Cotton Bowl Preview: Miami Needs More Than a Miracle to Stun Ohio State-But They’ve Got a Few Cards to Play
The Miami Hurricanes are heading into the Cotton Bowl Classic as heavy underdogs, and it’s not hard to see why. After grinding out a 10-3 slugfest win over Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Miami now faces a towering challenge: taking down Ohio State on New Year’s Eve in Dallas.
Let’s be real-this isn’t just a tough matchup on paper. It’s a full-on uphill climb against one of the most talent-rich rosters in the playoff field. But if you’re looking for a reason to believe in “The U,” there are a few threads worth pulling.
Carson Beck Needs to Be the Best Version of Himself
If Miami’s going to pull off the upset, it starts with quarterback Carson Beck. The numbers from the win over Texas A&M won’t blow anyone away-103 passing yards on 14-of-20 attempts with a touchdown-but context matters. That lone score came on a soft-touch pass that wideout Malachi Toney turned into a game-changer in the final two minutes.
Beck didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he made plays when it counted. And considering how loud and hostile Kyle Field was on Saturday, just managing the offense and avoiding major mistakes was a win in itself. The Cotton Bowl offers a neutral-site setting, which could help the Hurricanes’ offense settle in and find a rhythm early-something they never quite did in College Station.
But against Ohio State, Beck can’t just manage the game. He has to elevate it.
He has to be the guy who makes throws into tight windows, who keeps drives alive on third down, who takes calculated shots when the Buckeyes stack the box. Miami doesn’t need a miracle-they need their QB to play the best game of his career.
Miami’s Secondary: Quietly Dangerous
Ohio State’s offense is built to punish teams that can’t hold up in the secondary. That’s what makes Miami’s defensive backfield so important in this matchup.
Yes, it’s true: TAMU quarterback Marcel Reed has been turnover-prone lately, tossing six picks in his last three games against FBS opponents. But Miami’s secondary deserves credit for capitalizing.
They’ve been opportunistic all season, and in their last four games, safeties Jakobe Thomas and Bryce Fitzgerald have combined for five interceptions. That’s not a fluke-it’s a trend.
This group is athletic, disciplined, and aggressive without being reckless. If they can maintain tight coverage and force Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin into rushed decisions, they could give the Canes a fighting chance. Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman will need to dial up a game plan that mixes pressure with disguise, and if he gets it right, Miami’s DBs could be disruptive enough to tilt a few key drives.
Mark Fletcher Jr. Is Built for This
While the Buckeyes’ secondary might be the best in the nation, their run defense has shown some cracks-at least for brief moments. Michigan’s Jordan Marshall had some early success in “The Game” before Ohio State clamped down. But that window of vulnerability is something Miami has to explore, and they’ve got just the guy to do it.
Mark Fletcher Jr. was the offensive hero against Texas A&M, and he’s the kind of physical, downhill runner who can wear down a defense over four quarters. He’s not just a change-of-pace back-he’s a tone-setter. If Miami can get Fletcher going early, it opens up the play-action game for Beck and keeps Ohio State’s defense honest.
More importantly, a steady dose of Fletcher keeps Sayin and the Buckeyes’ offense on the sideline. Ball control might be Miami’s best defense in this one.
The Blueprint for an Upset
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Miami is facing a juggernaut. Ohio State has elite athletes across the board, a defense that can suffocate passing games, and a quarterback who’s shown poise beyond his years.
But this is college football. Weird things happen in bowl games-especially when one team comes in with nothing to lose.
If Miami wants to shock the world, it’s going to take:
- A poised, assertive performance from Carson Beck
- A disruptive, turnover-hungry effort from the secondary
- **A heavy workload-and big production-from Mark Fletcher Jr. **
That’s the formula. It’s not easy. But it’s not impossible, either.
And if you’re Ohio State, that combination should be enough to keep you up at night.