The Miami Hurricanes punched their ticket to the Cotton Bowl with a convincing win over Texas A&M - a performance that showed grit, balance, and the kind of momentum you want heading into a New Year’s Six showdown. But the challenge ahead? It’s a big one.
Standing in their way is No. 2 Ohio State - a team that spent most of the season atop the national rankings before a narrow loss to top-seeded Indiana in the Big Ten Championship knocked them down a peg.
The Buckeyes are a 9.5-point favorite heading into AT&T Stadium, and for good reason. They’re stacked on both sides of the ball, and they’ve been battle-tested all year.
Still, this Miami team has shown it can rise to the occasion. If the Hurricanes can win a few key matchups, they’ve got a shot at pulling off a New Year’s Eve upset. Let’s break down the five biggest battles that could shape this game.
1. Hurricanes Cornerbacks vs. Jeremiah Smith
If you follow South Florida high school football, you already know the name Jeremiah Smith. The former Chaminade-Madonna standout was a local legend before becoming one of the most electrifying receivers in college football.
Miami fans remember the recruiting drama - the flirtation with flipping to the Hurricanes - but ultimately, Smith chose Ohio State. And he’s been everything the Buckeyes hoped for.
With 1,086 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, Smith has carved up defenses all season. He’s not just productive - he’s efficient, too.
According to Pro Football Focus, he owns the fifth-best receiving grade in the country among players with 50-plus targets. That’s elite territory.
“He’s an NFL prototype player right now,” Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal said. And he’s right. Smith’s size, speed, and route-running make him a nightmare matchup for any secondary.
Miami’s corners - whether it’s a rotation or one specific assignment - will have their hands full. Slowing down Smith isn’t about erasing him; it’s about limiting the damage. If the Hurricanes can keep him from taking over the game, they’ll have a fighting chance.
2. Carson Beck vs. Caleb Downs
Ohio State doesn’t just boast one of the top receivers in the country - they’ve also got one of the best safeties patrolling the back end. Caleb Downs is the real deal.
The veteran safety has 60 tackles and an interception this season, but his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. PFF gives him an 86.9 coverage grade - 16th nationally among safeties with 200 or more coverage snaps. That’s a testament to how well he reads the field and closes space.
Miami quarterback Carson Beck had a quiet day against Texas A&M, throwing for just 103 yards in blustery conditions that made deep passing a challenge. But if the Hurricanes want to keep pace with Ohio State, they’ll need more from the passing game - especially in a dome where wind won’t be a factor.
That means Beck will have to take some shots downfield. The key?
Avoiding Downs. The Buckeyes’ safety is the type of player who can flip a game with one read, one break, one interception.
Beck will need to be sharp, decisive, and disciplined with his eyes.
3. Hurricanes Defensive Backs vs. Julian Sayin
Julian Sayin didn’t win the Heisman, but make no mistake - he’s been playing like the best quarterback in the country. The numbers back it up.
Sayin has thrown for 3,323 yards with 31 touchdowns and only six interceptions. His PFF passing grade of 92.6 leads the nation, and he’s doing it with surgical precision.
He’s completing 78.4% of his passes, and when you adjust for drops and throwaways, that number jumps to 84.3%. That’s absurd.
He’s deadly at every level of the field. On short throws (0-9 yards), he leads the country in passing grade.
He’s top-11 on intermediate throws and top-3 on deep balls. In other words, there’s no “safe” area to force him into.
Oh, and did we mention he’s doing all this while protecting the football? Just six turnover-worthy plays all season - third-fewest among QBs with 300+ dropbacks.
The Hurricanes’ secondary will need to play its best game of the year. That means tight coverage, disciplined eyes, and - most importantly - making Sayin uncomfortable. If he gets into rhythm, it could be a long night.
4. Hurricanes Running Backs vs. Ohio State’s Defensive Front
Mark Fletcher Jr. was the engine of Miami’s offense in the win over Texas A&M. His physical running style set the tone and kept the chains moving. But this week, he’s running into a wall.
Ohio State’s run defense is elite. They rank fifth nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (84.46), and PFF gives them the second-best run-defense grade in the country. This is a unit that doesn’t just clog gaps - it dominates them.
The Buckeyes’ defensive front is loaded with talent. Kayden McDonald is the top-graded defensive tackle in the nation against the run.
Caden Curry ranks sixth among edge defenders. And at linebacker, Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese are both top-50 nationally in run defense grades.
Miami found success running between the tackles against the Aggies, but Ohio State’s interior is a different beast. Fletcher will need to run with patience and power, and the Hurricanes’ offensive line will have to win some tough battles up front. If they can’t establish the run, it puts even more pressure on Beck and the passing game.
5. Carter Davis vs. Confidence
Kicking can be a lonely job - and Carter Davis found that out the hard way against Texas A&M. The FAU transfer missed three of his four field goal attempts, a rare off-day after a solid season.
To be fair, the conditions at Kyle Field were brutal. High winds wreaked havoc on both teams’ kicking games, and Davis’ first miss clearly came off his foot wrong due to the gusts.
But it’s not just about the wind. It’s about how a kicker bounces back.
Cristobal confirmed Davis will remain the starter, and that’s a vote of confidence he’ll need heading into the Cotton Bowl. The good news? The game will be played indoors at AT&T Stadium, so weather won’t be a factor.
Now it’s about mindset. Davis needs to put the Texas A&M game in the rearview mirror and trust his mechanics. In a game that could come down to a few key possessions - or one crucial kick - Miami needs Davis to be locked in.
Final Thoughts
There’s no sugarcoating it: Ohio State is a powerhouse. They’ve got stars at every level, a quarterback playing at an elite level, and a defense that punishes mistakes. But Miami isn’t walking into this game just happy to be here.
They’ve got momentum. They’ve got playmakers. And if they can win these five matchups - or at least hold their own - they’ve got a real chance to shock the college football world on New Year’s Eve.
The Cotton Bowl is set. The lights will be bright. And the Hurricanes have an opportunity to make a statement that echoes into 2026.