As we gear up for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal between Miami and Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, the conversation is starting to center around a key question: can the Hurricanes generate enough offense to hang with the Buckeyes?
Urban Meyer, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win in December and January, isn’t so sure. On The Triple Option podcast this week, the former national championship-winning coach and current FOX Sports analyst expressed real concern about Miami’s ability to move the ball against what many consider the best defense in the country.
“I’m just concerned about Miami’s offense,” Meyer said. “I just don’t know how Miami is going to score points against the top defense in the land. If Ohio State scores two touchdowns, they win.”
That’s not just coach-speak. It’s a reflection of what we’ve seen from Miami down the stretch.
In their 10-3 win over Texas A&M, the Hurricanes managed just 278 yards of total offense and turned the ball over once. It was enough to get the win, but it didn’t exactly inspire confidence heading into a showdown with a defense as stingy as Ohio State’s.
For a team that led the nation in yards per game last year, sitting at 35th this season is a noticeable drop-off - and it’s showing at the worst possible time.
To Miami’s credit, their defense has been up to the task. They were the reason the Hurricanes survived against Texas A&M, consistently getting stops and keeping the game within reach. But in a postseason matchup where points will be at a premium, Meyer believes it’s the offense - or lack thereof - that could be the deciding factor.
This isn’t to say Ohio State is coming into the Cotton Bowl without its own baggage. The Buckeyes are fresh off a tough 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game, where their offense looked out of sync and inefficient.
They totaled 322 yards, and quarterback Julian Sayin threw a costly interception. It was a reminder that even elite defenses need some help from their offense to close the deal.
Still, Meyer is leaning on what Ohio State has done all season on the defensive side of the ball. That unit has been lights-out, and if it plays to its standard, it could tilt the game in the Buckeyes’ favor - even if the offense doesn’t light up the scoreboard.
Bottom line: this one has the makings of a defensive slugfest. And if Meyer’s read is right, two touchdowns might be all it takes to punch a ticket to the semifinals.