By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Texas A&M beats North Carolina 41-27 in the Orange Bowl.

1. What a year for Texas A&M, which finishes 9-1, boasting a resume that includes wins over Florida, LSU, Auburn and now North Carolina in the Orange Bowl and only a loss to top-ranked Alabama. This was a statement season from Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies. Texas A&M had a legitimate argument for the College Football Playoff; that said, the Aggies should be proud of their effort regardless, a run capped off by an impressive win over the Tar Heels. Defensively, Texas A&M held North Carolina to just 324 yards of total offense. The Aggies also resoundingly won the fourth quarter by a score of 24-7, furthering the momentum this program has heading into the off-season. That is now eight straight wins for Texas A&M.

2. Quarterback Kellen Mond finishes his impressive career with 11,270 total yards and 93 total touchdowns. He and Tua Tagovailoa are the only SEC quarterbacks this millennium with at least 90 total scores. It was a fitting finish for Mond to win yet another game, this time in the spotlight of the Orange Bowl. It goes without saying that he is one of Texas A&M’s greatest players of all time.

3. The Aggies ran the football with ease in the Orange Bowl, with Devon Achane rushing for 140 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries and Isaiah Spiller scoring twice as well. Versatile star Ainias Smith also caught six passes for 125 yards. Expect Texas A&M, returning Achane, Spiller and Smith and one of the nation’s best offensive lines, to have an elite running game in 20201.

4. It was a grand finale for standout linebacker Buddy Johnson. The veteran defender recorded ten total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in the Texas A&M triumph. Leading the Aggies in tackles in both 2019 and 2020, Johnson is a big reason why Texas A&M has been so good defensively. The Orange Bowl was yet another example.

5. North Carolina wasn’t quite the same offensively without some of the opt-outs, especially in the running game. After 554 yards in their last outing against Miami, the Tar Heels rushed for just 90 yards against Texas A&M. The loss, for North Carolina, finished a disappointing showing for the ACC this postseason, which ends 0-6 in bowl games.