Branson Deen, Akheem Mesidor ruled out for second half vs. Texas A&M due to injuries

Two Miami starters have been ruled out for the second half against Texas A&M, according to ABC’s Katie George. Both Branson Deen and Akheem Mesidor will be on the sidelines as they deal with “lower extremity injuries.”

Deen didn’t have a stat vs. the Aggies before getting hurt while Mesidor had three tackles, including a tackle for loss.

Miami and Texas A&M went back and forth in the early going, just as Jimbo Fisher thought they would. Tyler Van Dyke looked good through the first two-plus quarters, totaling 235 yards and three touchdowns on 13-of-17 passing to start the game.

The game is a big one for both teams as they look to bounce back from rough 2022 seasons. But for Miami and Mario Cristobal, Kirk Herbstreit argued it’s an even bigger deal. The Hurricanes are in rebuilding mode, but all eyes are on Van Dyke and how much of a leap forward he takes this year with Shannon Dawson now in as offensive coordinator.

To Herbstreit, it’s Cristobal who needs the win more than anyone else, especially after last year’s 17-9 loss to the Aggies.

“I look at this game and I’d say you know, 5-7 last year for A&M, 5-7 last year for Miami here,” Herbstreit said Saturday on College GameDay. “Here they are week two, they met last year, was not a pretty game from Miami. Maybe because I like Mario (Cristobal). Maybe I had such high expectations in his first year that he would go back to his alma mater and a chance to kind of get them going and it just fell flat. 

“Here he is in Year 2. I don’t know if there’s a game out there or a team and a coach needs a win more than Miami against Texas A&M. Tyler Van Dyke, last week, looked great with their new scheme and how they’re attacking, just like (Conner) Weigman looks really good.”

Miami and Cristobal have to be able to contain the Aggies’ offense led by Weigman, as well as offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.

“It’s a lot of years of great offenses, right,” Cristobal said. “He’s done it every way imaginable. He knows how to use his pieces, they’ve got some great pieces over there — They got off to a great start. They got a great quarterback and he’s got some great supporting cast members.”

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.