Eric Boggs
Ohio State’s pursuit of its fourth national championship of the 21st century will begin against a familiar and historically significant opponent, as the Buckeyes are set to face Miami in the Cotton Bowl. Fittingly, the road back to the sport’s biggest prize starts against the program Ohio State defeated to claim its first national title of the millennium, renewing one of college football’s most memorable postseason rivalries on a playoff stage.
The second-seeded Buckeyes earned a first-round bye and will enter the College Football Playoff quarterfinals with a 12-1 record, their only loss coming in the Big Ten Championship Game after an undefeated regular season. Miami arrives in Arlington as the No. 10 seed at 11-2, fresh off a 10-3 defensive slugfest win over Texas A&M at Kyle Field. That first-round game featured no scoring in the first half before the Hurricanes finally broke through late, scoring the contest’s only touchdown on an 11-yard run by wide receiver Malachi Toney with less than two minutes remaining.
Miami’s win was driven by defense and a punishing rushing performance from former Ohio State commit Mark Fletcher Jr., who rushed for 172 yards on just 17 carries, including a 56-yard run that set up the decisive score. The Hurricanes’ defense controlled the line of scrimmage, piling up 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks, while Bryce Fitzgerald sealed the victory with a pair of interceptions, including one in the end zone in the final seconds. While Fletcher’s production stood out, it also represents a sharp contrast to what Ohio State’s defense has allowed all season, as the Buckeyes have held 10 consecutive opponents under 100 rushing yards after surrendering 166 in the season opener.
Oddsmakers have remained confident in Ohio State despite Miami’s upset win. The Buckeyes opened as an 11.5-point favorite on MyBookie, with the line settling closer to 10.5, reflecting a belief that Ohio State’s overall body of work and depth still separates it from the Hurricanes. Even prior to the first round, Ohio State was projected to be more than a touchdown favorite against either potential opponent.
The Cotton Bowl marks the sixth all-time meeting between Ohio State and Miami, with the Buckeyes holding a 3-2 advantage. No matchup looms larger than the 2002 BCS National Championship Game, a contest that remains one of the most iconic moments in Ohio State history. Against a Miami team riding a 34-game winning streak, the Buckeyes delivered college football’s first 14-0 season, prevailing 31-24 in a double-overtime classic defined by resilience, clutch defense, and legendary effort plays. That night in Tempe continues to shape how both programs view this rivalry, and it inevitably frames the buildup to this postseason reunion.
Ohio State’s recent history in the Cotton Bowl further reinforces its comfort on this stage. This will be the Buckeyes’ third straight appearance in the game, and their fourth overall, with a 3-1 all-time record in the event. Last season, Ohio State defeated Texas 28-14 in a CFP semifinal at AT&T Stadium before going on to win the national championship. The familiarity with both the venue and the stakes provides a valuable edge as the Buckeyes once again chase a title.
The upcoming matchup also brings together several modern storylines. It will be the first meeting between the programs since 2011, when Miami defeated a transitional Ohio State team in Luke Fickell’s lone season as head coach. It also revisits the recruiting connections between the rosters, highlighted by Fletcher’s emergence at Miami and the presence of Jeremiah Smith, a Miami native who chose Ohio State over the Hurricanes and has quickly become a symbol of the Buckeyes’ national recruiting reach.
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, serving as a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, will be played on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. For Ohio State, it represents another step toward reclaiming the sport’s ultimate prize, against an opponent forever tied to the program’s rise in the modern era. The setting, the history, and the stakes ensure that this meeting with Miami will feel anything but ordinary as the Buckeyes begin their latest championship run.
