The stage is set for a marquee showdown in the Cotton Bowl Classic, and while Ohio State has commanded much of the spotlight heading into the week, don’t overlook the Miami Hurricanes - they’ve got plenty to say, and more importantly, plenty to prove.
Fresh off their first-ever College Football Playoff win over Texas A&M, Miami is riding a wave of momentum. It’s been a wild few weeks for the Hurricanes, who surged up the CFP rankings late in the season. On the final weekend, they leapfrogged Notre Dame to grab the last at-large spot in the tournament - a dramatic finish to a season that’s been anything but predictable.
Now comes the real test. The Hurricanes are staring down the defending national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, in what will be their toughest matchup of the season - no question about it.
Miami’s two losses this year came in frustrating fashion, both games they had within reach before letting them slip away - one to Louisville, the other to SMU. Those stumbles are in the rearview now, but they serve as a reminder: against a team like Ohio State, there’s no margin for error.
Head coach Mario Cristobal opened the week with high praise for the Buckeyes - and it wasn’t just lip service.
“They’re the defending national champions,” Cristobal said. “They’ve got elite talent - high-caliber players across the board.
Offensively and defensively, they’re ranked top five in just about every major category. They’re well-coached, they’re tough - both physically and mentally - and they’ve played elite football all year.”
Cristobal knows exactly what his team is up against. And he’s not underestimating the challenge.
One name that came up repeatedly in the pregame conversation: Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes’ wide receiver has been on Miami’s radar since his high school days, and Cristobal didn’t hold back when asked about him.
“He’s an NFL prototype - probably was one last year,” Cristobal said. “That whole receiving corps is dangerous.
Big, explosive, fast. They create separation in man coverage, they find the soft spots in zone.
They block in the run game, they play hard wire to wire. And they’re paired with a quarterback and offensive line that give them time and balance.
They’ve been running the ball through people all season long. That’s why they’re playing like national champs.”
Cristobal also had strong words for Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, calling him a poised, accurate passer with a veteran’s command of the offense.
“He’s got great pocket presence, buys time, makes smart decisions,” Cristobal said. “He doesn’t get rattled.
He’s stepped up in big moments. He looks like a Sunday player.”
As for any talk about the 2002 national title game - the infamous Miami-Ohio State clash that still stirs emotions in Coral Gables - Cristobal shut that down quickly.
“We’re focused on the present,” he said. And that’s where the Hurricanes’ attention needs to be.
Miami’s rise this season has been impressive, but now they’re facing the gold standard. Ohio State isn’t just another opponent - they’re the reigning champs for a reason.
They’ve got the talent, the depth, and the experience. But Miami is playing with house money and a chip on their shoulder.
Just a few days remain until the Buckeyes and Hurricanes meet under the bright lights in Dallas. One team is chasing a repeat.
The other is chasing respect. Either way, this one’s got all the ingredients to be a New Year’s Eve classic.