University of Miami Hurricanes Logo – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by University of College
Ohio State has officially announced that it would not be defending their national college football championship.
In the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes defeated the No. 2 Buckeyes 24-14 thanks to their staunch defense and gritty running attack.
The Buckeyes appeared to be outmatched by the Hurricanes, who were physical from the start. Miami led 14-0 at the half, and even though the Buckeyes rallied in the second half, they eventually ran out of time. The first penalty of the game stalled a crucial drive in the fourth quarter, forcing them to punt.
As usual, there were many well-known alumni on Miami’s sideline, including Jimmy Johnson, Ray Lewis, and Michael Irvin. As the game’s final seconds passed, Irvin, who has been a mainstay at games all season, was spotted giving as many hugs as he could.
If the selection committee hadn’t chosen Miami’s credentials over Notre Dame’s, the team would have missed its first CFP appearance.
My conclusions after Miami’s victory over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinals are as follows:
1. More respect should be given to Miami’s defense.
The top-ranked defense at Ohio State, which is coached by Matt Patricia and is full with future NFL talent, has received a lot of attention. However, Miami’s defense, led by defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., who had one sack and one tackle for loss and consistently had an impact on the game, may not have received enough recognition.
The Miami defensive line outperformed Ohio State’s offensive line due to their greater physicality. It stopped the run game, held the Buckeyes to 45 total rushing yards, and put constant pressure on Julian Sayin, sacking the quarterback five times. Given that a similar incident occurred in Ohio State’s most recent Big Ten championship game against Indiana, head coach Ryan Day’s offense might have been experiencing déjà vu. Sayin was sacked five times by the Hoosiers, who also kept them to 10 points and gave them only 58 rushing yards.
Miami also had two interceptions and held Ohio State to 3-of-10 on third down.
2. A difficult evening for Ohio State
Ohio State’s expectations for the game’s beginning and conclusion were not met.
It was all Miami following a major takeaway in the first quarter, when running back Mark Fletcher Jr. was forced to fumble in the red zone by Buckeyes linebacker Payton Pierce. After punting and fumbling on their first and second possessions, respectively, the Hurricanes took control of the tempo and changed the tone of the half with an eight-minute touchdown drive. Fletcher gave Miami an early 7-0 lead by running the ball four times for 27 yards and finishing the series with a 9-yard catch and run for a touchdown.
Shortly after, Miami defensive back Keionte Scott intercepted Sayin and returned it for a 72-yard touchdown, which was one of Ohio State’s worst moments of the game. Scott gave his squad a 14-0 lead after expertly reading the play and intercepting Sayin’s screen ball. The game was turned upside down by the moment.
Jayden Fielding, the kicker, missed a 49-yard field goal attempt just before halftime, giving Ohio State an opportunity to score. The Buckeyes had not been kept scoreless in the first half since their 2016 Fiesta Bowl matchup with Clemson.
In the second half, the Buckeyes started to make progress; Sayin was passing the ball more quickly and the offensive line began to block more effectively. However, the current champions ultimately ran out of time.
3. Jeremiah Smith shut out the home team.
Jeremiah Smith was the best player on the field despite the defeat. In his best game of the season, the true sophomore wide receiver hauled in seven passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. Given that he was heavily recruited by the Hurricanes and grew up in Miami, it is obvious that he desired this victory desperately. In fact, he stated earlier this week that he most likely would have chosen the program over Ohio State if it had a stronger record when he was searching for institutions.
Despite frequently being double-teamed, Smith managed to break free. He caught Sayin’s 59-yard bomb in the first half, which was the Buckeyes’ first big play of the contest. He beat three players to score a 12-yard touchdown pass on fourth and two in the fourth quarter while Ohio State was behind by ten points, bringing his team within three points.
With 13:28 remaining in the game, it seemed as though the Buckeyes would win in that instant. However, the following possession was marred by a holding penalty, forcing Ohio State to punt. It was already too late when the Buckeyes managed to get the ball once more.
4. Is a CFP first-round bye worth it?
Before the 2026 season begins, the issue may arise: Is a CFP first-round bye worth it? All four of the clubs that received first-round byes in the previous season—the inaugural year of the 12-team playoff—were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Ohio State has continued that run as of Wednesday night. It’s important to note that Miami played in the first round on December 20 against No. 7 Texas A&M, while the Buckeyes had 25 days off between the Big Ten championship game on December 6 and the Cotton Bowl on December 31.
This might be discussed going into the following season, depending on what occurs with the last three quarterfinals on New Year’s Day.
4 ½: What comes next?
On January 8, Miami will face the Sugar Bowl champion, which may be either No. 3 Georgia or No. 6 Ole Miss, in the CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.