It was all about defense as the University of Miami Hurricanes cruised to a 10-3 victory over the Texas A&M Aggies. in the first round of the College Football Playoff Canadian pass rusher Achim Mesidor played a major role in that on Saturday.
The Ottawa, Ontario native showed solid play throughout the game, totaling five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He accumulated 10.5 pressure points in 38 passes, which created opportunities for other members of the defense as they finished the game with seven sacks.
“You have to impact the quarterback. For us, as far as the D-line is concerned, it affects the quarterback,” Mesidor said after the game. “We talk to each other. If I like the matchup, I'll tell Ruben (Bane Jr.), 'Let me get this side.' Or if he likes the matchup, he'll tell me, 'Let me get it.' Or I'll talk to Mondo (Blount), 'Let me get in you.' It's all about making an impact on the quarterback, and I think we did a pretty good job.”
Texas A&M controlled the ball for 33:44 and amassed 326 yards of total offense, but settled for a single field goal all night. The Hurricanes defense forced three turnovers, including an interception of Bryce Fitzgerald in the end zone with 24 seconds left in the game.
“We were all locked down. We were ready for this,” Mesidor said of the decisive race. “You know, as long as they don't score, they don't win. As long as you do your job, all 11 do their job, do your 1/11, you'll be fine.”
“Everyone in the huddle was calm. We listened to Coach Heterman talk about what he wanted to do. Me and Reuben were next to JT (defensive line coach Jason Taylor) and listened to his instructions. The nerves inside the huddle are calm. We're just ready to play the next game.”
Sensational defensive play allowed head coach Mario Cristobal to remain patient in managing the game even as Miami's offense struggled to find success on its own. He credited the unit with the win after the game.
“This is really the most rewarding thing because a year ago we had a hard time stopping people on defense,” he said. “It was one of those games where we felt like we had a good handle and pushed them back. It's going to be one of those tight games, back and forth, and field goals are going to be critical. What I'm trying to say is the confidence they bring to us in being able to run the game is off the charts. And certainly that was the difference today.”
Senior in red shirt Mesidor. was a force to be reckoned with for the Hurricanes. Through 12 games, he recorded 51 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and four forced fumbles while earning a first-team All-ACC selection.
The six-foot-three, 265-pound pass rusher began his collegiate career at West Virginia in 2020 before transferring to Miami in 2022. In 62 collegiate games between the two programs, he collected 196 tackles, 48.5 tackles for loss, 31.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and four pass breakups.
The Hurricanes were not a bowl-eligible team when Mesidor first joined the program, going 5-7 in 2022. They improved to 7–6 the following season and posted double-digit wins in each of the last two seasons, finally returning to national relevance after years in the wilderness.
“It means a lot. Last year we had the same record, but we got snubbed (by the playoff committee),” Mesidore said of the playoff win. “This isn't my first time in this building, and the last time I was in this building, I lost. It was great to come back and get the W. The defense played tailback, man. The D-line, the linebackers, the DBs – shout out to young Bryce (Fitzgerald).”
Mesidor was best player in the September ranking of the CFL scouting bureaubut is unlikely to play north of the border any time soon. He is expected to be selected high in the 2026 NFL Draft and was ranked as the No. 18 overall prospect and the second-best player behind teammate Reuben Bane Jr. on Mel Kiper's latest big board for ESPN.
Before making a name for himself professionally, Mesidore needs to finish his studies. The Hurricanes (11-2) will now face the second-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday, December 31 at 7:30 pm EST.
“It feels good to get our first playoff win, but to be honest, there’s still one more win to go,” Mesidor said. “You can't focus too much on that. You can be happy with the 24-hour rule. Tomorrow, go back to the building, fix what we messed up and start a new game plan. You can't get too caught up in it or it will break you.”
