COTTON BOWL
Faculty Soccer Playoff quarterfinal
No. 2 Ohio State (12-1) vs. No. 10 Miami (11-2)
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium)
Consensus odds: Ohio State -9.5, Complete 41.5 factors
Defending nationwide champion Ohio State returns to the Faculty Soccer Playoff for the seventh time in 12 years on Wednesday evening, in what would be the first recreation for the Buckeyes since shedding the Massive Ten championship recreation to Indiana.
The 25-day break for the Buckeyes was not a trip for No. 10 Miami, which gained a heart-stopper at Texas A&M (10-3) within the first spherical final week to arrange a rematch of the BCS Nationwide Championship recreation performed in Jan. 2003.
There isn’t any relaxation for the winner with a recreation Thursday (Jan. 8), a CFP semifinal on the Fiesta Bowl the place both No. 3 Georgia or No. 6 Ole Miss would be the opponent. The SEC foes sq. off in a rematch of their regular-season shootout on Jan. 1 on the Sugar Bowl for the suitable to move to Arizona.
Ohio State, taking part in within the Cotton Bowl Basic for the third consecutive yr, is No. 2 in CFP wins with seven. Solely Alabama (10) has extra.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ohio State
WR Jeremiah Smith had 19 receptions for 381 yards and 5 TDs in final yr’s 4 video games because the Buckeyes marched to the nationwide title. Smith, a two-time All-American and solely a sophomore, averages 90.5 receiving yards per recreation. He has 80 receptions for 1,086 and 11 TD catches.
LB Sonny Types may get misplaced within the nationwide dialog about do-it-all security Caleb Downs, a projected top-10 decide within the 2026 draft. However Types’ manufacturing places him in an elite class. He had a crew excessive 45 solo tackles and led the crew in complete tackles. Amongst his prime showings with the Buckeyes was a 26-total deal with effort within the 2024 CFP win over No. 7 Tennessee.
Miami
DE Rueben Bain Jr.
Bain destroyed Texas A&M with 3.0 sacks final week within the CFP first spherical upset in Faculty Station. Bain was named ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr additionally had a blocked discipline objective and 4 complete tackles for loss towards the Aggies. With damage issues up entrance, Ohio State is perhaps compelled to commit further blockers to regulate the agile, explosive and highly effective Bain.
QB Carson Beck
Not all of Miami’s gamers are CFP newbies.
Beck is 35-5 all-time as a starter and the Georgia switch joined the ten,000-yard passing membership this season. Enjoying behind an offensive line that used the identical beginning 5 all season, Beck may very well be an X-factor within the chess match with Ohio State’s speedy protection.
COMING IN APRIL
Downs might be a first-round decide after serving to the Buckeyes rank first nationally in complete protection (213.5 yards per recreation), scoring protection (8.2 factors) and passing yards (129.1). He’s third on the crew with 60 tackles (40 solo) with 5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a sack. He’ll begin within the playoffs for a 3rd straight season; he was a freshman at Alabama in 2023.
BABY JESUS
The nation will get to know Miami broad receiver Malachi Toney is that this season’s model of Smith, setting the varsity single-season document for catches with 89. He is only a freshman, however his popularity is big.
Nicknamed “Child Jesus,” Toney scored the game-winning landing at Texas A&M.
He has 992 yards and eight touchdowns — additionally Miami freshman information plus 20 carries for 98 yards and a TD whereas averaging 15.8 yards on 17 punt returns.
“He is their gadget man,” Ohio State defensive finish Kenyatta Jackson Jr. stated. “He can do every part. I imply, simply coming in as a freshman, he is speculated to be in highschool proper now.”
–Area Stage Media
