Aggies vs. Miami Hurricanes Week 2: Keys to a Texas A&M Win

The Aggies beat the Hurricanes in College Station in 2022, but this is a much improved Miami team with new leadership in key positions.

It's another season of Aggies football under coach Jimbo Fisher which means it's another season with lofty expectations for a special year.

Last season was another disappointing finish for A&M as it struggled at key positions, especially at quarterback, and the focus for this year will be to improve on all fronts. And hopefully, the quarterback position will be solved by Conner Weigman.

The Aggies have another cushy Week 1 opponent with the New Mexico Lobos and hope to cash in during Week 2 against the Miami Hurricanes on Sept. 9. Last season, the Aggies beat Miami 17-9 during a Sept. 17 matchup at Kyle Field. But the Hurricanes are much improved from a season ago, and the A&M might have its hands full at Hard Rock Stadium.

Head coach Mario Cristobal's return to the program didn't go as planned in pretty much every aspect of the season. Injuries plagued quarterback Tyler Van Dyke and tackle Zion Nelson all season while former offensive coordinator Josh Gattis' scheme never caught on in Miami.

But 2023 is a new season that brings new faces to the program. Gattis was fired after just one campaign and Miami hopes to have a fully healthy Van Dyke under center. Cristobal has quietly put together what could be one of the best offensive lines in the country - hopefully, anchored by a healthy Nelson - that includes an influx of talent from the transfer portal.

Safety Kamren Kinchens is the first returning All-American for the Canes since 2006, and he'll lead a very talented group. But there are still holes remaining from the abysmal crew from the prior year.

Kinchens tied for second in the nation with six picks. He's joined by fellow safety and five-star recruit James Williams as well as defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III. One of the biggest bright spots of the Miami defense last season was linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, who returns for possibly an even bigger role in 2023. Returning defensive ends Akheem Mesidor and Jahfari Harvey combined for 12.5 sacks last season.

The Aggies will win if they get better than average play at the quarterback position, whomever that may be. And that may depend on the offensive line performance. Aggies fans and Fisher need that new line to gel quickly this season, before the first real test of the season in Week 2. The improved Canes defense will be no match for an efficient Aggies offense.

The Canes will win if the Aggies struggle on offense. Again. A&M's weakness the past few years has been at the quarterback position, and those struggles were accentuated by deficiencies on the offensive line.

This year could be different. But will it be different by Week 2? We'll find out on Sept. 9 at Hard Rock Stadium.

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