Miami Hurricanes, Tyler Van Dyke upset No. 23 Texas A&M, Jimbo Fisher

MIAMI — The Miami Hurricanes finally showed what they can look like under coach Mario Cristobal with Saturday’s 48-33 win over No. 23 Texas A&M.

It wasn’t a dominant performance that portends Cristobal’s vision to bring championships back to his alma mater. But it was a proof-of-concept showing — one that makes you think the ‘Canes (2-0) can get back there eventually. For the first time in Cristobal’s 14 games, you could see how this hire works out.

The start — in front of an announced crowd of 48,792 at Hard Rock Stadium — could not have been much worse for the Hurricanes: a poor kickoff return to the 11, a three-and-out, a blocked punt and an Aggies touchdown. And that was just the first 2-1/2 minutes.

Miami also gifted Texas A&M (1-1) a score early in the second quarter when Jacolby George muffed a punt inside the 10 to set up another short touchdown and a 17-7 Aggies lead.

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke threw three first-half touchdown passes against the Aggies. [ LYNNE SLADKY | AP ]

Miami battled back with an offense that started to hum under new coordinator Shannon Dawson. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke threw three first-half touchdown passes to three different receivers. He added one in the fourth that was masterfully schemed: George motioned toward the middle, then backtracked before the defense could arrive for his second touchdown catch of the game. Xavier Restrepo didn’t score but had a career high in receiving yards (114 through the first 50 minutes). Van Dyke finished with a career-high five touchdown passes, with three to George.

The defense acquitted itself well, given the two short fields Texas A&M inherited. All-American safety Kamren Kinchens intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble to set up a pair of scores. Kinchens was carted off the field after a fourth-quarter hit.

Even the special teams clicked with Brashard Smith’s 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

A defeat wouldn’t have been disastrous for Cristobal or his ‘Canes. He’s only two games into Year 2 and bought himself equity by signing the highest-ranked recruiting class of the modern era in his first full cycle.

But a loss would have added angst to a fan base that has experienced plenty of it over the last two decades. Cristobal would have looked more like the next handsomely paid coach to reward a program’s increased financial commitment and facilities upgrades by massively underachieving with high-end talent.

He would have looked like Jimbo Fisher.

Former FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher is off to a 1-1 start this year at Texas A&M. [ LYNNE SLADKY | AP ]Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

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Since winning 29 games in a row and the 2013 national title at Florida State, Fisher’s ceiling has been a pair of trips here for the Orange Bowl (one with the Seminoles and one with the Aggies). Since finishing No. 4 nationally in the 2020 COVID season, Fisher is 14-12. His Aggies will drop out of the rankings (again) as message boards start discussing the feasibility of a buyout somewhere around $77 million.

Saturday marked the first time Cristobal has beaten a ranked team at Miami. It was also Fisher’s first loss at this stadium, after winning here six times with FSU and once with the Aggies.

Miami’s 48 points were the sixth most Fisher has allowed as a head coach and the most since a 52-24 loss to eventual national champion Alabama in 2020.

Miami hosts Bethune-Cookman next week.

This story will be updated.

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