In a surprising turn of events, the Miami Hurricanes triumphed over the Ohio State Buckeyes, the reigning national champions, with a score of 24-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. This victory propels Miami into the College Football Playoff semifinals, marking them as the first team with a double-digit seeding to reach this stage.
The game, held on Wednesday night, saw Miami overcoming early doubts and showcasing their strength on the field.
The Hurricanes demonstrated resilience, especially during their final drives. Running backs Mark Fletcher Jr. and CharMar Brown pushed through fatigue to advance the ball, while quarterback Carson Beck connected with wide receiver C.J. Daniels for a crucial first down in the last two minutes of the game. Brown eventually scored, solidifying Miami’s lead with just 55 seconds left. Ohio State’s final attempt was thwarted by an interception thrown by their quarterback, Julian Sayin.
The game was characterized by intense plays and strong physical efforts from both sides. Miami managed to break the ice in the second quarter when Beck’s clever fake led to a short pass to Fletcher, who then scored a touchdown, putting Miami ahead 7-0.
Shortly after, Keionte Scott intercepted a pass from Sayin and scored a touchdown, further extending Miami’s lead. A missed field goal by Ohio State allowed Miami to head into halftime with a significant 14-0 advantage.
However, Ohio State was not ready to give up.
In the third quarter, Sayin led an impressive 82-yard drive, culminating in a touchdown by Bo Jackson. Following this, Jeremiah Smith caught a touchdown pass, narrowing the score gap to just three points after Miami scored a field goal.
Despite their efforts, Ohio State’s momentum was cut short as they were forced to punt on one drive and ultimately turned over the ball on their last possession.
Beck’s performance was a key factor in Miami’s victory, using both his passing skills and his ability to run to keep Ohio State’s defense guessing. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown.
Fletcher contributed significantly with 90 rushing yards from 19 carries, overcoming an earlier fumble. Brown’s late-game efforts, including the final touchdown, were also vital to Miami’s success.
This game marked the first time Ohio State had allowed more than 20 points since their national championship victory.
Miami’s defense played a crucial role in disrupting Sayin’s game, sacking him five times and intercepting two of his passes.
Looking ahead, Miami is set to face the winner of the match between Georgia and Ole Miss in the next round of the College Football Playoff.
