Ohio State begins national title defense with Cotton Bowl Classic matchup vs Miami

Miami and Ohio State are nary strangers to playing each different successful large games. 

On Wednesday, the 2 teams volition play each different successful the Cotton Bowl Classic astatine 7:30 p.m. ET astatine AT&T Stadium. Ohio State, who is 12-1 and the No. 2 effect successful the College Football Playoff, enjoyed a bye done the archetypal circular arsenic they look to support their title. 

Miami, who was 10-2 and the No. 10 effect successful the College Football Playoff, upset No. 7 Texas A&M connected the roadworthy successful the archetypal circular successful a antiaircraft struggle, winning 10-3. 

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(Left) Ohio State Buckeyes backmost Julian Sayin (10) looks connected against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2025 Big Ten title crippled astatine Lucas Oil Stadium successful Indianapolis, Indiana, connected Dec. 6, 2025. (Right) Miami Hurricanes backmost Carson Beck (11) looks connected during the crippled betwixt the Texas A&M Aggies and the Hurricanes astatine Kyle Field successful College Station, Texas, connected Dec. 20, 2025. (Aaron Doster/Imagn Images;Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

The Hurricanes' defence had 9 sacks connected the day, with imaginable first-round prime Rueben Bain Jr. having a team-high 3 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. Keionte Scott had 10 full tackles with 2 sacks and 3 tackles for nonaccomplishment arsenic well. 

Quarterback Carson Beck was solid, yet unspectacular, successful the triumph for Miami. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Malachi Toney connected an 11-yard walk precocious successful the 4th fourth to springiness Miami a pb they would not relinquish.

The triumph for Miami implicit Texas A&M was their archetypal ever successful the College Football Playoff.

Ohio State, connected the different hand, is coming disconnected a crushing 13-10 nonaccomplishment to Indiana successful the Big Ten championship. They are well-rested, arsenic they earned the first-round bye, but volition already beryllium taking a antithetic way to the College Football Playoff title than past year.

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Miami Hurricanes backmost Carson Beck (11) passes against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the archetypal 4th astatine Acrisure Stadium connected Nov. 29, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

Last season, Ohio State did not person a bye, arsenic they were the No. 6 seed. They dominated Tennessee, winning 42-17 successful the opening round, helping physique momentum for their eventual title run.

This year, however, Ohio State enters the quarterfinals coming disconnected a nonaccomplishment and connected a bye.

The Buckeyes are led by their defense, which is 1 of the champion successful the nation. Ohio State has yielded the fewest opposing touchdowns (10) and the fewest yards per crippled (213.5) successful the country.

They are led by information Caleb Downs and linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, each 3 of whom could beryllium first-round picks successful the NFL Draft. 

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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a drawback during the NCAA shot crippled against the Penn State Nittany Lions astatine Ohio Stadium successful Columbus connected Nov. 1, 2025. (IMAGN)

On the different broadside of the ball, Ohio State mightiness person the champion wide receiver duo successful the state successful Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Smith leads the squad with 80 receptions, 1,086 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Tate has 48 catches for 838 yards and 9 touchdowns. 

One different quality from this year’s Ohio State squad is the quarterback. Will Howard went connected to the NFL, leaving Julian Sayin arsenic the starter.

Sayin has been remarkably efficient, completing 78% of his passes for 3,323 yards with 31 touchdowns and six interceptions. 

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The Buckeyes anticipation their playoff acquisition tin pb them to different vessel triumph implicit Miami. 

This matchup volition beryllium the sixth gathering betwixt these 2 programs, with the astir notable 1 the Fiesta Bowl successful 2003. Ohio State bushed Miami 31-21 successful treble overtime to triumph the nationalist championship. 

Ohio State is 3-2 all-time against Miami, though 1 of their wins successful 2010 was vacated, truthful technically the bid is 2-2.

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