Miami Shocks Ohio State in Cotton Bowl, Advances to CFP Semifinals

Let's go back a little bit to get things started. Miami missed the ACC championship game but still made it to the playoffs as an at-large team. Their record was 12 wins and 2 losses. Earlier in the season, experts who didn't think they could be consistent said they shouldn't be here. Under head coach Mario Cristobal, who is in his fourth year, the Hurricanes have been making something special. Cristobal was an offensive tackle for Miami and won two national championships as a player in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He knows how to make programs better. His team had already proven themselves by beating Texas A&M, the seventh-best team in the country, 10-3 in the first round, right here in Texas. That led to this quarterfinal match, and boy, did they deliver.

On the other hand, Ohio State was the No. 2 seed with a record of 12-2 and had just gotten a bye in the first round. They were the reigning champions and had a lot of talent at all levels. Quarterback Julian Sayin, a Heisman nominee and rookie star who backed up Will Howard during last year's title run, was supposed to lead a strong offense. With All-American receiver Jeremiah Smith from Miami and safety Caleb Downs leading the defense, the Buckeyes looked like they couldn't be beaten. But football has a strange way of making even the strongest people feel small. Ohio State hadn't played since December 6, when they lost to Indiana in the Big Ten title game by a score of 13 to 10. That loss ended their streak of wins, but they still got a bye. They didn't know that the break might have made them start this one off slowly.

Miami set the mood for the game right away. The Hurricanes' defense, which has been good at taking advantage of chances all season, was the first to score. Things really got going in the second quarter, though. With less than 12 minutes left in the half, Miami cornerback Keionte Scott made the best play of the game. Sayin of Ohio State tried to throw a quick screen pass to the left side, but Scott saw it coming, jumped the route, and caught the ball. Scott ran 72 yards down the sideline without being touched for a pick-six that put Miami up 14-0. People in the Cotton Bowl, which was a mix of red and green, went crazy, some in shock and some in joy.

The touchdown came right after Miami scored its first point, which was a 9-yard pass from quarterback Carson Beck to running back Mark Fletcher Jr. Beck, who moved from Georgia where he was a backup to Stetson Bennett on two national championship teams, seemed calm under pressure. He threw 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards and that crucial touchdown pass. Beck's calmness in the pocket also helped Miami keep up with the pace, not just the numbers. He threw 13 passes in a row at one point, which was the 90th time he had done that in the Cotton Bowl. Fletcher, who was named the game's offensive MVP, worked hard. He ran 19 times for 90 yards and caught the pass that won the game. His rough style wore down Ohio State's front seven, which made it easier for him to run and keep the chains moving.

Miami's defense wouldn't let Ohio State come back, though. Sayin threw 22 passes and caught 35 for 287 yards and a touchdown to Smith. The score was 17-14 after a 14-yard pass on fourth down in the fourth quarter. Smith, who was playing in front of friends and family from his hometown, was a beast, catching seven balls for 157 yards. But the Buckeyes' offense didn't do very well as a whole. Sayin was picked off twice, the second time by Scott, and sacked five times by a Miami pass rush that wouldn't let up. In the third quarter, Ohio State scored their first points of the game when Bo Jackson ran for a touchdown from one yard out. They only got one yard on the ground.

In the third quarter, Carter Davis kicked a 49-yard field goal for Miami, and in the last minute, ChaMar Brown ran for a 5-yard touchdown to make the final score 24-14. Miami's balanced style of play scored 24 points against Ohio State, which was the most the Buckeyes had given up all season. The Hurricanes' defense caused turnovers and then used them to their advantage. Scott's second pick-six of the year was a great example of how well their secondary could get the ball.

People were very upset after the game. Cristobal downplayed the praise and stressed how important the team was. He pointed to his players and the long history of the program and said, 'It's not about me.' 'This is a team and family effort.' We're always getting better and better. Cristobal is very happy about this win. He was on the Miami team that won it all in 2001 and played in the Fiesta Bowl in 2002, when the Hurricanes lost to Ohio State in double overtime. That was the last time these two teams met in a bowl game, and Miami couldn't win the title again. Cristobal's Hurricanes have gotten some revenge by beating the Buckeyes twenty years later.

Beck said the same thing about being tough. He said to reporters, 'Just the way this team has handled problems.' 'We knew today wouldn't be easy.' The other team is a really good football team. Miami's hunger showed through, even though Ohio State is definitely loaded. The Hurricanes had won six games in a row since losing to SMU in overtime on November 1. That game was only 25 miles from AT&T Stadium, where the Cotton Bowl is held. That streak includes their first playoff game in Texas, and this upset has now sent them to the semifinals.

The loss hurts Ohio State in a lot of ways. They are the latest victims of a strange trend: all of last year's first-round bye teams lost in the quarterfinals. Coach Ryan Day will have to answer questions about how the team got ready during the break, and the program will miss out on being the first in Buckeye history to win two national titles in a row. Downs, the All-American safety, made history by forcing two fumbles, the first player to do so in a CFP game. However, it wasn't enough. Jackson's touchdown was the first time the Buckeyes scored in four full quarters, which is like a shutout for the whole game.

The story of Miami's Cinderella continues. The winner of Thursday's Sugar Bowl between No. 3 Georgia and No. 6 Ole Miss will play in the Fiesta Bowl on January 8. If they win that, they'll play for the national title at Hard Rock Stadium, which is close to where they live. This is a dream come true for a program that hasn't won the trophy since 2001. Cristobal makes me feel like I did back then, when people were proud and in charge. Beck, Fletcher, and Scott all show that old-school Miami grit, which is a mix of speed, toughness, and seizing chances. This win isn't just for one game; it's a comeback. Miami football has had some hard times, like scandals, coaching changes, and not meeting expectations. But Cristobal, who went to school in Miami, has given them hope. Recruiting has gotten better, and the best players are choosing 'The U' over blue-bloods. Lance Guidry is the head of the defense, which has been great in the playoffs, giving up only 17 points in two games. They haven't been explosive on offense, but they've been effective at keeping the ball safe and driving. Even though Ohio State has a lot of talent, their season ends in disappointment. Sayin's rise to fame is a good thing; he threw for almost 300 yards against a strong defense, but the interceptions cost him. Smith, who is only 19, looks like he will be a first-round pick in the NFL. His 157 yards are proof that he is already an AP All-American. The Buckeyes will bounce back and look forward to next year, but this loss shows how close college football is now that there is a playoff system. Every game feels like a heavyweight fight, with favorites losing and underdogs winning. In the grand scheme of things, this result changes the CFP picture.

Miami Hurricanes upset defending champion Ohio State in Cotton Bowl to reach College Football Playoff semifinals.

The No. 10 seed Miami Hurricanes stunned the No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes 24-14 in the CFP quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl, advancing to face the winner of Georgia vs. Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal.

Keionte Scott's 72-yard pick-six and a strong defensive performance propelled Miami to victory, ending Ohio State's hopes of repeating as national champions.