Miami defeated Ohio State 24–14 on December 31, 2025 in the Cotton Bowl, riding a suffocating defense and a physical ground game to one of the biggest recent upsets of the College Football Playoff era. The win sent the No. 10 Hurricanes past the defending national champions and into the CFP semifinals, while the No. 2 Buckeyes’ title defense ended in Arlington.
Miami controlled the game early, building a 14–0 lead behind a pick-six and a methodical offense that kept Ohio State off balance. Ohio State closed the gap in the second half, but Miami’s late touchdown run and clock management sealed the 24–14 final margin.
Final: Miami 24, Ohio State 14.
The Hurricanes held Ohio State scoreless in the first half and allowed only 14 points total, the most the Buckeyes had given up all season but still well below their offensive average.
A fourth-quarter Miami touchdown drive, capped by a short ChaMar Brown scoring run, effectively put the game out of reach.
Miami’s upset was built on a rugged run game and opportunistic defense that consistently flipped momentum.
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. powered the ground attack with a strong, downhill performance that helped Miami control tempo and sustain drives, repeatedly moving the chains in short-yardage and late-game situations.
Quarterback Carson Beck managed the game efficiently, throwing a touchdown pass and avoiding major mistakes while directing a balanced offense that mixed play-action with inside runs.
Receiver CJ Daniels and the perimeter group contributed key third- and fourth-down catches, including a late grab that set up Miami’s final touchdown inside the Ohio State 10.
Miami’s defense set the tone from the opening series, limiting explosive plays and forcing Ohio State to drive the length of the field for every scoring chance.
Cornerback Keionte Scott delivered the signature play of the night when he jumped a screen pass from Heisman finalist Julian Sayin and returned it more than 70 yards for a touchdown, giving Miami a two-score cushion.
The Hurricanes’ front generated steady pressure, producing sacks and hurries that disrupted Ohio State’s timing and kept the Buckeyes behind the chains.
A late interception of Sayin in the fourth quarter ended any realistic comeback hopes and allowed Miami to bleed the clock with its run game.
Ohio State found some rhythm after halftime but never fully recovered from the early deficit and Miami’s defensive intensity.
Julian Sayin threw for over 250 yards with a touchdown but was intercepted multiple times, including the pivotal pick-six that swung momentum decisively toward Miami.
Star receiver Jeremiah Smith was Ohio State’s most dangerous weapon, posting over 150 receiving yards and a long touchdown that pulled the Buckeyes back within one score in the second half.
The Buckeyes’ defense tightened after the break and forced several punts, but extended drives by Miami in the fourth quarter kept them on the field and ultimately wore them down.
Several of the standout names in this game, including Mark Fletcher Jr. for Miami and Jeremiah Smith for Ohio State, were already familiar to South Florida youth football followers thanks to years of exposure at national showcase-style events during their middle school and high school careers. Their impact on one of the sport’s biggest stages underscored how early development and elite regional competition can shape players who later decide College Football Playoff games.
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