Cotton Bowl Preview: Miami’s Key Playmakers Set to Challenge Ohio State’s Title Defense
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The road to a national championship repeat for Ohio State begins in the Cotton Bowl, and the opponent waiting on the other side is no stranger to the Buckeyes. Miami and Ohio State last met on a neutral postseason field nearly a quarter-century ago, a game that ended with the Buckeyes hoisting the trophy and the Hurricanes watching their dynasty unravel. Now, with the stakes just as high, Miami is looking to flip the script - and they’ve got the talent to make things interesting.
Let’s break down the key Hurricanes who could shape this semifinal showdown.
Carson Beck: The Veteran Quarterback With a Point to Prove
Few quarterbacks in the College Football Playoff bring the experience - or the journey - that Carson Beck does. Six years into his college career, Beck has seen it all. He started at Georgia back in 2020, spent two seasons backing up Stetson Bennett during the Bulldogs’ title runs, then took the reins as a starter before hitting the transfer portal.
Now, he’s the leader of a Miami team making its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance - and first playoff win - with Beck at the helm. His numbers speak for themselves: 3,175 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and a 74.5% completion rate that trails only Julian Sayin nationally. Beck’s command of the offense and his poise in the pocket make him the most seasoned quarterback Ohio State has faced all year.
What makes Beck particularly dangerous isn’t just the stats - it’s the way he reads defenses, gets the ball out quickly, and rarely puts it in harm’s way. If the Buckeyes want to slow down Miami, it starts with disrupting Beck’s rhythm - which is easier said than done.
Mark Fletcher: The One That Got Away
There’s a version of this story where Mark Fletcher is lining up in Ohio State scarlet and gray. The former four-star recruit originally committed to the Buckeyes in the 2023 class before flipping to Miami to stay closer to home. That decision, while tough, has paid off for both sides.
Now Miami’s lead back, Fletcher has developed into one of the most physical runners in the country. He’s turned 158 carries into 857 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he’s coming off a statement performance in the win over Texas A&M - 172 yards on just 17 carries, including a 56-yard burst that set up the game-winner.
Fletcher isn’t just a power back - he’s got the vision and burst to break big plays if the defense gets too aggressive. For Ohio State, the key will be limiting early-down success and forcing Miami into predictable passing situations. Because if Fletcher gets rolling, it opens up everything else Miami wants to do offensively.
Malachi Toney: Miami’s Freshman X-Factor
If you’re looking for the sparkplug in this Miami offense, it’s Malachi Toney. The freshman wideout has been electric all season, and his versatility makes him a nightmare to defend. He’s not just a receiver - he’s a playmaker in every sense of the word.
Toney has hauled in 89 catches for 992 yards and a conference-leading eight touchdowns. But he’s also contributed as a runner (20 carries for 98 yards and a score) and as a punt returner, where he’s averaging 15.8 yards per return. Add it all up, and he’s averaging 104.5 all-purpose yards per game - fourth among Power 4 receivers and 11th nationally.
In the win over Texas A&M, it was Toney who capped off the game-winning drive with a touchdown. His ability to line up anywhere - outside, in the slot, in the backfield - forces defenses to account for him on every snap.
Think back to Jeremiah Smith’s impact as a freshman for Ohio State last year - that’s the kind of role Toney plays for Miami. Expect the Hurricanes to get creative in how they get him the ball.
Francis Mauigoa: The Anchor Up Front
There’s a reason NFL scouts are already eyeing Francis Mauigoa as a potential first offensive lineman off the board in 2026. The former five-star tackle has been a rock for Miami since the moment he stepped on campus, and he’s lived up to every bit of the hype.
In three seasons as a starter, Mauigoa has allowed just 37 pressures - only eight of them sacks - across nearly 1,500 pass-blocking snaps. That kind of consistency against top-tier edge rushers is rare, especially for someone who’s still developing.
For Ohio State’s defensive front, getting pressure on Beck will be a challenge, and that starts with trying to win battles against Mauigoa. He’s the type of tackle who can erase a pass rusher for an entire game - and if he does, it’ll give Beck all the time he needs to pick apart the secondary.
Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor: Edge Pressure That Can Wreck a Game Plan
Ohio State’s defensive line has been solid all year, but when it comes to pure NFL-caliber edge talent, Miami might have the upper hand - and it starts with Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor.
Bain’s numbers are impressive: 42 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, a pick, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, a blocked field goal, and 66 total pressures - second-most in the country behind only Texas Tech’s David Bailey. And that’s with much of his production coming late in the season, including a three-sack performance against Texas A&M.
On the other side, Mesidor has been just as disruptive. With 51 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and 55 pressures, he’s the kind of edge rusher who can change a game with one play. Together, Bain and Mesidor form one of the most dangerous pass-rushing duos in the country.
And it doesn’t stop there. Miami’s defensive line has legitimate depth, with interior disruptors like Armondo Blount and former Buckeye commit Justin Scott bringing pressure up the middle. That rotation allows Miami to stay fresh and aggressive - a big reason why they’ve been so effective at getting after the quarterback.
For Ohio State’s offensive line - and for Julian Sayin - this will be one of the biggest tests of the season. Sayin has only been sacked 11 times all year, but five of those came against Indiana in the Big Ten title game. If Bain and Mesidor can replicate that kind of pressure, it could be a long night for the Buckeyes’ offense.
The Bottom Line
This Cotton Bowl isn’t just a playoff semifinal - it’s a clash of two programs with history, pride, and national title aspirations on the line. Ohio State enters as the defending champs, but Miami isn’t just happy to be here. With a veteran quarterback, a dynamic freshman weapon, a punishing run game, and a defensive front that can create chaos, the Hurricanes have the pieces to make this a four-quarter fight.
Ohio State’s path to victory will require discipline, execution, and keeping Sayin upright. Because if Miami’s stars get rolling, the Buckeyes could find themselves in a dogfight with a team eager to write its own chapter in college football’s biggest story.