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Miami and Ohio State are no strangers to facing each other in big games.
On Wednesday, the two teams will face off in the Cotton Bowl Classic at 7:30 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State, which is 12-1 and the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff, enjoyed a first-round bye as it looks to defend its title.
Miami, which was 10-2 and the No. 10 seed in the College Football Playoff, beat No. 7 Texas A&M on the road in the first round in a defensive struggle, winning 10-3.
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(Left) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) looks on against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2025 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 6, 2025. (Right) Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck (11) looks on during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Hurricanes at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas on December 20. 2025. (Aaron Doster/Imagn Images; Jérôme Miron/Imagn Images)
The Hurricanes defense had nine sacks on the day, with potential first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. having a team-high three sacks and four tackles for loss. Keionte Scott had 10 total tackles with two sacks and three tackles for loss as well.
Quarterback Carson Beck was solid, but unspectacular, in Miami’s win. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Malachi Toney on an 11-yard pass late in the fourth quarter to give Miami a lead they would not relinquish.
Miami’s victory against Texas A&M was its first ever in the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State, on the other hand, is coming off a crushing 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship. They are well-rested, having earned a first-round bye, but will already be taking a different path to the College Football Playoff championship than last year.
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Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck (11) passes against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium on November 29, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
Last season, Ohio State didn’t get a bye, as they were the No. 6 seed. They dominated Tennessee, winning 42-17 in the first round, helping build momentum for their eventual championship run.
This year, however, Ohio State enters the quarterfinals after a loss and a bye.
The Buckeyes are led by their defense, which is one of the best in the country. Ohio State has thrown for the fewest opposing touchdowns (10) and fewest yards per game (213.5) in the country.
They are led by safety Caleb Downs and linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, all three of whom could be first-round picks in the NFL draft.
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a catch during the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on November 1, 2025. (IMAGINE)
On the other side of the ball, Ohio State might have the best wide receiver duo in the country in Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Smith leads the team with 80 receptions, 1,086 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Tate has 48 catches for 838 yards and nine touchdowns.
Another difference from this year’s Ohio State team is the quarterback. Will Howard has joined the NFL, leaving Julian Sayin as the starter.
Sayin was remarkably efficient, completing 78 percent of his passes for 3,323 yards with 31 touchdowns and six interceptions.
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The Buckeyes hope their playoff experience can lead them to another victory against Miami.
This game will be the sixth meeting between these two programs, the most notable being the Fiesta Bowl in 2003. Ohio State defeated Miami 31-21 in double overtime to win the national championship.
Ohio State is 3-2 against Miami, although one of its 2010 wins was vacated, so technically the series is 2-2.
