One of the most debated plays in college football history occurred between these two programs. On January 1, 2003, the upstart Ohio State Buckeyes went to the BCS National Championship at the Fiesta Bowl to face off against the juggernaut Miami (FL) Hurricanes. Or, as they were referred to back in the day, “The U.” Craig Krenzel fired a pass to the front corner of the endzone for Chris Gamble, and it fell incomplete. After what felt like 10 minutes, a flag flew in (it was really just two seconds), and the Buckeyes got a second lease on life. They punched it in and held Miami (FL) out of the endzone in the second overtime to bring home the program’s first title in 34 years.
It was the right call (and the game shouldn’t have gone to overtime if a holding call had been made/Gamble’s fourth-quarter catch had been ruled a catch). But, despite most players on either team not being born yet, it’s all anyone talks about.
The 2025 editions of both programs are very different. Ohio State is looking for back-to-back titles, while Miami (FL) is seeking its first win in a BCS/NY6 game since the 2004 Peach Bowl. The CFP win over Texas A&M was its first big win in a generation. Since that 2004 season and including this Cotton Bowl, Ohio State has been in 24 BCS/NY6/CFP games and is looking for its 15th such win.
2025 Cotton Bowl: Ohio State and Miami (FL) Try to Get to the Semifinals
Ohio State kicked off the season with a game against the then-top-ranked Texas Longhorns in Columbus. The Buckeyes won a defensive battle and reclaimed the top spot. After that, the Buckeyes ran through their non-conference and Big Ten schedule, culminating in a gratifying win over Michigan for the first time since 2019. As a result, the 12-0 Buckeys earned a spot in the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 2020. Indiana came away victorious in a defensive showdown, 13-10, for its first win over Ohio State since 1988. Now, as the second seed, the Buckeyes get Miami (FL), and the winner will play the winner of the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Ole Miss.
Miami (FL) has had a different path to the CFP. To open the year, Miami (FL) took down Notre Dame (as the ACC Network repeatedly reminded folks) in what would later become a deciding factor in the Hurricanes’ inclusion. The next four matchups on the schedule went by without a hitch before Miami (FL) was upset by Louisville. The Hurricanes were able to get one more win before the next upset, this time at the hands of SMU. With their playoff hopes on life support, clinging to that Notre Dame win, the Hurricanes won each of their final four games. Still, they were left out of the ACC Championship due to some convoluted tiebreakers. After sneaking into the CFP, Miami (FL) suffocated the Texas A&M offense and prevailed on the road, 10-3.
Tracking Availability
For the other bowl games, we have been tracking opt-outs and transfers. Teams in the College Football Playoff don’t usually have many players who sit out willingly. For Ohio State, the only player with any kind of injury designation of note is right guard Tegra Tshabola. He has been the Buckeyes’ starting right guard all year and is considered doubtful after apparently suffering an injury in the Big Ten Championship.
For Miami (FL), there are four players with injury designations. The most notable is starting corner Damari Brown, who is declared out. Most importantly, the top defenders who were nicked up in the First Round win over Texas A&M seem to be ready to roll.
When Ohio State Has The Ball
Much has been made of Ohio State’s methodical approach to the offense. All year, Ryan Day and Brian Hartline have been slowing things down in an attempt to, to take a phrase from the NBA, “load manage.” Considering the Buckeyes got to the CFP as the two-seed and are mostly unscathed in terms of injuries, it must have worked. Day said the Buckeyes can turn the heat up when they want, so now would be a great time. Day is also taking playcalling back from Hartline to help him focus on receivers and transitioning to be the USF head coach.
Julian Sayin enters the CFP with the single-season completion percentage record at 78.4%. He led the way with 3,323 yards and 31 touchdowns to just six interceptions.
His weapons are top-notch. Future first-round NFL Draft picks Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate have been lighting it up while battling injuries. Smith hit the century mark again in his sophomore season and sits at 1,086 yards and 11 touchdowns. Last year, he entered the CFP with 934 yards and went on a run to propel the Buckeyes to the title. The run game hasn’t been up to snuff this year, but Bo Jackson has all of the makings of a future star and will likely get a solid workload.
Ohio State enters this Cotton Bowl with the 17th-ranked scoring offense, 24th-ranked total offense, 25th-ranked passing offense, and 63rd-ranked rushing offense.
The Miami (FL) Defense
Miami (FL) also has a formidable defense. It’s led by potential top-10 pick, Rueben Bain Jr. He comes into this game with 11.5 tackles for loss and seven-and-a-half sacks on the year. However, he’s not the only one to keep an eye on. Fellow defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss and eight-and-a-half sacks on the year. Impressively, defensive back Keionte Scott also notched double-digit tackles for loss, so Ohio State will have to keep him in mind.
Miami (FL) loves getting turnovers. Bryce Fitzgerald led the ACC with six interceptions as part of a unit-wide total of 14 on the year.
The Hurricanes boast the fifth-best scoring defense, seventh-best rushing defense, 11th-best total defense, and 31st-best passing defense.
When Miami (FL) Has The Ball
The Hurricanes have their own accurate quarterback in Carson Beck. He led the way in the ACC while completing 74.5% of his passes. But he also led the way with 10 interceptions. Beck posted his third consecutive 3,000-yard season with 26 touchdowns on the year. Of course, the star of this offense is true freshman phenom Malachi Toney. He’s a home-run threat from anywhere on the field. While he was held to just 22 yards against Texas A&M, Ohio State will have to make sure it knows where number 10 is at all times. He’s gone off for four 100-yard performances on the year.
The question will be on the ground. All year, the Miami (FL) rushing attack has been underwhelming. But then, Mark Fletcher broke out with a 172-yard game. In 11 games, the junior managed 857 yards and 10 touchdowns. Up front, All-American tackle Francis Mauigoa is expected to be taken in the first half of the first round in the NFL Draft. He will have his hands full with this Ohio State pass rush.
Miami (FL) will counter with its 29th-ranked scoring offense, 32nd-ranked passing offense, 35th-ranked total offense, and 76th-ranked rushing offense.
The Ohio State Defense
The Ohio State defense had to replace eight players and somehow got better. Arvell Reese and Kayden McDonald have been the biggest breakouts for the Buckeye defense this year, each earning All-American status. Sonny Styles has been the pinnacle of consistency and could have been a high draft pick last year, but he returned to improve further. Of course, you can’t talk about the defense without mentioning one of the top defenders in all of college football, Thorpe Award winner Caleb Downs.
The Buckeyes have future NFL players at just about every position. NFL scouts will be glued to this matchup to see how the Buckeyes respond to a better-than-what-they ‘ve-faced offense.
Matt Patricia’s squad has been lights-out all year. The Buckeyes enter the Cotton Bowl with the best scoring defense, best passing defense, best total defense, and fifth-best rushing defense.
Last Word on the Cotton Bowl
This is going to be a battle from the jump. On paper, it looks like Ohio State may have the edge. Of course, these games are not played on paper. These are two of the eight teams remaining to win it all. Both teams will have to be on their best behavior.
If Ohio State can limit what Fletcher can do on the ground, it could make for a long day for Beck. As our SEC expert and co-host of “SEC Sunday Night,” Craig McMichael has said, Beck tends to falter when the lights get the brightest. Beck has struggled under pressure this year, while Sayin has looked his best. While Bain and Mesidor may have an opportunity to wreck things for the Buckeyes, Reese could make things very difficult for the Hurricanes.
Ohio State is the heaviest favorite of the quarterfinal round. Could Miami (FL) keep it close or upset the Buckeyes? Or will it be more postseason rolling by Day and the Buckeyes?
Bottom Line on the Cotton Bowl
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
History: Series officially tied 2-2 (Ohio State’s 2010 win was vacated)
Last Matchup: Miami (FL) won, 24-6 in 2011
Last Ohio State Win: Technically 36-24 in 2010; Officially, 31-24 in 2003 (BCS National Championship)
Date and Time: December 31, 8:30 p.m. EST
How to Watch: ESPN
Spread: Ohio State -9.5; O/U 41.5 (via FanDuel)
