Hurricanes Shock the Buckeyes, Punch Ticket to Fiesta Bowl
Well, buckle up, college football fans - the Miami Hurricanes just flipped the script on the 2025 season.
Coming in as the last team into the 12-team College Football Playoff field - the No. 10 seed, no less - Miami marched into Arlington and knocked off the defending national champs, Ohio State, with a gritty 24-14 win in the Cotton Bowl. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. The Hurricanes didn’t sneak past the Buckeyes - they outplayed them, out-hit them, and outlasted them.
Let’s break down how it all went down.
First Half: Miami Sets the Tone, Scott Delivers the Spark
If you were expecting a slow, feel-it-out kind of start, Miami had other ideas. The Hurricanes came out swinging, jumping out to a double-digit lead early and never surrendering it.
The defining moment of the first half? A 70-yard pick-six by Keionte Scott that put Miami up 14-0.
That play was more than just six points - it was a gut punch to an Ohio State team that looked out of sync early.
The Buckeyes, playing their first game of the postseason after earning a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed, couldn’t get anything going in the opening half. A missed field goal before halftime only added to the frustration as they went into the locker room scoreless and trailing.
Second Half: Buckeyes Wake Up, But Canes Hold Strong
Credit to Ohio State - they didn’t go quietly. The Buckeyes came out of halftime with some fire, putting together back-to-back scoring drives to finally get on the board.
An 11-play, 82-yard drive cut the deficit to 14-7, and after Miami responded with a field goal to stretch the lead back to 10, OSU answered again. A 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive brought it to 17-14, and just like that, we had a ballgame.
But every time Ohio State threatened, Miami had an answer - and that’s the mark of a team that believes it belongs.
With the game hanging in the balance and under a minute to play, CharMar delivered the dagger - a 5-yard rushing touchdown that sealed the win and sent the Hurricanes into celebration mode. That final score capped off a resilient performance from a team that’s been playing with its back against the wall since Selection Sunday.
Fletcher Shines, Beck Stays Steady
Mark Fletcher was the heartbeat of Miami’s offense. He ran with purpose, finishing with 90 yards on 19 carries and adding a couple of catches for 25 yards.
He also hauled in the Hurricanes’ first touchdown of the night - a reception that opened the scoring in the second quarter. For his efforts, Fletcher earned MVP honors, and rightfully so.
He was the engine that kept Miami moving forward.
Quarterback Carson Beck didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he didn’t need to. He was efficient, going 19-of-26 for 138 yards, and most importantly, he protected the football. No interceptions, no costly mistakes - just steady, controlled quarterback play that complemented the ground game and allowed Miami to stay in control.
Defense Wins Playoff Games - and Miami’s D Brought It
This is where Miami really separated itself. Ohio State came into this one with one of the top defenses in the country, but it was the Hurricanes who played like the more physical, disruptive unit.
Miami's defense forced two turnovers - both interceptions off Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin. One of those was Scott’s pick-six, the other came in the final minute, effectively icing the game after the Canes had gone up by 10.
The Hurricanes also brought the heat up front, sacking Sayin five times and racking up seven tackles for loss. That pressure was relentless and costly - it knocked 42 yards off Ohio State’s rushing total, which finished at just 45 yards on 24 carries. That’s not going to get it done in a playoff game.
What’s Next
With the win, Miami moves on to the Fiesta Bowl, where they’ll face the winner of the Sugar Bowl clash between No. 3 Georgia and No.
6 Ole Miss. No matter who comes out of that game, one thing is clear: this Miami team isn’t just happy to be here.
They’re dangerous, they’re confident, and they’re playing their best football at exactly the right time.
From barely making the field to knocking off the defending champs, the Hurricanes are writing one of the most compelling stories of this postseason. And they’re not done yet.