ESPN analyst Booger McFarland declares 'The U is back' after Miami College Football Playoff win over Texas A&M

Just hours after Nick Saban backpedaled and declared that the ’12th Man is real’ following some controversial comments on the Texas A&M crowd, Miami managed to silence the Aggies once and for all. A 10-3 win on the road in the first round of the College Football Playoff sent Miami into the quarterfinals.

And with it, a declaration from one of the top college football analysts. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

“The U is back,” wrote Booger McFarland on Twitter. Miami is ready to compete for championships again, presumably.

Carson Beck and company didn’t produce a ton of offense in a thoroughly hostile environment on Saturday, the same one that Saban claimed pumped in crowd noise during his days as a coach. But it didn’t matter.

Miami made the plays that would win the game, none more important than game-sealing interception by Bryce Fitzgerald in the end zone. The pick ended the game inside the final minute, allowing Beck to kneel the ball to end the contest.

And with that, Miami advanced to take on No. 2 Ohio State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. It was not only a playoff win, but a chance to shake off the rust as the playoffs really get underway.

That’s one thing to keep a definite eye on: Will the teams that have played a game have a leg up on their opponents, at least early on, following the first-round byes in the College Football Playoff?

Whatever the case, Booger McFarland is convinced that Miami is back for good. Coach Mario Cristobal has certainly done a commendable job with his team this year.

Miami won the game on Saturday despite being outgained 326-278 yards in the contest. The Hurricanes threw for only 103 yards, but Beck played turnover-free football while Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed was picked off twice.