For the first time in the College Football Playoff era, the Miami Hurricanes are in the quarterfinals-and they’re doing it on New Year’s Eve under the bright lights of the Cotton Bowl. Their opponent?
The defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s a heavyweight clash, and for Miami to keep dancing into the new year, they’ll need their veteran quarterback, Carson Beck, to rise to the moment.
This is exactly the kind of game Miami had in mind when they brought Beck to Coral Gables.
A sixth-year senior with 40 career starts under his belt, Beck isn’t just experienced-he’s battle-tested. He’s seen the mountaintop as a backup at Georgia during their national title runs.
He’s also felt the sting of coming up short as a starter in 2023 and the frustration of watching from the sideline after an injury in the 2024 SEC Championship derailed what looked like another title-caliber season. Now, healthy and in command of an 11-2 Miami team, Beck finally gets his shot on the biggest stage.
And make no mistake-this is a legacy-defining opportunity.
Beck has been steady, if not spectacular, in 2025. He’s thrown for 3,175 yards, completed a Miami-record 74.5% of his passes, and tossed 26 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
The numbers are strong. But even more telling is how he’s finished the season: over his last five games, Beck has a sharp 12-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, including a gritty playoff win on the road at Texas A&M.
That kind of late-season surge is exactly what you want from your quarterback heading into the biggest game the program has played in over two decades.
But there’s a flip side to Beck’s resume that can’t be ignored-turnovers. When he struggles, it’s usually because the ball ends up in the wrong hands.
He’s had seven career games with multiple interceptions, and in four of those, he’s thrown three or more. This season alone, eight of his ten picks came in just three games, including a four-interception meltdown against Louisville.
That’s the version of Beck Miami simply can’t afford to see against Ohio State.
Especially not against this Buckeyes defense.
Ohio State boasts the top passing defense in the country. They don’t rack up a ton of interceptions-just eight on the year-but that’s more a product of how tight their coverage is.
They rarely give quarterbacks clean windows to throw into. They’ve got size, speed, and discipline across the board, and they make you earn every yard through the air.
One mistake, one misread, one ball a hair late or a yard inside, and they’ll make you pay.
So what does Miami need from Beck? Efficiency.
Poise. Precision.
The good news is, he’s shown he can do it. In 12 career games against ranked opponents, Beck has completed 65.4% of his passes for 2,834 yards, 15 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
His teams have gone 8-3 in the 11 games he’s finished. He’s had eight 200-yard games against ranked teams and seven with no interceptions.
When he’s dialed in, he can move the ball against anybody.
And that’s what it’s going to take.
This isn’t just about stats. It’s about moments.
Whether it’s converting a key third down or hitting a deep shot that flips the field and the scoreboard, Miami will need Beck to make plays that matter. He doesn’t have to be perfect-but he has to be sharp.
He has to be the leader they brought him in to be.
Let’s not forget what Beck’s already done. He came back from elbow surgery.
He led Miami to its first playoff win since the BCS era ended. He’s 3-0 against Florida.
He beat Florida State. He beat Texas A&M on the road.
He’s already helped push Miami past barriers that had stood for nearly a quarter-century.
But now comes the biggest test.
If Miami is going to knock off the defending champs and keep their title hopes alive, Carson Beck has to deliver his best performance yet. The stage is set.
The lights will be bright. And the moment is massive.
This is why he’s here. Now it’s time to see if he can finish the job.