NHL Rank: Counting down the top 100 players for 2024-25
Hockey is the ultimate team sport, and just because a team has the greatest player in the world doesn’t guarantee it will win a championship. Of course, if a team has two of the top players in the world, it can come awfully close, as the Edmonton Oilers showed last season in getting to one win short of a Stanley Cup.
Spoiler alert: Connor McDavid topped our ranking of the top 100 NHL players for 2024-25, just as he did for 2023-24 and 2022-22 and 2021-22 and … you get it. But where does Leon Draisaitl rank? And what about Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk from the Florida Panthers squad that beat the Oilers in the Cup Final?
We asked a panel of more than 50 ESPN broadcasters, analysts, reporters and editors to rate players based on how good they will be in the 2024-25 season compared with their peers. Emphasis was placed on their value for this coming season, which explains why players who are currently out injured (but are expected to return) might be lower than if they were completely healthy.
Write-ups are courtesy of ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton, Greg Wyshynski and editorial staff.
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2023-24 rank: 65
Age: 32
One of the veterans brought in to help the rebuild along, Toffoli finished 2023-24 with 33 goals split between the Devils and Jets. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 99
Age: 33
While the Predators’ additions of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault got all the attention this summer, O’Reilly might be even more vital to their climb to a higher echelon of Cup contenders. An elite two-way center. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 52
Age: 30
Connor Bedard‘s rookie season was a tough one for the Blackhawks in the standings, but Jones’ underlying numbers weren’t horrible in a relative sense. Will the 30-year-old remain on the roster during the rebuild, or be traded for picks and prospects at the deadline? — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 43
Age: 30
Lindholm’s breakout 53-point campaign in 2022-23 was followed by a step back in 2023-24 (26 points). Which direction will the 30-year-old Swede head this season? — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 79
Age: 30
One of the NHL’s premier defensive defensemen — and literally its “most gentlemanly” in 2023-24, as he was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy. His play will be even more critical this season, as the Hurricanes lost multiple blueliners to free agency this summer. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 89
Age: 25
The 25-year-old’s ascendancy continued in 2023-24, eclipsing a point-per-game pace for the first time (86 in 82). Thomas will continue to be vital as the Blues push for a playoff return. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 28
Dunn missed a chunk of the 2023-24 season — perhaps part of the reason the Kraken missed the playoffs. The 28-year-old is still improving and will continue to play a key role on even strength and on the power play. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 53
Age: 26
A devastating leg injury kept Sergachev out for months last season, but an offseason trade to Utah was perhaps more jarring. He’ll be a critical component of how far the UHC goes in its inaugural campaign. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 21
After a rookie campaign for which he was a Calder Trophy finalist, Hughes made the cover of EA Sports NHL 25 with brothers Quinn and Jack. He’ll play a key role in the Devils’ short- and long-term aspirations. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 84
Age: 34
One of the more reliable blueliners in the Western Conference, the 34-year-old continues to play at a high level, scoring 33 points and averaging 23:33 of ice time per game last season. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 28
If the Panthers made a poster of their “bad boys” from the 2024 playoff run, Bennett would be prominently featured — and might be Public Enemy No. 1 in Boston. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 38
As his 19th NHL season begins, Malkin is just a bit off his dominant production pace of earlier in his career. But he remains a force at even strength and on the power play for a Penguins team that is hoping for one last epic playoff run with the current core of veterans. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 66
Age: 26
DeBrincat is a dynamic, scoring winger, the author of two-straight 27-goal campaigns. Can he get back to the 40-goal level he reached twice earlier in his career? — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 27
A late bloomer, Ingram backstopped a scrappy Coyotes team last season. As with the rest of the team, Ingram’s stats took a hit after rumors of their relocation circulated. Now in Utah, expect him to serve as a solid backstop for UHC’s playoff contention this season. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 22
The fourth overall pick in the 2020 draft, Raymond has proved up to that pedigree, playing an increasingly important role for Detroit. And he’ll be doing it for a while longer, having signed an eight-year, $64.6 million contract this offseason. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 28
Kempe’s rise has been a slow and steady one, and the 28-year-old was close to a point-per-game pace in 2023-24 (75 in 77 games). He’s a key player as the Kings push to get beyond the first round of the playoffs this season. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 30
The “other guy” in the trade that swapped Matthew Tkachuk for Jonathan Huberdeau in 2022, Weegar has emerged as a dynamic player in his own right. That includes a 52-point 2023-24 season for a Calgary team in flux. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 97
Age: 36
Bobrovsky might be off of his Vezina Trophy-winning peak, but the veteran proved that he can still come up clutch in the playoffs. Now with his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, the legend of “Playoff Bob” continues to grow. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 75
Age: 30
Much more than just Cale Makar‘s sidekick, Toews has proved to be a critical part of the Avs’ success in recent seasons, playing both special teams along with his considerable even-strength minutes. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 93
Age: 34
He’s not the point-per-game player he once was, but the veteran center remains a key contributor on even strength and the power play for Toronto. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 23
Last season — and particularly the playoffs — put the NHL on notice that the No. 1 pick from 2020 is everything the Rangers saw in him at that draft position. Watch out. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 81
Age: 26
Although the Devils as a team took a significant step back last season, Bratt continued to produce: His 83 points were a career high, and the 26-year-old’s ascension to the next level of stardom may be just getting started. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 32
Hyman exploded for 54 goals in 2023-24, skating on a line with Connor McDavid and playing a key role on the Oilers’ power play as well. Does he hit the 50-goal mark again this season? — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 100
Age: 30
Hertl being traded from San Jose to Vegas on deadline day last season was one of the most shocking swaps in recent history. How high can he climb now that he’s back on a contender? — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 68
Age: 31
Ranking 19th in the NHL in scoring the past three seasons in total, Nugent-Hopkins is the longest-tenured member of an Oilers team that many believe is the best bet to win the Stanley Cup this spring. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 87
Age: 30
After bouncing around a few teams earlier in his career, Montour broke out the past two seasons with the Panthers. The 30-year-old parlayed that into a seven-year, $50 million deal with the Kraken, a team that hopes he can get them back into the playoff mix. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 64
Age: 27
If it’s possible for a defenseman to score a quiet 57 points in 70 games, that’s precisely what Werenski did in 2023-24. The No. 8 pick from 2015 continues to be one of the more reliable defensemen in the league when healthy. — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 47
Age: 31
Ullmark is in a very different place than one year ago at this time, no longer part of a goaltending battery with Jeremy Swayman in Boston. Can he shine in a new situation? — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 34
After a long-rumored trade finally came to fruition in June, Markstrom takes over a dangerous Devils team that needed a significant goaltending boost. Can he recapture his past Vezina Trophy-caliber form? — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 21
Age: 22
After 90 points in 2022-23, Stutzle looked poised for superstardom. Unfortunately, a 17.1% shooting percentage proved unsustainable, and the goals dried up, going from 39 to 18 last season. In which direction will he go in 2024-25? — ESPN staff
2023-24 rank: 59
Age: 33
The Golden Knights walked away from Marchessault, who had starred with the team since it entered the league. The feisty forward takes his talents to Nashville, who hopes that his 42-goal season wasn’t a contract year aberration. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 42
Age: 31
Zibanejad has helped power the Rangers’ potent power play, with 32 goals and 38 assists on the man advantage over the past two seasons. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 58
Age: 28
A big body with a ton of skill, Meier is expected to play a critical role in the Devils’ turnaround this season. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 33
Kreider is a rare talent in the NHL: a power forward with blazing speed who is extremely good around the opponents’ net while also being an excellent penalty killer. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 21
The Stars keep developing homegrown talent. That includes Johnston, who has been a crucial contributor as they seek a third straight conference finals appearance. — Clark
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 29
Verhaeghe is one of the NHL’s most productive forwards in the regular season who becomes one of league’s most clutch performers in the postseason, to the tune of 53 points in 61 career playoff games with the Panthers. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 44
Age: 26
Don’t let the injury-impacted 2023-24 season fool you: Thompson is still that guy who popped for 47 goals and 47 assists two years ago for the Sabres. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 31
Age: 25
Hischier has established himself as one of the league’s best defensive centers, and he has plenty of offensive upside in the middle for the Devils. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 37
Age: 39
Ovechkin needs 42 goals to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time scoring record. He has lost a step and didn’t look like himself at all in the postseason, but give him the puck and space to shoot, and watch the “Russian Machine” operate. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 62
Age: 29
Considered one of the better two-way centers in the NHL, Lindholm should thrive playing alongside David Pastrnak after signing with the Bruins in the offseason. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 30
Age: 29
Sorokin had his worst season statistically in 2023-24, which still put him well above league average in save percentage (.908). When he’s on, few goaltenders can match his ability to take over games. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 78
Age: 23
Detroit handed Seider a rich contract extension after having emerged as their next franchise defenseman in his first three NHL seasons. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 69
Age: 27
Connor is never going to contend for the Selke Trophy, but so what? The guy fills the net every season, including having the 12th highest goals per game rate in the NHL last season (min. 60 games). — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 72
Age: 31
While his goal-scoring took a tumble last season, Scheifele has been a consistent top-line offensive force for the Jets over the past 14 seasons. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 28
Forsling’s fellow NHLers are apt to call him the league’s most underrated player, and for good reason. It’s hard to fully appreciate everything Forsling brings to Florida’s top pairing, from his 5-on-5 execution to penalty killing excellence. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 45
Age: 37
A two-time Selke Trophy winner, Kopitar continues to be a two-way metronome for a Kings roster that’s looking to get out of the first round for the first time in a decade. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 49
Age: 31
Hamilton’s value was underscored by how much the Devils missed him last season due to injury, as the smooth-skating and deft-passing defenseman is a calming presence. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 22
Faber played like he was a 10-year veteran during his rookie NHL season, posting 47 points and acting as a steadying presence for the Wild defense corps. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 80
Age: 28
Before the injury last season, Demko was one of the serious favorites for the Vezina Trophy as his performances led the Canucks to finishing with more than 100 points. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 82
Age: 27
It was never a question of if Boeser could score, but what it would look like if he was healthy for a full season. The result was his first 40-goal campaign. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 55
Age: 26
Now that Keller & Co. have swapped Tempe for Salt Lake City, there’s a thought that they could possibly challenge for a playoff spot in their first season. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 54
Age: 28
Larkin tallied three straight 30-goal seasons as the Red Wings’ top center, including 33 goals in 68 games last season. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 35
Age: 36
Marchand’s first season playing without Patrice Bergeron saw him wear the “C” with pride, and continue to post big offensive numbers for the Bruins. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 25
Another new face in the Top 100, Swayman’s performances last season showed he could be a No. 1 goaltender who could also get paid like one, too. — Clark
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 24
Dobson is no longer the best offensive defenseman no one’s talking about, as his 70-point season caught the attention of the rest of the NHL. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 88
Age: 19
Labeled as the NHL’s next great superstar, Bedard used his rookie year to lead the Blackhawks in goals, assists and points while winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. — Clark
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 24
Everything he did during his breakout last season — finishing with 82 regular-season points and 32 playoff points — drove Bouchard to make his Top 100 debut. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 63
Age: 29
Morrissey showed that his offensive breakthrough in 2022-23 wasn’t an aberration, tallying 69 points in 81 games last season with the Jets. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 91
Age: 27
Barzal’s dynamic offensive game produced his first point-per-game season since winning rookie of the year in 2017-18. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 25
Age: 26
McAvoy is another example of why teams continue to seek defensemen who can do everything — with the reality that a strong offensive season in 2024-25 could give him a good shot at his first Norris Trophy. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 33
Age: 34
Few players have more to prove than Stamkos, whom the Lightning didn’t re-sign despite a 40-goal season and his place as a franchise icon. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 36
Age: 27
Hintz is one of those two-way centers who has shown over the past few years that he can create and score goals just as effectively as he can prevent them. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 13
Age: 26
Fox won the Norris Trophy in 2020-21 and has finished in the top five for the award in four of his five compete NHL seasons. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 26
Age: 24
A 20-goal scorer last season, the new Sabres captain is looking to take his individual success and parlay it into the Sabres ending a 13-year playoff drought. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 51
Age: 29
Saros was rewarded with a new eight-year contract as the Predators’ franchise goalie, having led the NHL in games played for three straight seasons. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 12
Age: 25
Creativity and confidence are what drives Robertson’s scoring attack — and it’s a successful one. The Stars’ playmaker is a threat all over the ice and constantly finds new ways to pump in pucks. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 50
Age: 30
As if having the best mustache in the NHL weren’t enough, Forsberg is coming off his best offensive season, with a career-high 48 goals. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 34
Age: 25
At 6-5, Oettinger is the prototypical size for an NHL goaltender. He has 30 or more wins in three straight seasons, continuing to make the Stars a legitimate Stanley Cup challenger. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 40
Age: 28
There’s versatility to Nylander’s game — it’s what drives his dynamic scoring prowess and why the Leafs are determined to see the always-exciting winger succeed at center, too. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 14
Age: 31
The reigning two-time Vezina Trophy winner entered the 2024-25 season just 25 wins shy of becoming just the seventh American goalie to reach 300 career victories. — Clark
2023-24 rank: NA
Age: 28
Reinhart’s days flying under the radar are long gone after a 57-goal season that catapulted him to upper-echelon status among NHL scorers — and he’s not looking to go anywhere. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 38
Age: 32
Stone is as steady as they come, and that’s a real superpower. Dependable scorer, responsible defensively and not afraid to go in the corners. Basically, the total package. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 95
Age: 31
Coming to Vancouver has seen Miller go from a top-nine option to a trusted forward in a leading role. He’s coming off the first 100-point season in his career as the Canucks look to build on last season’s division title. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 57
Age: 30
As more teams shift to using goaltending tandems, the seven-time 30-game winner continues to be one of the few netminders who can be trusted to play more than 60 games in a season. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 28
Age: 28
The Rangers’ unequivocal backbone is their Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender, whose elite performances — particularly in the postseason — showcase the best of his quick instincts and exceptional lateral movement in the crease. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 19
Age: 25
There’s a brilliant balance of physicality and skill in Tkachuk’s repertoire, not to mention a passion that’s revealed nightly in his energetic — and sometimes crushing — interactions with opponents. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 16
Age: 25
A wizard with the puck and solid in his own end, Pettersson is looking to get back to the 100-point mark he broke through two seasons ago for the Canucks. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 18
Age: 33
A six-time Norris Trophy finalist, the hulking generational defenseman takes over as captain of a Lightning roster that’s now entering a new era with Steven Stamkos in Nashville. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 29
Age: 25
Heiskanen’s profile continues to ascend, with two straight seasons of more than 50 points for a Stars team that will mount as serious a Stanley Cup challenge as any in the West. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 24
Age: 28
It is said that hanging with high-end talent is a talent in itself. Point has thrived next to Nikita Kucherov in Tampa Bay, and now he has Jake Guentzel on his wing this season. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 27
Age: 34
Being a No. 1 defensemen in the NHL means being adaptable to any situation. Josi is just that as the 2020 Norris Trophy winner has consistently proved he can be asked to play a crucial part in 5-on-5, power-play and short-handed situations. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 22
Age: 27
Aho’s nickname has evolved over the years, going from “Sea Bass” to just “Fishy” these days. What hasn’t changed is Aho as one of the best two-way centers in the NHL, with three straight 30-goal campaigns. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 71
Age: 30
Guentzel’s three consecutive 30-plus goal seasons are no fluke, coming from one of the most preeminent net-front scorers in the league. It’s little wonder Tampa Bay went all-in on adding that potency to their lineup. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 17
Age: 27
“Kirill the Thrill” has the sixth-most goals in the NHL since 2021-22 (133), topping the 40-goal mark in three straight seasons for the Wild. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 9
Age: 28
Vegas’ top-line center can put on a playmaking masterclass for the Golden Knights while wielding a sharply evolved two-way game. And Eichel elevates everyone around him in the process, too. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 4
Age: 23
Long considered to be one of the game’s next great superstars, the middle brother of the Hughes trio has shown he’s more than capable of being a top-line center. An injury-riddled 2023-24 campaign saw him finish with 27 goals and 74 points in 62 games. A healthy Hughes could get the Devils back into the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 20
Age: 27
Marner’s reputation as one of the NHL’s premier playmakers has been well earned. But the Leafs’ top-line winger is a powerful goal-scoring threat, too, with four consecutive 20-plus goal campaigns under his belt. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 23
Age: 37
At 37 years old, Crosby is still a dominant offensive force, with 42 goals last season, doing all he can to pry open the Penguins’ Cup contention window. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 60
Age: 25
The past 12 months saw Hughes command more attention, and with good reason. He went from being named captain of the Canucks to helping them come within a win of reaching the Western Conference finals. And for all his contributions, Hughes won the Norris Trophy. This was a big summer for him personally, as he and his two brothers, Luke and Jack, are the NHL 25 cover athletes. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 10
Age: 28
When Pasta cooks, goals happen. The Bruins winger is second in the NHL in goals over the past four seasons, including 47 goals and 110 points last season. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 15
Age: 29
For years, Barkov was the easy answer to the question of “Who is the NHL’s most underrated player?” As the Panthers have risen to national prominence, it’s allowed more people to see what makes the two-way center one of the game’s most complete players, one who captained the team to the Stanley Cup in 2024. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 6
Age: 29
Draisaitl is constantly finding ways to elevate his own game — and that lifts everyone around him. Equal parts playmaker (with five 100-plus-point efforts in the past six seasons) and goal scorer (he’s good for 40-plus most seasons), Draisaitl is a uniquely elite talent. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 7
Age: 28
Having Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar simply isn’t enough for the Avs. Rantanen is a 6-4 winger who has authored five seasons of more than 30 goals, and as many seasons of more than 50 assists. As of now, he’s also the clear top player on the 2025 NHL free agency list. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 32
Age: 32
It’s one thing to hit career highs in goals (49) and points (120) like Panarin did last season. But to reach those milestones at 32 — and in his ninth NHL season? Panarin seems to be getting better with age. — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 5
Age: 27
Matthews is already a three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner as the league’s top goal scorer, and continues to improve as one of the league’s dominant two-way centers. He has long been setting a high standard in Toronto on multiple levels — and now there’s a “C” on his sweater to prove it — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 11
Age: 26
The talented, tenacious and always entertaining Tkachuk is a true individual. He’s an elite-level pest for the Panthers, balancing hard-nosed hockey with prolific offensive ability — Shilton
2023-24 rank: 2
Age: 25
Young, puck-moving defensemen have become a necessity in today’s NHL. Players such as Makar, who won the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman in 2022, are why. His ability to control a game in 5-on-5 situations and the power play have become pivotal to the Avs’ ability to control games since he made his debut back in 2018. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 3
Age: 29
The reigning Hart Trophy winner as the league’s most valuable player is looking to build on what was his strongest individual campaign. MacKinnon’s ability to use his size, speed and strength not only makes him one of the NHL’s biggest threats, but one that could help his team win its second Stanley Cup since 2022. — Clark
2023-24 rank: 8
Age: 31
Kucherov rewrote the Lightning record book last season with a career-best 144 points, becoming the fifth player in NHL history to tally 100 assists in a season. From a point-production standpoint over the past decade, only one player has done it better than Kucherov. — Wyshynski
2023-24 rank: 1
Age: 27
The best hockey player in the world was one win away from a singular achievement in sports history as he carried the Oilers back from a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final. Statistically, no one can touch him: McDavid is more than 120 points clear of the next-highest scorer over the past 10 seasons. It’s just a matter of time before that mastery manifests into a championship. — Wyshynski
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Dave Wilson
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M‘s historic season ended with a gut punch, as quarterback Marcel Reed, who had driven the Aggies to the Miami 5-yard line with 27 seconds left, threw an interception in the back of the end zone in a 10-3 loss at Kyle Field.
The loss Saturday in front of 104,122, the second-biggest crowd in CFP history, ended the Aggies’ season at 11-2, tying A&M’s 1939, 1998 and 2012 teams for the second-most wins in program history, behind the 1992 squad that finished 12-1.
Mike Elko, the Aggies’ second-year head coach, said that the loss will sting but that it shouldn’t discount what the team accomplished. When he took over before last season, he said that this was not an elite program ready to compete for a national championship. In his first season, the Aggies finished 8-5 after a 7-1 start and went into the offseason vowing to put an emphasis on finishing games. They did that all year and started 11-0 but lost their final two games: to Texas in Austin and then to the Hurricanes, their first defeat at home this season.
“We weren’t able to tilt the margins in our favor the last two games,” Elko said. “That’s going to be a killer. One to not go to Atlanta [to the SEC championship], one to not go to the quarterfinals. So that’s a killer, but you’ve got to swallow it and you’ve got to move forward just like we did last year.”
Elko said he and his staff believed this team had “fairly small margins” to be successful in each game, and that’s exactly how the season played out. He said that as a grown man he can handle the disappointment but that he is hurting for his players. Still, he emphasized that he didn’t want to discount what his players had done to help turn the tide for the Aggies.
“I said to the seniors who just played their last game, they left a mark on elevating this program that will never go away. From where this program was two years ago to where it is now, I don’t think that can be lost on people,” Elko said. “I said to the guys coming back, there’s still another major step we have to take as a program to finish. I think the last two games showed that.”
Elko said his offense had become one-dimensional, and he credited Miami’s defense for preventing the Aggies from being able to run the ball, enabling the Canes to tee off on Reed.
“Marcel Reed can’t be our leading rusher,” Elko said of his sophomore quarterback who had 15 carries for 27 yards, 6 more than running back Rueben Owens II. “He can’t have the most carries. It just can’t happen that way.”
Reed sat devastated on the bench as the game ended following the interception, a towel draped over his head. Reed’s offensive coordinator, Collin Klein, is headed to Kansas State, his alma mater, as the Wildcats’ new coach. The two spoke about how close their relationship is after the game, with Reed saying Klein is like a father figure for him.
“It didn’t really feel real,” Reed said. “I don’t want the season to end. A lot of changes are going to be made after the season, so I really didn’t want it to end. It sucked.”
Taurean York, the Aggies’ all-SEC linebacker, said he’s proud of the steps the team took and called the season a “foundation-setter,” saying A&M finally got to the big stage and has plans to keep building.
“We’re really just scratching the surface of who we’re going to become in the future,” he said.
The Aggies traded defensive blows with Miami all day, but Carson Beck‘s shovel pass to Malachi Toney with 1:44 left broke the game open. The Aggies’ offense responded, driving with a chance to tie the game before Bryce Fitzgerald‘s second interception of Reed on the day ended A&M’s season and crushed the Kyle Field faithful.
“We came up 5 yards short and that’s something we’ll have to live with throughout the off season,” Elko said. “But [I’m] still proud of this team, proud of what they accomplished, proud of what they did.”
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David Hale
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.
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 field in an effort to tie it, but Fitzgerald stepped in front of a pass intended for Melin Ohrstrom and the celebration began.
“He’s a quick study,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “He’s never flinched. He spends every waking minute studying, but when the lights come on, some guys just kind of have ‘it.’ He’s that guy. He just knows what to do and how to do it.”
A year ago, this Miami defense was the fly in the ointment that kept the Hurricanes from the playoff. With future No. 1 NFL draft pick Cam Ward working magic on offense, Miami’s battered secondary created a chain reaction that led to a complete defensive meltdown in the season’s stretch run. Miami lost two of its final three games to fall from No. 4 in the rankings to out of the playoff.
Cristobal responded by making a change at coordinator, bringing in Corey Hetherman — now a Broyles Award finalist — and putting a focus on rebuilding the back end of the defense. Fitzgerald and Scott, along with transfer Xavier Lucas, were keys to the turnaround. With the secondary secure, the defensive front was free to wreak havoc, and Mesidor and Bain did exactly that against the Aggies.
“We sat in the locker room for like 15 minutes [after the game],” Bain said, “just saying how crazy it was for us to win this game in this kind of way.”
Hetherman said the focus for Miami’s defense was actually more about patience and keeping Reed inside the pocket. The A&M quarterback did have a handful of scrambles that extended plays to find open receivers or picked up yards on the ground. But Hetherman said he prioritized showing Reed a host of different coverage schemes to keep him off balance, and eventually that allowed the Miami defensive front to get home.
Miami’s seven sacks against Texas A&M tied for the most by a ‘Canes defense in the last six seasons. And while there’d been concern about how Miami’s offensive line would handle the crowd noise at Kyle Field, where more than 104,000 fans provided a stifling soundtrack, it was actually the Aggies O-line that was flagged for multiple penalties.
“We lost the game of the line of scrimmage, and I think it got worse in the second half,” Aggies coach Mike Elko said. “We just couldn’t keep them off of us. We couldn’t get the run game established. We became one-dimensional. Once we became one-dimensional, they were able to tee off.”
Overall, Miami held the Aggies to just 326 yards of offense and just 89 on the ground — just 50 from A&M’s trio of tailbacks, Le’Veon Moss, Rueben Owens and EJ Smith.
And when Miami’s back was against the wall, the defense was at its best. A&M’s three red-zone trips amounted to just three total points, and when Miami receiver Malachi Toney fumbled near midfield late in the game, the Hurricanes defense followed with a quick three-and-out.
“A year ago, we had a tough time stopping people on defense,” Cristobal said. “This was one of those games where we felt like we were holding good and knocking them back. The confidence that [the defense] brings is off the charts, and they were the difference today.”
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