Miami dominated Ohio State from the opening whistle last night at the Cotton Bowl, cruising to a 24-14 victory in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal behind a suffocating defensive performance and clutch offensive execution.
The Hurricanes’ defense set the tone early and never relented, recording five sacks, seven tackles for loss, and two interceptions of Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin. Defensive back Keionte Scott delivered the knockout punch in the second quarter, returning one of those interceptions 72 yards for a touchdown that put Miami ahead 14-0.
“We controlled the line of scrimmage all night,” was the clear message from Miami’s defensive front. Akheem Mesidor led the charge with two sacks, while Wesley Bissainthe and Rueben Bain Jr. each added another. The Hurricanes held Ohio State to a paltry 45 rushing yards on 24 attempts, forcing the Buckeyes into obvious passing situations.
Offensively, quarterback Carson Beck managed the game efficiently, completing 19-of-26 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. His nine-yard scoring strike to Mark Fletcher Jr. opened the scoring in the second quarter. The ground game proved steady, with Fletcher leading the way with 90 yards on 19 carries.
CharMar Brown sealed the victory with a five-yard touchdown run with just 55 seconds remaining, capping a dominant second half where Miami controlled possession for over 33 minutes.
Ohio State’s comeback attempt fell short despite Jeremiah Smith’s spectacular seven-catch, 157-yard, one-touchdown performance. Sayin threw for 287 yards but was constantly under pressure, leading to two costly interceptions in a game where turnovers proved decisive.
Miami advances to the semifinal round.
