The Miami Hurricanes are officially on a roll-and now, they’re on the doorstep of something special.
Coming off a dominant first-round win over Texas A&M, there were plenty of questions about whether the No. 10 Hurricanes could bring that same energy into the Cotton Bowl against No.
2 Ohio State. After all, the Buckeyes were the defending national champions, and Miami was still battling the perception of inconsistency, especially at quarterback.
But when the lights came on, Miami didn’t blink. They punched Ohio State in the mouth early, jumped out to a 14-0 lead, and never gave it back, cruising to a 24-14 win that sends them to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
And let’s be clear-this wasn’t a fluke. This was a statement.
Miami’s defense, which came into the game ranked fourth nationally in scoring (13.8 PPG), once again set the tone. After sacking Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed seven times in the first round, the Hurricanes followed it up by rattling Ohio State’s Julian Sayin all night long.
Sayin, the freshman phenom who had handled pressure well all season, was picked off twice-including a back-breaking pick-six that swung momentum squarely in Miami’s favor. The Buckeyes’ run game, normally a strength, was completely bottled up, finishing with just 45 rushing yards.
That’s not just good defense-that’s dominance.
But the real story here? Carson Beck.
Beck has been under the microscope all season. His talent has never been in question, but turnovers have haunted him-10 interceptions coming into this game told that story.
And against a team like Ohio State, you can’t afford to give them extra possessions. Beck didn’t.
He played clean, efficient football. The stat line won’t blow you away-19-of-26 for 138 yards and a touchdown-but it was the how that mattered.
He moved the chains when it counted. He avoided the big mistake.
He made the right reads. And for the second straight game, he didn’t turn the ball over.
That’s why former Miami standout and current ESPN analyst Joey Galloway believes this team is more than just a semifinalist-they’re a legitimate national title favorite.
“It wasn’t the 138 yards,” Galloway said on ESPN’s Get Up. “It was the timely fashion of when he needed to make a play to move the chains. The way he played in that game now makes Miami look like a team that can win it all.”
And he’s not wrong. When Beck protects the football, Miami wins-simple as that.
They’re now 6-0 against ranked opponents this season, and they’ve done it with a defense that brings pressure from every angle and an offense that’s learning how to win in different ways. Against Texas A&M, it was explosive plays and defensive disruption.
Against Ohio State, it was poise, discipline, and execution. Miami converted 7-of-14 third downs, committed zero penalties, and controlled the tempo from start to finish.
This win doesn’t guarantee anything moving forward-there’s still a semifinal showdown looming against the winner of Georgia and Ole Miss-but it does prove that Miami belongs. This is no Cinderella run. This is a team with a defense that can suffocate anyone, and a quarterback who’s starting to figure it out at exactly the right time.
The Hurricanes haven’t claimed a national title since 2001. But after back-to-back playoff wins over top-10 opponents and a quarterback playing his best ball when it matters most, they’re not just chasing history-they’re making a strong case to write the next chapter.
Miami isn’t sneaking up on anyone anymore. They’re here. And they’re dangerous.