Canes Host Aggies in "Orange Out" at Hard Rock

THE GAME

• The Miami Hurricanes continue their second season under the direction of head coach Mario Cristobal on Sat., Sept. 9 against #25/#23 Texas A&M at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Kickoff for the Hurricanes’ second game of 2023, slated for broadcast on ABC, is set for 3:30 p.m. ET.
• The game will be broadcast on ABC with Joe Tessitore (pxp), Jesse Palmer (color) and Katie George (sideline) on the call. Joe Zagacki (pxp) and Don Bailey, Jr. (color) are in the 560 WQAM radio booth for their 22nd season together. americaradio 1260 AM and WVUM 90.5 FM will also broadcast.
• It will be an “Orange Out” at Hard Rock Stadium — fans are encouraged to wear orange Canes gear Saturday.

THE SERIES

• The series between the Hurricanes and Aggies is tied, 2-2, in history; Texas A&M came out on top in the 2022 matchup in College Station, Texas, 17-9.
• Texas A&M is making its first trip to Miami to play the Hurricanes since 2007 – a 34-17 win by the Canes at the Orange Bowl. Miami and Texas A&M had a home-and home series in 2007 / 2008; the Hurricanes also captured the return road contest, a 41-23 win over host TAMU in 2008.

THE HURRICANES

• The Miami Hurricanes continue Year 2 of the Mario Cristobal era on Saturday when the Hurricanes host #25/#23 Texas A&M at Hard Rock Stadium.
• Miami opened its season with a resounding 38-3 win over visiting Miami (Ohio) on Fri., Sept. 1. The Hurricanes outgained the RedHawks, 493-215.
• Cristobal, a double alum of the University, was named the 26th head coach in program history by school president Dr. Julio Frenk on Dec. 6, 2021.
• Cristobal returned home after spending the previous four seasons as head coach at Oregon, where he won two Pac-12 titles and captured a Rose Bowl.
• Cristobal is regarded as one of the nations top recruiters, and in his first recruiting cycle as Miami head coach, the Hurricanes signed the best class in program history according to the 247Sports Composite; it was the top-ranked class in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the top class in the state.
• The second-year Miami head coach hired Shannon Dawson from the University of Houston as the team’s new offensive coordinator and Lance Guidry from Marshall as the team’s new defensive coordinator entering 2023. In total, there are new faces in seven of 10 assistant coach roles; in addition to Dawson and Guidry, Cristobal hired Derek Nicholson (from Louisville) to coach linebackers, Tim Harris, Jr., (UCF) to coach running backs, Kevin Beard (Toledo) to coach wide receivers and elevated both Jason Taylor (defensive line) and Cody Woodiel (tight ends) from analyst roles.
• QB Tyler Van Dyke enters his second full year as a starter with high expectations after an injury-riddled 2022 season. Van Dyke, named to the watch list for the Johnny Unitas Award, earned ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors as a second-year freshman in 2021.
• After a breakout season where he earned All-America honors, Kam Kinchens was named to the watch list for nearly every major defensive award, including the Bednarik Award, the Nagurski Trophy and the Thorpe Award. He was also named a Preseason All-American by the Associated Press.
• TE Elijah Arroyo (Mackey Award), K Andy Borregales (Lou Groza Award), OL Javion Cohen (Outland Trophy), OL Matt Lee (Rimington Award) and DL Leonard Taylor (Bednarik) were also among those recognized with preseason watch list selections for major awards entering 2023.
• In addition to a talented group of returners and a highly regarded freshman class, the Hurricanes feature a 2023 transfer portal class that ranked among the best nationally; it includes potential starters OL Javion Cohen (Alabama) and Matt Lee (UCF), LB Francisco Mauigoa (Washington State), DB Davonte Brown (UCF), RB Ajay Allen (Nebraska), DB Jadais Richard (Vanderbilt) and DB Jaden Davis (Oklahoma), among others.

QUICK HITS

Canes vs. Aggies

• The Aggies’ visit to Hard Rock Stadium is only the second ever by an SEC team to play the Hurricanes in the venue and the first since the Florida Gators’ visit in 2013.
• In the last Thursday night game ever at the Orange Bowl, the Hurricanes upset No. 20 Texas A&M, 34-17 on September 21, 2007 – A&M’s last visit to play the Hurricanes.
• Texas A&M won the front end of the home-and-home in 2022, 17-9, in College Station on Sept. 17 in front of 107,245.

Kinchens One to Watch Entering 2023

• One of the nation’s top returning defensive backs resides in Coral Gables, as Kam Kinchens prepares for his second full season as a starter in 2023.
• An NCAA All-American after a breakout 2022 campaign, Kinchens finished with six interceptions and led the Hurricanes in tackles with 59 a season ago. He was named to the All-ACC First Team.
• Kinchens, one of the team’s most vocal leaders, was selected to the watch list for several major awards in the preseason, including the Bednarik Award, the Thorpe Award and the Wuerffel Trophy. He was also an AP Preseason All-American.

New Faces Abound on Football Staff

• Mario Cristobal hired several new faces from successful stints at other institutions to bolster the coaching staff entering 2023.
• Cristobal hired Shannon Dawson as the program’s new offensive coordinator and Lance Guidry as Miami’s new defensive coordinator.
• There are seven new faces among the full-time assistant coach ranks; the others are Jason Taylor (defensive line), Cody Woodiel (tight ends), Kevin Beard (wide receivers), Tim Harris, Jr., (running backs) and Derek Nicholson (linebackers).
• Taylor and Woodiel were elevated from analyst roles in 2022; Beard and Harris are both University of Miami alumni.