As the Miami Hurricanes gear up for a high-stakes showdown with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinals, there’s a quiet confidence brewing within the locker room - and linebacker Wesley Bissainthe is one of the voices leading that charge.
Despite a gritty 10-3 win over Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Bissainthe doesn’t believe we’ve seen the best of this Miami team yet. “I feel like we haven’t even played a complete game yet,” the senior linebacker said. “We still have a couple more opportunities to prove that.”
And he’s right - Miami’s defense was the story in that first-round slugfest. While edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, along with corner Keionte Scott and safety Bryce Fitzgerald, drew plenty of attention with their highlight-reel plays, it was the total defensive unit that stepped up when it mattered most.
Bissainthe, in particular, was everywhere - finishing with seven total tackles, including four solo stops. Every one of those hits helped contain Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed, who never found a rhythm on the ground or through the air.
That kind of defensive cohesion will be essential against an Ohio State squad that enters the Cotton Bowl with both pedigree and firepower. The Buckeyes rolled through the regular season undefeated before falling to Indiana in the Big Ten title game - but don’t let that loss fool you. This is still one of the most complete teams in the country, especially on the defensive side of the ball, where they’ve consistently shut down opponents all year.
For Miami, the path forward starts with finding more balance on offense. Against Texas A&M, the Hurricanes managed just 278 total yards, and it was junior running back Mark Fletcher Jr. who carried much of the load.
Without his tough running between the tackles, the result could’ve looked a lot different. If Miami wants to keep pace with Ohio State, they’ll need more from the passing game and a cleaner execution overall.
But this team has already proven it can handle adversity. Winning at Kyle Field - one of the toughest environments in college football - in swirling winds and playoff pressure wasn’t just a win, it was a character check. And Miami passed.
Now, the Hurricanes head to Arlington, Texas, for a New Year’s Eve clash that carries more than just playoff implications. There’s history on the line too.
The last time these two programs met in a postseason setting? The 2003 National Championship - a double-overtime heartbreaker that still lingers in the minds of Miami fans.
That game ended 31-24 in favor of the Buckeyes, but this time, the Hurricanes have a shot at rewriting the script.
Bissainthe is one of the anchors of this Miami defense - a player who’s helped lead the resurgence of a proud program. And now, with the biggest game of his collegiate career on deck, he and his teammates have a chance to leave a lasting mark. If they can rise to the occasion and knock off one of the nation’s best, the road to a national title suddenly becomes very real.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The stakes? A trip to the semifinals, a shot at redemption, and a chance for this Hurricanes team to finally show the complete performance they’ve been chasing all season.