Miami defeats Ohio State in shocking CFP victory, ending Buckeyes’ back-to-back national title hopes
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There was a lot of debate a few weeks ago about whether the Miami Hurricanes belonged in the College Football Playoffs, and on Wednesday night they proved the naysayers wrong.
The Hurricanes posted a surprising 24-14 victory over the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl Classic to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Miami is the first double-digit qualifier to make it this far.
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Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr., center, is tackled by Ohio State cornerback Devin Sanchez, right, 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 his last trips. Mark Fletcher Jr. and CharMar Brown dug deep to find the energy and will to keep the ball moving. Carson Beck found receiver CJ Daniels for another first down with less than two minutes left.
Brown scored with 55 seconds left to deliver the final blow. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin threw an interception on his final drive.
It was a very close game with both teams landing big blow after big blow. 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 to score a touchdown and take an early 7-0 lead.
On the next drive, Keionte Scott intercepted Sayin and returned the interception for a touchdown. Ohio State missed a field goal before halftime and Miami went to the locker room with a 14-0 lead.
Ohio State would bounce back.
Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes attempts a catch in front of OJ Frederique Jr. #29 of the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinals at 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 nearly seven minutes off the clock. It ended with a Bo Jackson touchdown. Ohio State followed with a touchdown on a catch by Jeremiah Smith 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 fumbled on its final drive.
Beck changed the game with his legs as much as he did as a passer. Ohio State was forced to respect his ability to take off with the ball. He had 23 yards but made some key plays with his feet.
He was 19 of 26 passing with 138 passing yards and a touchdown pass.
Miami quarterback Carson Beck, right, prepares to hand off the 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)
Fletcher, despite fumbling the ball in the first quarter, ran for 90 yards on 19 carries. Brown started getting carries late in the game and scored the crucial touchdown at the end.
Ohio State allowed more than 20 points in a game for the first time since its national championship victory against Notre Dame on January 20.
The defense was able to do enough to throw Sayin off his game. Sayin had two interceptions in the game and was sacked five times.
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Miami will play the winner of Georgia-Ole Miss.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor at News Digital.