Miami's defense dominates Texas A&M for first CFP win - ESPN

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Rueben Bain rolled his eyes, smiled, then held up his cell phone, the lock screen glowing with a photo of Texas A&M offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III. Bain had anticipated the question. He was looking forward to it, really.

In the run-up to Saturday's College Football Playoff game between Miami and Texas A&M, Zuhn had delivered the bulletin-board material, when he told reporters he didn't think Bain «would be a threat that we need to worry about too much.»

Big mistake.

«We don't take kindly to disrespect,» Bain said. «Some people said some things they shouldn't have said.»

Bain and the Miami defense were dominant in a 10-3 win over the Aggies, ending a once-promising Texas A&M season and sending the Hurricanes on to the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, where they'll face off against Ohio State.

Bain finished with five tackles — four for a loss — and three sacks, while also blocking a field goal in the first half.

The rest of the defense followed his lead, racking up nine tackles for loss and creating three takeaways, including a game-sealing interception in the back of the end zone with 24 seconds to play by freshman Bryce Fitzgerald.

In the aftermath, defensive end Akheem Mesidor was running through his rolodex of players who'd stepped up against the Aggies — defensive line, defensive backs, linebackers — then mentioned Fitzgerald.

«Bryce!» Bain and cornerback Keionte Scott both shouted in unison, laughing.

Fitzgerald arrived on campus in June, but quickly made his presence felt, and his role on Miami's defense has grown as the season progressed. On Saturday, he was a star, intercepting Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed twice. The latter came on a third-and-goal at the 5 after the Aggies had marched down the