Ohio State-Miami put on thrilling College Football Playoff matchup
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There was a lot of debate a few weeks ago about whether the Miami Hurricanes belonged in the College Football Playoff, and on Wednesday night, they proved the naysayers wrong.
The Hurricanes advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals with a 24-14 upset victory over the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Miami became the first double-digit seed to reach this point.
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Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (center) is tackled by Ohio State cornerback Devin Sanchez during the first half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Miami refused to be stopped on one of its final drives. Mark Fletcher Jr. and CharMar Brown dug deep to find the energy and desire to move the ball. Carson Beck found wide receiver CJ Daniels for another first down with less than two minutes left.
Brown scored with 55 seconds remaining to deliver the final blow. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin threw an interception on their final drive.
It was a tough match with both teams hitting big innings after big innings. The Hurricanes finally broke through in the second quarter when Beck faked a run and found Fletcher for a short pass. Fletcher ran the ball over for a 7-0 lead.
On the next drive, Keionte Scott picked off Sayin and returned the interception for the touchdown. Ohio State missed a field goal at halftime and Miami took a 14-0 lead into the locker room.
Ohio State would backtrack.
Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes attempts a catch in front of OJ Frederique Jr. #29 of the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal of the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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Sayin began the third quarter with an 11-play, 82-yard drive that took almost seven minutes to go. It ended with a Bo Jackson goal. Ohio State scored a touchdown on Jeremiah Smith’s catch on the next drive to cut the deficit to three points after a Miami field goal.
Ohio State punted on its next drive and then turned the ball over on downs on its final drive.
Beck changed the game with his legs as much as he was a passer. Ohio State had to respect his ability to take off with the football. He had 23 yards but made a few clutch plays with his feet.
He was 19/26 through the air with 138 passing yards and one touchdown.
Miami quarterback Carson Beck (R) prepares to pass to running back Mark Fletcher Jr. during the first half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Ohio State on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Despite turning the ball over on downs in the first quarter, Fletcher rushed the ball for 90 yards on 19 carries. Brown started making moves late in the game and eventually scored the crucial goal.
It was the first time Ohio State allowed more than 20 points in a game since its national championship win against Notre Dame on Jan. 20.
The defense did its best to knock Sayın out of the game. Sayın intervened twice in the match and was sent off five times.
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Miami will play the winner of Georgia-Ole Miss.
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