At a Glance
- Miami wins 24-14 over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal.
- Ohio State’s perfect season ends after a 25-day playoff gap and a 13-10 loss to Indiana.
- The Buckeyes finish 12-2, while Miami improves to 12-2 as an at-large team.
- Why it matters: The result shows the impact of extended breaks on playoff performance and ends Ohio State’s bid for consecutive national titles.
In a decisive Cotton Bowl quarterfinal on Wednesday night, the Miami Hurricanes defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 24-14, snapping the Buckeyes’ perfect season and underscoring the challenges of a 25-day break between playoff games.
Game Summary
Miami built a two-touchdown halftime lead and held onto the advantage, while Ohio State’s offense struggled early with quarterback Julian Sayin surrendering a 72-yard interception return and being sacked three times before the break. After the intermission, Ohio State found rhythm, tying the game at 17-14 on a 14-yard catch by Jeremiah Smith on four-and-two. However, Miami’s defense forced a game-sealing interception in the final minute.
- 25-day gap between games
- 13-10 loss to Indiana
- 12-2 record for Miami
Key Players and Quotes
Safety Caleb Downs admitted the Buckeyes fell short of execution, while head coach Ryan Day took responsibility for the team’s preparation.
Caleb Downs stated:
> “At the end of the day, we didn’t execute the way that we needed to to win the game, that’s what it is. We can’t change it now.”
Ryan Day said:
> “We worked really hard during the last three weeks leading up to this game to come out of the gates and win the first quarter, win the first half, be ready to go. At the end of the day, we didn’t get it done. I take responsibility for not getting the guys ready.”
Caden Curry commented:
> “It still hasn’t really hit me. I am still in my jersey and my pads, but yeah I know I’ll never be able to play another game for this school.”
Statistical Highlights
Jeremiah Smith finished with 157 yards on seven catches, and his 538 yards receiving in five playoff games are 21 yards shy of former Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith’s College Football Playoff record.
| Player | Playoff Yards | Record Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Smith | 538 | 21 |
Takeaways
- Miami’s victory highlights the effect of long playoff gaps on team performance.
- Ohio State’s loss ends a perfect season and halts a bid for back-to-back national titles.
- The Buckeyes’ 12-2 record remains strong, but the loss underscores the importance of consistent execution.
The loss confirms that the extended break between the Big Ten championship and the playoff quarterfinal can undermine even the most talented squads.
