It was a mix of red zone failures, mounting frustration, and a season that ended just five yards short.
Collin Klein reflects on missed chances as his final game with the Aggies slips away originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Before he heads to Manhattan as the new head coach of the Kansas State Wildcats, Collin Klein led the Texas A&M offense one final time, closing his tenure with a night defined by frustration, missed chances, and an unforgiving margin.
The Aggies moved the ball consistently in the first half, producing drives that suggested control without reward. Momentum never fully arrived. A false start erased a fourth down opportunity. A broken play turned into a costly fumble. A field goal was blocked. Each moment chipped away at confidence until the night became a grind without payoff.
“That’s kind of the story of this one,” Klein said afterward. “From a turnover standpoint and no points in the red zone, that’s the way to get beat.”
Texas A&M’s inability to finish drives lingered well beyond halftime. Klein described an offense working possession by possession, doing much of the hard work only to leave empty handed. Against a defense that demanded precision, the room for error disappeared quickly.
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Klein made sure to credit the opponent. Miami shut down the run game early, squeezing space and forcing Texas A&M into predictable passing situations. Without consistent success on the ground, third and long became routine, and the pressure followed.
“We knew that going in,” Klein said. “They’re too good of a defensive front to live there.”
Seven sacks told the rest of the story. Miami repeatedly created one on one matchups and let its front dictate the game. Texas A&M never fully escaped those situations, and each long yardage snap tilted the balance further.
As the focus shifted from the game to the future, Klein’s voice softened. Speaking about quarterback Marcel Reed, the separation ahead gave the moment added weight. Klein called Reed dear to him, praising his growth, competitiveness, and leadership within the offense.
“I told him he’s got a chance to be as good as anybody that has come through this program,” Klein said. “The sky’s the limit for him.”
For Klein, the loss represented more than the end of a season. It marked the closing of a chapter. One last sideline. One final attempt that came up short. The next chapter begins in Manhattan. This one ended here, defined by red zone failures, mounting frustration, and the reality that at this level, five yards can change everything.
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