No. 10 Miami Looks to Upset No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl: Live Updates
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ARLINGTON, Texas — Time begins to tick away as No. 10 Miami Hurricanes prepare for their toughest opponent of the season in the Cotton Bowl Classic. No. 2 Ohio State is well rested and ready to play its best football against the underdog Canes team, who looks to prove more doubters wrong in the quarterfinals matchup in the College Football Playoff.
Miami defeated the Texas A&M Aggies on the road in a defensive chess match that allowed Mark Fletcher Jr. to drag the Canes over the finish line with 172 yards on the day. It was also one of the quiet days for quarterback Carson Beck, who did just enough to manage the game, guiding the Hurricanes to victory.
However, the Buckeyes are in familiar territory and prepare to stifle the upstart Canes similar to the 2002 national championship game.
The Buckeyes went the same route as Miami did this season. They played their first game and went on to beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl en route to winning the national championship. Moreover, the Buckeyes are on the side of the Ducks last season, while the Canes are in the shoes of Ohio State.
This game will come down to an x-factor on both teams, who will have to have all-time games to get the job done for each side.
Miami Hurricanes Players to Watch: Carson Beck
14 completions for 103 yards was able to guide the Hurricanes to victory in the first round of the CFP. That won't work against Ohio State. It's time for Beck to prove that he can still be an NFL quarterback against a defense that is NFL adjacent. It doesn't have to be the monster game that many expect from him, but a 250-yard day with two or three touchdowns would do wonders to open up the offense against this monster defense.
Ohio State Players to Watch: Jeremiah Smith
Going down to the wire, it was a toss between the Hurricanes and the Buckeyes for the superstar wide receiver. Smith, in a coin flip decision, decided that Ohio State was better than his hometown team, and now he looks to prove that against many of his friends on the opposing sideline.
Smith has battled injuries throughout the season, but this game means more to him than others might realize.
How to Watch the 2025 Cotton Bowl Classic:
Game Day: December 31st
Kickoff time: 7:300pm Eastern
TV: ESPN
Radio:560 WQAM,990AM ESPN Deportes,WVUM,
Last time out, Ohio State: The Buckeyes lost in the Big Ten championship game against Indiana in a defensive chess match. They only scored 10 points and were limited by their offensive attack down the field.
Last time out, Miami: The Hurricanes pulled off the upset at Kyle Field against the Texas A&M Aggies thanks to a defensive masterclass and a career day from junior running back Mark Fletcher Jr.
Last Time Matchup — Series Miami 2, Ohio State 2: Both faced off in 2011, when the Hurricanes dominated at home against the Buckeyes 24-6, achieving the upset victory.
Final Score
Miami 24
Ohio State 14
Pregame
The Miami injury report for the day reveals nothing new, with defensive back Damari Brown still sidelined with the same injury that kept him out of the Texas A&M game. Linebacker Malik Bryant is also still out, along with wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw and defensive lineman Donta Simpson.
The First Injury Report for Miami and Ohio State for the Cotton Bowl #GoCanes pic.twitter.com/c512DkL6YO
— Miami Hurricanes On SI (@CanesCentralSI) December 29, 2025
The Hurricanes began warming up on the field at AT&T stadium at 5 p.m.
Miami’s QB1 getting loose for the #Cottonbowl #Gocanes pic.twitter.com/3kiBAacOSw
— Miami Hurricanes On SI (@CanesCentralSI) December 31, 2025
@CanesCentralSI on the sideline with Miami future first round pick Franco Mauigoa getting warmed up for the #cottonbowl #gocanes pic.twitter.com/ANVDILNVnK
— Justice Sandle (@Justice_News5) December 31, 2025
Miami's top recruit of the 2026 class will be on the sideline for tonight's game.
Miami’s Top 2026 recruit Jackson Cantwell on the sideline for the #CottonBowl #Gocanes pic.twitter.com/ITa39DqAri
— Miami Hurricanes On SI (@CanesCentralSI) December 31, 2025
How will they affect Julian Sayin in the Cotton Bowl #CottonBowl #gocanes pic.twitter.com/GSuLn3zw8b
— Miami Hurricanes On SI (@CanesCentralSI) December 31, 2025
Carson Beck Warming up for the #Cottonbowl #gocanes pic.twitter.com/uuy29ZBPan
— Justice Sandle (@Justice_News5) January 1, 2026
First Quarter
Ohio State wins the toss, defers, and after a touchback, Miami will take over on offense for the first possession.
MIA: It's a three-and-out on Miami's first drive after a pair of incompletions from Carson Beck. The Hurricanes will punt it away.
OSU: Akheem Mesidor sacks Julian Sayin for a big loss on third down, and the Buckeyes respond with a three-and-out of their own. Sidenote: Ohio State's running back goes by Bo Jackson, but his real name is Lamar. Hard not to succeed in life under those circumstances.
A 45-yard punt will see Miami take over at their own 39-yard line.
MIA: Mark Fletcher gets his legs going to move the chains after a checkdown from Beck that brings the Hurricanes into plus-territory. Beck finds CJ Daniels over the middle of the field for another first down to the OSU 27-yard line.
A direct snap to Malachi Toney gains four yards on the first play from scrimmage, followed by a short scamper from Beck before Fletcher fumbles on the 3rd-and-short. The fumble was recovered by Ohio State.
OSU: Sayin finds his favorite target in Smith for a first down on the first play of the drive. Rueben Bain breaks through for a TFL before Jackson gains eight yards on second down. On 3rd and 4, Sayin sails a sideline pass out of bounds, and Malachi Toney takes the field to return the punt.
MIA: Beck and Fletcher move the chains on the ground before Fletcher nets a big gain on the ensuing first down. After a few short gains to move the sticks, Miami moves into plus-territory and takes over on 1st-and-10 from the OSU 39-yard line. A pair of passes and Gerard Pringle rushes bring Miami into the redzone for the first time on the night.
At the end of the first, Miami is driving deep in Ohio State territory.
Second Quarter
MIA: A Mark Fletcher rush and CJ Daniels reception brings up 3rd-and-1 at the OSU 10-yard line, where Beck finds Fletcher in the flat for a MIAMI TOUCHDOWN. The extra point by Davis is up and good, and the Hurricanes lead 7-0. | 13:31
OSU: After a Miami touchback, Julian Sayin delivers a bomb over the middle of the field to Smith down to the Miami 16-yard line. Following the big gain, Bain finds Sayin for his first sack of the night and his second TFL.
On the ensuing play, Keonte Scott picks off Sayin for a 72-yard MIAMI TOUCHDOWN to continue his electric postseason. The kick is up and good. | 11:49
OSU: After a touchback, Jeremiah Smith hauls in a first-down reception before CJ Donaldson rumbles forward to move the chains again. After an incompletion, Mesidor gets to Sayin for his second sack of the night. CJ Donaldson makes the tackle on a screen play to bring out the OSU punt unit yet again. Toney back to receive. | 9:14
MIA: Following a short gain from Fletcher, Beck finds Daniels for a first down. On the ensuing set of downs, another short rush from Fletcher followed by a short reception from Keelan Marion and a Beck scramble moves the chains again.
However, after review, Beck was down inches short of the line to gain, and the Hurricanes will punt it away down to the OSU 9-yard line. | 5:50
OSU: The Hurricanes are playing out of their mind. Toure exploded out of a cannon getting two monster tackles to keep it third and long for the Canes. The pass rush is flustering Ohio State and and they force a punt form the endzone.
MIA: Beck finds Marion for another first down before a 4-yard gain from Fletcher and a short pass to Marion that brings up 3rd and 3. Cristobal and company decide to take a timeout with 3:06 remaining in the half.
Out of the timeout, Fletcher is stopped short on 3rd down before Beck finds Toney to move the chains on fourth down and bring up the two-minute warning.
Out of the two-minute warning, Beck is sacked for a loss of 6 yards to bring up 2nd & 16. Miami follows that up with a jet-sweep that also gets brought down for a loss of 7 to put the Hurricanes out of field-goal range on 3rd and 20. Beck looks deep, but it's incomplete, and Miami will send a punt down range that lands at the 2-yard line. | 1:36
OSU: Miami brings down Donaldson for a gain of 4 yards. Sayin escapes the pocket and finds a receiver to move the sticks and get out of bounds on 2nd down. On the ensuing play, Beck finds Tate over the middle of the field for 15 yards followed by another 8-yard gain.
On 2nd and 2, Sayin finds Inniss over the middle of the field to move the sticks again before an incompletion to Inniss. After moving the sticks again, Sayin dodges a sack and finds Inniss over the middle again to move the chains. Cristobal and company call another timeout with 22 seconds left in the half. Ohio State will take over again from the Miami 39-yard line.
Ohio State takes its final timeout with 16 seconds left after a gain of 8 yards.
Sayin dodges Bain again in the backfield before throwing it away to bring up 3rd and 2. After Sayin throws another incomplete pass, the OSU field goal unit comes on to attempt a 49-yard field goal, which he misses. Miami will take over at its own 39 with one second left on the clock, and kneel out the half.
Third Quarter
OSU: James Peoples brings the return out of the end zone to start the OSU possession at their own 18-yard line. After a gain of 7 from Jackson on first down, he carries it for another short gain to move the sticks.
Sayin flicks it for a gain of 6 on first down, then hands it off to Jackson to bring OSU into Miami territory for another first down. At the Miami 45, Sayin drops back and is sacked by Marquise Lightfoot to bring up 2nd and 14. Sayin immediately finds Smith over the middle to move the sticks again and push the ball to the Miami 26.
Donaldson carries for another 4 yards before Sayin finds Tate for another first down to bring OSU inside the Miami 10-yard line. On 1st and goal, Jacoby Thomas levels the OSU tight end for a gain of 2 yards. Jackson then carries it to the 1-yard line before repeating the same play for an OSU TOUCHDOWN. The kick is up and good. | 8:05
MIA: After a touchback on the OSU kickoff, Miami goes back to Fletcher for a 5 yard gain, then Beck's pass is batted down at the line of scrimmage to bring up an early 3rd and 5. Beck turns and throws to Marion to move the chains.
Fletcher carriesfor yet another six yards, which he follows up with a chunk run play that moves the sticks yet again. Fletcher is up to 67 yards on the night.
After a short rush by Pringle, Beck is sacked on the play for a loss of one yard. He then finds Toney for a reception short of the sticks. Toney fumbles, but recovers his own ball to bring out the field goal unit on 4th and 2. The 49-yard attempt is up and good. | 3:01
OSU: Following a touchback, Donaldson carries it for a gain of 4 yards. Miami DL Ahmad Moten Sr. is down on the play. | 2:50
Sayin finds his tight end over the middle for the first down and a gain of 12 before handing it off to Donaldson again for a short gain. Then, Inniss hauls in another first down reception for a gain of 9.
Jackson carries the rock for another 4 yards, and Smith hauls in a sideline snag to move the chains again before another injury timeout is called for O.J. Frederique Jr. | 0:16
Smith takes an end-around for a gain of one yard to end the third quarter. Jackson carries for another 6 yards to force 3rd and 3 before Donaldson is stood up. The offense stays out on the field, and Sayin finds Smith over the middle for a OSU TOUCHDOWN. The kick is up and good. | 13:28
MIA: OJ Frederique is carted back to the locker room. It appears he won't be returning to the game.
After an touchback, Beck throws deep and it falls incomplete. Fletcher is then stood up for a loss of one, and on 3rd down, Beck scrambles to move the chains.
Fletcher is then stuffed again for a 1-yard gain, followed by a short reception by Marion to bring up 3rd and 6. Beck rolls left and can't find an open man, and throws an incompletion to bring out the Miami punt unit. The ball sails out of bounds at the Ohio State 25-yard line. | 10:17
OSU: A gain of 12 on the first play from scrimmage has the Buckeyes rolling again.
Donaldson is tackled by Mesidor for a gain of 4 to bring up 2nd and 6. Wesley Bissainthe finds Sayin in the backfield and brings him down for a 9-yard sack. On 3rd and 15, Smith hauls in another reception in between the Miami zone defense to move the sticks.
Sayin throws long on first down and it's incomplete. On second down, OSU is called for holding to bring up 2nd and 20. Sayin throws incomplete to bring up 3rd and 20. Sayin finds a receiver well short of the line to gain, and the OSU punt unit will take the field. The punt is fair caught at the Miami 10-yard line, but a flag is thrown, resulting in an illegal formation for the kicking team. The ensuing punt is fair caught at the 30-yard line. | 5:56
MIA: Mark Fletcher carries the first play from scrimmage for a 19-yard gain.
Fletcher follows his big gain up with a 4 yard scamper, which the Hurricanes follow up with a Beck scramble for another short gain to bring up 3rd and 3. Brown hauls in a reception to move the chains to the OSU 39-yard line.
CharMar Brown carries it for a gain of 13 to move the chains yet again before he gains another yard on the ensuing first-down play. That will take Miami to the 2-minute warning.
Brown gets stood up, but moves the pile forward another 4 yards to bring up 3rd and 4 from the OSU 20-yard line. OSU calls its first timeout of the half. | 1:53
On 3rd and 4, Beck finds Daniels on a tunnel screen to move the chains and bring up 1st and goal. OSU call sits second timeout of the half. | 1:46
Brown carries it for another short gain to bring up 2nd and goal from the 5. Brown then punches it into the end zone for the dagger MIAMI TOUCHDOWN. The kick is up and good from Davis. | 0:55
OSU: After a touchback, Sayin's first down pass is incomplete. On second down, Xavier Lucas intercepts Sayin, and the Hurricanes will kneel out the clock with 43 seconds left.
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Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University earning a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Communications with a concentration in Print and Digital Journalism. During his time in Starkville, he spent a year as an intern working for Mississippi State On SI primarily covering basketball, football, baseball, and soccer while writing, recording, and creating multimedia stories during his tenor. Since graduating, he has assumed the role of lead staff writer for Miami Hurricanes On SI covering football, basketball, baseball, and all things Hurricanes related.
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Tanner Marlar is a contributing writer for Miami Hurricanes On SI who has covered collegiate athletics at the local and national levels for nearly a decade, including at Cowbell Country, Mississippi State On SI, Boston College On SI, and Vanderbilt Commodores On SI. As a former beat writer, Tanner strives to give thought provoking and exciting coverage to readers who want to know the very best current information about their team.
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