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How One No-Call Ended Texas A&M’s College Football Playoff Run

Texas A&M’s historic season comes to an untimely end.
DJ Burton|
Miami Hurricanes linebacker Mohamed Toure (1) hits Texas A&M Aggies running back Rueben Owens II (4) at the goal line during the second half of the first round game of the CFP National Playoff at Kyle Field.
Miami Hurricanes linebacker Mohamed Toure (1) hits Texas A&M Aggies running back Rueben Owens II (4) at the goal line during the second half of the first round game of the CFP National Playoff at Kyle Field. | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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Texas A&M Aggies

And just like that, the best football season that Texas A&M has seen in over 30 years comes to an unceremonious conclusion.

After a 2025 campaign that saw plenty of explosive offense, smothering defense, and all-around impressive football, the Aggies fell in a defensive rock fight to the Miami Hurricanes 10-3.

With under two minutes left to play, the Aggies marched down the field with a chance to tie the game at 10. Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed fit the football through a tight window to running back Rueben Owens, who was quickly rocked by a head-to-head hit by a Miami defender, jarring the ball loose. As both players lay on the field, the Aggies were shocked that a penalty was not called.

Marcel Reed Weighs In

Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed CFP National Playoff at Kyle Field
Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) drops back to pass against the Miami Hurricanes during first half of the first round game of the CFP National Playoff at Kyle Field. | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

After the game concluded, Reed revealed whether or not he thought a targeting penalty would have been warranted.

“I mean, I thought so, but it's not up to my discretion,” Reed said. “Things like that are going to happen, you’ve just gotta keep playing.”

If the referees call the hit targeting, the Aggies take over on the one-yard line with an automatic first down. They would get four downs to score from the one. The only difficulty there would be both Owens and star running back Le’Veon Moss were banged up at that point.

Even earlier in the game, the referees missed an unnecessary roughness call when wide receiver KC Concepcion was slung down out of bounds.

Coach Mike Elko did not blame the no-calls for the team’s loss.

 “I don't think that matters,” Elko said when asked if Marcel Reed’s last-play interception would have happened with a penalty on the prior play.

“We came into this season, and I think the very realistic conversation about this team was we were a really good team that was going to have a chance in every game they played, was going to have fairly small margins to be successful, but was going to have an opportunity to go out there and be successful,” Coach Mike Elko reflected after the game. “I think that's exactly how it played out. We weren't able to tilt the margins in our favor the last two games. That's going to be a killer. One, to not go to Atlanta. One, to not go to the quarterfinals. So that's a killer. You've got to swallow it, and you've got to move forward, just like we did last year.”

The Aggies are set to host the Missouri State Bears at Kyle Field to kick off their 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5.

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DJ Burton
DJ BURTON

DJ Burton is a journalist from Kingwood, Texas. He is a credentialed writer for Texas A&M Aggies On SI. He graduated from Texas A&M with a journalism major and a sport management minor. Before attending A&M, Burton played offensive line for two seasons at Hiram College in northeast Ohio, where he studied sport management. Burton brings experience covering football, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. He also served as a senior sports writer for A&M’s student newspaper, The Battalion.

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