Miami 'needs' a victory over Texas A&M, Kirk Herbstreit says

Miami and Texas A&M square off again this season and the Hurricanes need a win here more than anyone, according to ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit.

Miami went to Texas A&M last season and lost 17-9 in the first loss of the season for Mario Cristoabl and company. The team ended up 5-7 and it was also a disappointing season for the Aggies.

With higher expectations for both, and Miami hosting this time around, Herbstreit put the pressure on the Hurricanes.

“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.”

Petrino has long since been considered a keen offensive mind. It’s that mind that has landed him head coaching jobs in the NFL, and with Arkansas and Louisville. 

More recently, Petrino was the Missouri State head coach and was set to become UNLV‘s offensive coordinator before taking the same job at Texas A&M.

“The most important thing is making sure that we study film really well and that our plan is as airtight as it could possibly be to give our players a chance to play fast and free,” Cristobal said.

Miami needs to win? According to Herbstreit, that’s the case and all eyes will be on the Hurricanes and Texas A&M.

The two schools square off in Miami at 3:30 p.m. ET.