With less than a week to go before game day, Mike Elko and the Texas A&M Aggies are gearing up to face the Miami Hurricanes in an exciting College Football Playoff matchup. The game is set to kick off at 12:00 p.m. EST (11:00 a.m. CST) on Saturday, December 20th, a timing that has drawn some criticism as it places the Aggies in an early slot.
This early kickoff was largely influenced by the NFL schedule, which features two games that Saturday, with start times of 5:00 p.m. EST and 8:20 p.m. EST. To avoid conflict with the NFL and manage the amount of competing sports content, organizers opted to schedule one playoff game for Friday night, leaving the Aggies with the early Saturday start.
However, Coach Mike Elko remains unfazed by the situation, expressing confidence in his team’s ability to perform regardless of the kickoff time. “Really, just put a ball down and play,” he stated. Elko emphasized the excitement surrounding the game and the supportive atmosphere provided by the Aggies’ famed “12th Man,” remarking that they have prepared for early games before and have thrived in those conditions.
This season, Texas A&M has played three games with kickoffs before 12:00 p.m. CT, winning each of them, with the notable exception of one game against a Power Five opponent, where they staged a remarkable comeback against South Carolina after trailing 30-3 at halftime.
Similarly, the Miami Hurricanes have also faced early start times, having played three earlier games in ACC competition, although they faced a loss during an early kickoff against SMU in Dallas.
The College Football Playoff has structured its schedule to feature games at 12:00 p.m. EST, 3:30 p.m. EST, and 7:30 p.m. EST to prevent overlap among its matchups, while also sidestepping direct competition with the NFL. This strategic scheduling has become particularly important since the exception in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 permits the NFL to play on Saturdays starting from the second Friday in September through the second Saturday in December.
As the Aggies prepare to face the Hurricanes, the early kickoff will serve as a test for the team, but with a committed and experienced group led by Elko, fans can look forward to a thrilling game on Saturday.