It’s official: Ohio State will not defend its college football national title.
The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes’ stingy defense and tough running game upset the No. 2 Buckeyes, 24-14, in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
The Hurricanes were physical from the jump, while the Buckeyes looked over-matched. Miami rolled out to a 14-0 lead by halftime and, while the Buckeyes mounted a comeback in the second half, they ultimately ran out of time. They were forced to punt on a critical fourth-quarter drive, which was slowed by the first accepted penalty of the entire game.
As is always the case, Miami’s sideline was filled with famous alums, from Michael Irvin to Ray Lewis to Jimmy Johnson. Irvin, who has been a fixture at games all season, was seen hugging as many people as he could while the final seconds of the game ticked off.
[2025 CFP Odds: Lines, Spreads for Each Quarterfinal Game]
This was Miami’s first CFP look and one which this system practically missed had it not been for the choice committee rewarding its resume over Notre Dame’s.
Listed below are my takeaways from the Miami’s Cotton Bowl quarterfinal win over Ohio State:
1. Miami’s protection deserves extra respect
ARLINGTON, TX: Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (4) tackles Ohio State operating again Stanley Jackson Jr. (26) within the first quarter because the Miami Hurricanes confronted the Ohio State Buckeyes on December 31, 2025, at AT&T Stadium. (Picture by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)
A lot has been stated about Ohio State’s No. 1-ranked protection, plagued by future NFL expertise and coached by Matt Patricia. However maybe not sufficient credit score has gone to Miami’s unit, led by defensive finish Rueben Bain Jr., who had one sack, one deal with for loss and continuously affected the sport.
Miami’s line of defense was extra bodily and outplayed Ohio State’s offensive line. It bought constant strain on Julian Sayin — sacking the quarterback 5 instances — stymied the run recreation and restricted the Buckeyes to 45 complete dashing yards. It might have been déjà vu for head coach Ryan Day’s offense, given an analogous factor occurred in Ohio State’s final recreation towards Indiana within the Huge Ten championship matchup. The Hoosiers sacked Sayin 5 instances, solely allowed 58 dashing yards and held them to 10 factors.
Miami additionally restricted Ohio State to 3-of-10 on third down and had two interceptions.
2. Tough evening for Ohio State
Miami Hurricanes defensive again Keionte Scott (0) intercepts the ball as Ohio State Buckeyes vast receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) provides chase through the first half of the School Soccer Playoff quarterfinal recreation within the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. (Getty Photos)
The sport didn’t begin or end how Ohio State had hoped.
After an enormous takeaway within the first quarter — when Buckeyes linebacker Payton Pierce compelled operating again Mark Fletcher Jr. to fumble within the crimson zone – it was all Miami. The Hurricanes managed the tempo, and after punting and fumbling on their first and second possessions, respectively, they went on an eight-minute landing drive that modified the tone of the half. Fletcher ran the ball 4 instances for 27 yards and capped the sequence with a 9-yard catch and run for a landing to present Miami an early 7-0 lead.
One of many worst elements of the sport for Ohio State got here simply moments later when Sayin was intercepted by Miami defensive again Keionte Scott, who returned it for a 72-yard landing. Scott learn the play completely and picked off Sayin’s display screen cross to present his workforce a 14-0 edge. The second flipped the sport on its head.
Ohio State had an opportunity to get factors on the board simply earlier than halftime, however kicker Jayden Fielding missed a 49-yard area aim try. This was the primary time the Buckeyes have been held scoreless within the first half because the 2016 Fiesta Bowl towards Clemson.
Issues started to click on for the Buckeyes within the second half; the offensive line began blocking higher and Sayin was getting the ball out quicker. However in the long run, the reigning champs ran out of time.
3. Jeremiah Smith locked in towards hometown workforce
ARLINGTON, TEXAS : Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes makes an attempt a catch in entrance of OJ Frederique Jr. #29 of the Miami Hurricanes within the second quarter through the 2025 School Soccer Playoff Quarterfinal on the ninetieth Goodyear Cotton Bowl Basic at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2025. (Picture by Alex Slitz/Getty Photos)
Even within the loss, Jeremiah Smith was the perfect participant on the sector. The true sophomore receiver had seven catches for 157 yards and a landing, which was statistically his finest recreation of the yr. There’s no query he needed this win badly, provided that he grew up in Miami and was closely recruited by the Hurricanes. He really stated earlier this week that if this system had a greater observe file when he was taking a look at faculties, he in all probability would have ended up there as an alternative of Ohio State.
Typically double-teamed, Smith nonetheless discovered methods to get open. Within the first half, he caught a 59-yard bomb from Sayin that was the Buckeyes’ first explosive play of the sport. Within the fourth quarter, with Ohio State trailing by 10, he beat three guys to catch a 12-yard landing cross on fourth-and-2 that put his workforce inside three factors.
In that second, it felt just like the Buckeyes have been going to return again and win, given there was 13:28 left on the clock. However a holding penalty plagued the following possession, and Ohio State was compelled to punt. By the point the Buckeyes bought the ball once more, it was too late.
[Game Changers: Why Jeremiah Smith Almost Flipped From Ohio State to Miami]
4. Is it price getting a CFP first-round bye?
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Marquise Lightfoot #12 of the Miami Hurricanes sacks Julian Sayin #10 of the Ohio State Buckeyes within the third quarter through the 2025 School Soccer Playoff Quarterfinal on the ninetieth Goodyear Cotton Bowl Basic at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2025. (Picture by Sam Hodde/Getty Photos)
A query that might come up forward of the 2026 season: Is it price it to get a first-round bye within the CFP? Final season, the primary yr of the 12-team playoff, all 4 groups that earned first-round byes misplaced within the quarterfinals.
As of Wednesday evening, Ohio State has prolonged that streak. It’s price mentioning the Buckeyes had 25 days off between the Huge Ten championship recreation on Dec. 6 and the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31, whereas Miami performed within the first spherical towards No. 7 Texas A&M on Dec. 20.
Relying on what occurs with the three remaining quarterfinals on New Yr’s Day, this could possibly be a dialog heading into subsequent season.
4 ½: What’s subsequent?
Miami will play the winner of the Sugar Bowl — both No. 3 Georgia or No. 6 Ole Miss — within the CFP semifinal on the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8.
Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She is the creator of “Sturdy Like a Girl,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Comply with her at @LakenLitman.
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