The Miami Hurricanes came out swinging in their College Football Playoff Quarterfinal matchup against Ohio State, and it didn’t take long for the fireworks to start. Just minutes into the game, with the Buckeyes trying to settle into their rhythm, Miami's Keionte Scott read a screen pass from Julian Sayin like a seasoned vet, jumped the route, and took it 72 yards the other way for a pick-six. That play didn’t just put the Hurricanes up 14-0 - it sent a jolt through the stadium and gave Miami all the early momentum in one of the biggest games of the year.
PICK SIX @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/u6dHXfA3zp
— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) January 1, 2026
It was the kind of moment that defines postseason football - a defensive play that flips the script and ignites a sideline. And no one felt that electricity more than Michael Irvin.
Irvin, a Hurricanes legend and one of the most passionate ambassadors for the program, was on the sideline living every second of it. When Scott crossed the goal line, Irvin sprinted to the back of the end zone, arms flailing, voice erupting into a mix of growls and celebratory shouts.
He then charged back up the sideline, looking for anyone - player, coach, staffer - to hug, high-five, or just share the moment with. It was pure, unfiltered joy from a man who bleeds orange and green.
This isn’t new behavior for Irvin. He’s a fixture on the Miami sideline, especially when the stakes are high.
He doesn’t need a seat in the stands because, frankly, he wouldn’t sit in it anyway. During tense moments - like the nail-biting finish to Miami’s first-round CFP win over Texas A&M - Irvin’s been seen down on all fours, completely immersed in the emotion of the game.
That’s the kind of connection he has with this program. When you’ve helped win a national title for a school, you earn the right to be its loudest, proudest fan.
Michael Irvin was HYPED after that Miami pick-six against Ohio State😤 pic.twitter.com/Ebeoth2Oot
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 1, 2026
And Irvin embraces that role with the same energy he brought to the field during his playing days. He’s not just watching the game - he’s living it, right alongside the players.
Michael Irvin never takes a play off https://t.co/16reAsvF9F
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) December 20, 2025
Miami’s fast start against Ohio State was exactly the kind of statement you want to make in a playoff setting. And with legends like Irvin on the sidelines, the Hurricanes aren’t just chasing a title - they’re doing it with the full force of their storied legacy behind them.