn out for playoff football.”

The Aggies (11-1) were seeded No. 7. They will face No. 1 Miami at 11 a.m. on Dec. 20. The Aggies were 5-7 in 2022 and 7-5 in 2023, prompting Texas A&M to fire Jimbo Fisher and hire Elko. Two years later, York and Co. are in the College Football Playoff for the first time.

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Texas A&M finished 8-5 in Elko’s first season, dropping four of its last five games. After losing their final three SEC games during that 1-4 tailspin, the Aggies vowed to “finish” better this year. 

The Aggies, who finished 11-1 overall and 7-1 in the SEC, were in contention for their first SEC Championship Game berth until they lost at Texas on Black Friday. That loss ruined the Aggies’ SEC Championship Game aspirations.

Moreover, the CFP selection committee dropped A&M from No. 3 to No. 7, ending the Aggies’ hope of a first-round bye. Nonetheless, the Aggies’ national championship aspirations remain. 

‘One-shot mentality’

“A one-shot mentality for sure,” York said. “You gotta go get it now. If we lose another game our season is over with. It’s plain and simple.”

Texas A&M and Miami will play for a chance to face defending national champion and Big 10 runner-up Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. The No. 2 Buckeyes could have chosen to play at the Orange Bowl in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

The committee didn’t want to risk the potential of having Ohio State play the Hurricanes at their stadium, according to CFP selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek. Instead, they chose the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“Looking at the potential second-round match-ups for Texas A&M or for Ohio State, (it will be) either Texas A&M or Miami,” Yurachek said. “The fact that Miami, if they had won that game, would have had a huge advantage playing on their home field in the Orange Bowl.

“Where (as) if Texas A&M wins that game, playing in the Cotton Bowl while in Texas is a true neutral-site field. For that reason, that’s how we assigned Ohio State to the Cotton Bowl.”

Fernando Mendoza has Hoosiers No. 1

A day after Heisman Trophy front-runner Fernando Mendoza led Indiana past Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Hoosiers were seeded No. 1. SEC champion Georgia (12-1) was seeded No. 3. Butkus Award winner Jacob Rodriguez‘s Big 12 champion Texas Tech (12-1) was seeded No. 4.

The top four teams will receive first-round byes. No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 8 Oklahoma will host first-round games. Alabama (10-2) earned the No. 9 seed, and Miami earned the No. 10 seed. 

Notre Dame was ranked No. 11. BYU was ranked No. 12. Those two schools were not in the playoff field because Tulane and James Madison University earned automatic berths as the highest ranked Group of 5 champions.

Oregon will play James Madison. Tulane will visit Ole Miss. Alabama will visit Oklahoma. Texas A&M’s game against Miami features some of the top Latino names in college football. Miami coach Mario Cristobal is arguably the highest-profile Latino coach in college football.

York is one of the best linebackers in the SEC. Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion is a Hornung Award finalist and the first Aggie to score touchdowns via rushing, reception and punt return since at least 1967. Junior Raul Aguirre Jr. is a big part of the Hurricanes’ offense.

‘First step’ for Texas A&M

York, a three-year starter and two-year captain, and Concepcion have helped Elko turn the Aggies’ program around this season. 

Considering the 5-7 and 7-5 records that preceded Elko’s tenure at Texas A&M, it’s clear he has the Aggies going in the right direction. He and his players want more, however.

“I probably don’t get into timelines,” Elko said. “I think timelines are really scary. Obviously you hope to do it as fast as you possibly can so that you can get belief and validation in what your program’s about and what you’re building. 

“Again, though, that’s got to continue to get made, right? Making it was the first step. Now we have to go out and continue to go play good football, and we’re going to have an opportunity to do that. And that’s a really cool, unique opportunity for us.”