Cotton Bowl Clash: Ohio State’s Elite Defense Faces Familiar Foe in Miami’s Mark Fletcher
Ohio State’s road to a potential back-to-back national championship officially kicks off on New Year’s Eve in the Cotton Bowl. After earning a first-round bye, the Buckeyes have had valuable time to regroup - and more importantly, to address the issues that surfaced in their regular-season finale against Indiana. Now, with the postseason lights shining bright, they turn their focus to a Miami team that’s coming off a gritty 10-3 win over Texas A&M.
That game wasn’t exactly a fireworks show, but it didn’t need to be - not when Miami’s ground game was doing the heavy lifting. The engine behind that win?
Sophomore running back Mark Fletcher, who racked up 172 yards on just 17 carries. It was a statement performance, and one that sent a clear message: Miami is ready to run right at you.
And for Fletcher, this matchup carries a little extra weight.
A Familiar Face Returns - In Opposing Colors
Ohio State knows Fletcher well - maybe too well. He was a prized recruit in the 2023 class, and for a time, he was committed to the Buckeyes.
But in a late twist, Fletcher flipped to Miami, opting to stay closer to home and carve out his own path. Now, he’s got a shot to prove he made the right call - against the very program he once pledged to.
There’s no question Fletcher will be fired up for this one. But he’s about to face a defense that’s built to take the wind out of a running back’s sails.
Buckeyes’ Defense: A Wall with No Cracks
Ohio State enters the Cotton Bowl with one of the most dominant defenses in college football - not just by the eye test, but by the numbers. They’re tops in the nation in scoring defense, passing defense, and total yards allowed. Pick a metric, and odds are the Buckeyes are near or at the top.
And while their rush defense ranks fifth nationally, that’s still elite territory - especially when paired with the kind of speed and discipline Ohio State brings to the field. This group doesn’t just slow down opposing offenses - they smother them. They force teams to become one-dimensional, then feast on that predictability.
That’s the challenge facing Fletcher. Miami leaned on him heavily against Texas A&M, especially with quarterback Carson Beck struggling to find rhythm. If the Hurricanes want any shot at pulling off the upset, Fletcher will need to find daylight against a front seven that rarely gives up an inch.
Fletcher’s Numbers: Productive, But Beat-Able?
On the season, Fletcher has punched in 10 touchdowns and been a steady presence in the Hurricanes’ backfield. But with fewer than 900 rushing yards, he hasn’t exactly been breaking off 60-yard runs with regularity. He’s more of a volume runner - a bruiser who wears defenses down over time.
That’s a tough ask against this Ohio State front. If the Buckeyes can bottle him up early, they’ll force Miami to put the ball in Beck’s hands again - and that’s a matchup Ohio State will gladly take.
The Stakes: High Emotion, Higher Expectations
There’s an emotional edge to this game that can’t be ignored. Fletcher will be running with something to prove, and the Buckeyes will be looking to remind him why he once wanted to wear scarlet and gray in the first place.
But emotion only gets you so far. In the end, this game will come down to execution - and Ohio State’s defense has made a habit of executing at the highest level.
If the Buckeyes can shut down Fletcher early and control the tempo, they’ll be one step closer to defending their crown. But if Fletcher finds a rhythm and starts moving the chains? Things could get a lot more interesting in Arlington.
Either way, buckle up. This one has all the ingredients for a classic postseason showdown - with a little extra spice thrown in.