When Mario Cristobal took over at Miami, he didn’t just talk about building a championship team-he laid out a vision rooted in physicality, discipline, and dominance at the line of scrimmage. And if you watched that final drive against Ohio State, you saw that vision come to life in real time.
With five minutes left on the clock and the Hurricanes clinging to a 17-14 lead, Cristobal’s squad lined up at their own 30-yard line. What followed wasn’t flashy.
It wasn’t gimmicky. It was old-school, smashmouth football-and it was beautiful.
First play: inside handoff to Mark Fletcher. The sophomore running back found daylight and hit the second level with purpose, ripping off a 20-yard gain that immediately flipped the tone of the drive. From that moment on, Miami imposed its will.
Third downs? Converted.
The offensive line? Dominant.
The tempo? Controlled.
This wasn’t just a drive-it was a message. Miami didn’t need to trick Ohio State.
They just lined up and beat them at the point of attack.
And when backup running back Marty Brown came in and finished the job with a touchdown to make it 24-14, it was the exclamation point on a drive that may come to define Cristobal’s tenure. Every yard was earned.
Every call was deliberate. Every second ticked off the clock felt like a hammer blow to Ohio State’s hopes.
This is the brand of football Cristobal has preached since day one: “Pound, Pound, Pound.” And on this drive, Miami did just that. It was the kind of possession that championship teams hang their hats on-physical, efficient, and absolutely unrelenting.
If you’re wondering what the future of Miami football looks like under Cristobal, rewind that drive and watch it again. That’s not just a win. That’s an identity being forged in real time.