Miami Hurricanes Shock Ohio State in Historic Cotton Bowl Upset
Finn's Take· TL;DR- Miami defeats defending champion Ohio State 24-14 as massive 9.5-point underdog in historic playoff upset.
- Dominant defense with five sacks and interception return TD overwhelms Buckeyes' offense in first half.
- Hurricanes advance to Fiesta Bowl semifinal seeking first national title since 2001 at home stadium.
Hurricanes Deliver Stunning Playoff Victory
The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes pulled off one of the biggest upsets in College Football Playoff history, defeating defending champion Ohio State 24-14 in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night . Miami entered the game as a 9.5-point underdog, making this the largest upset in playoff history, surpassing Ohio State's win over Alabama as a 7.5-point underdog in 2015 .
The Hurricanes (12-2, CFP No. 10 seed) have won two playoff games to reach football's final four after needing an at-large berth to make the 12-team field, even without playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. One more win and they will get to play for a national championship in their home stadium .
Keionte Scott returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown, Carson Beck threw a scoring pass, and the Hurricanes shocked the defending champions in the first College Football Playoff quarterfinal . The 24 points were the most Ohio State gave up this season .
Defensive Dominance Keys Victory
The Hurricanes' defensive line duo proved the difference, with Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain getting consistent pressure on Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, forcing him into skittish throws and sacking him three times in the first half alone . Holding the Buckeyes to just 45 total yards rushing was the difference, as Sayin was sacked five times total .
Miami dominated the first half of the Cotton Bowl against No. 2 Ohio State thanks to a sensational defensive effort, with the Hurricanes' defensive line being dominant throughout the period . The Buckeyes managed just -3 yards rushing in the first half, getting only 26 yards from running backs .
Carson Beck, who was part of Georgia's national titles in 2021 and 2022, completed 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards, with his touchdown throw to Fletcher being part of 13 consecutive completions that set a Cotton Bowl record . Ohio State's Julian Sayin was 22 of 35 for 287 yards with two interceptions, while AP All-America receiver Jeremiah Smith, the Miami native, caught seven passes for 157 yards .
Road to Championship Glory
Next for Miami in coach Mario Cristobal's fourth season is a CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on January 8 against either No. 3 seed Georgia or No. 6 seed Ole Miss, the SEC teams playing in Thursday night's Sugar Bowl . There hasn't been a national title for "The U" since 2001 .
The Hurricanes have won six games in a row since an overtime loss November 1 at SMU, less than 25 miles from AT&T Stadium where the Cotton Bowl is played. They also made their CFP debut in Texas, winning 10-3 at No. 7 Texas A&M in the first round on December 20 .
Ohio State's loss means there won't be repeat national champions for the second time this decade. Georgia became the first team since Alabama in 2011 and 2012 to repeat with titles at the end of the 2021 and 2022 seasons, with Ohio State being the favorite to join the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide as the only repeat champs of the 2000s . The stunning upset opens the door for Miami to potentially bring home their first national championship in over two decades, with the title game set to be played in their own backyard at Hard Rock Stadium.