Ohio State’s national title defense begins at the Cotton Bowl against a team that many didn’t think would make the College Football Playoff field.
Miami backdoored into the postseason in the final CFP rankings and then proved it belonged with a road comeback against Texas A&M.
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Which team will be moving on to the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8? Here’s how to watch all the College Football Playoff games (scroll for live updates).
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami (7:30 ET, ESPN)
After an undefeated regular season that included wins over Texas and Michigan, the Buckeyes entered the conference title game as one of just two undefeated teams in college football. But Indiana won the Big Ten title game slugfest 13-10. How will the Buckeyes respond?
It’s probably fair to also use the term slugfest to describe what took place in College Station on Dec. 20. The Hurricanes and Aggies combined for 13 points in Miami’s 10-3 victory and the only touchdown of the game came with less than two minutes to go.
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Miami’s defensive front took over in the second half of the win over A&M. Can it get that type of pressure against Ohio State? That’s Miami’s best chance of pulling the upset. OSU QB Julian Sayin was sacked five times in the Big Ten title game loss to Indiana.
However, the Hurricanes have to score too. Ohio State hasn’t given up more than 16 points to an opponent all season and just five teams have scored 10 or more points. Miami averaged 5.7 yards per play against the Aggies but had three missed field goals and a turnover. There will be far, far less margin for error on Wednesday night.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
We are back for the second half and the Buckeyes have the ball first. We’ll see if they can find some success offensively after a frustrating opening half.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Buckeyes are still scoreless after Jayden Fielding pulled a 49-yard field goal as time expired on the first half.
What a stunning first two quarters in Arlington.
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Nick Bromberg
The Buckeyes had real hopes of only being down 11 or even 7. But on the bright side … the deficit could be 17 or 21 at halftime instead of 14.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Buckeyes are now moving the ball through the air with some clutch passes by Julian Sayin. They’re over the 50 and nearing scoring range.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Buckeyes were able to move the Canes out of field goal range and will get the ball back just before the half.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Canes may add to their lead before the break. They’re having no problem moving down the field and now have it at the OSU 30 after a fourth-and-2 completion by Carson Beck.
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Nick Bromberg
A 17-0 lead is still three possessions, but — obvious take alert — that’s better than 21-0. The Buckeyes do get the ball to start the second half, but a touchdown could pencil Miami into the semifinal round.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Buckeyes hit on that one long pass to Jeremiah Smith, but other than that, they simply can’t do anything on offense and now the Canes have it back with solid field position.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
We’re past the midway point in the second quarter and the Buckeyes still aren’t on the scoreboard, but they’ve made a stop and have it back deep in their own territory.
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Nick Bromberg
Ryan Day is calling plays tonight as OSU offensive coordinator Brian Hartline is off to be the head coach at South Florida.
The last time Day called plays was the 2023 Cotton Bowl. Ohio State scored three points in that 14-3 defeat to Missouri. The Buckeyes have scored three points in their past 80 minutes of game time with Day calling plays.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Buckeyes’ offensive line is getting exposed a bit by Miami’s defense. The Canes have been putting pressure on Julian Sayin for much of the first half and have three sacks already.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
OSU’s Julian Sayin was trying to throw a quick pass to Brandon Inniss and Miami’s Keionte Scott jumped the route and returned the interception 72 yards for a touchdown.
Oh my goodness, what a turn of events in Dallas!
Miami 14, OSU 0
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Julian Sayin just found Jeremiah Smith down the seam for a huge gain and the Buckeyes are in the red zone already on the ensuing possession. It’s a 60-yard gain for Smith!
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Canes are on the board first after a 9-yard touchdown throw from Carson Beck to Mark Fletcher!
Miami 7, OSU 0
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Yahoo Sports Staff
We’re still scoreless, but the Canes are in the red zone with a fresh set of downs. They’ve been the aggressors so far.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Canes have had the only positive offensive momentum so far in this one, and it’s mostly due to Mark Fletcher’s legs, but Carson Beck has also been accurate with his throws too.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Buckeyes weren’t able to do anything much with the ball after the turnover so it’s back to Miami with just over 6 minutes left in the first quarter.
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Nick Bromberg
Miami missed a lot of chances in its win over Texas A&M. The Hurricanes are not going to have that margin of error tonight.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Miami RB Mark Fletcher was fighting for the first down in the red zone and lost it! OSU’s Caden Curry recovers the fumble.
It’s Buckeyes ball at their own 20!
