Put aside the revenge angle for the 2002 national championship, and Miami vs. Ohio State is still a top-tier College Football Playoff matchup.
The Hurricanes and Buckeyes combine to hold 14 national championships, with Ohio State rolling through last year’s CFP bracket to win the program’s ninth. The two defenses are among the best in the nation, with Ohio State sporting three consensus All-Americans — safety Caleb Downs, linebacker Arvell Reese and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald — and Miami lining up defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., a potential No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft. UM is fourth in the nation with 41 sacks; OSU is first in just about everything else.
Their offenses aren’t too shabby, either. Carson Beck has had ups and downs in his first season in Coral Gables, but he was the second most accurate passer in the nation, behind only Ohio State’s record-setting Heisman finalist, Julian Sayin. Mark Fletcher went ballistic in the Hurricanes’ first-round win at Texas A&M, but freshman Malachi Toney has been the star all season with nearly 1,200 total yards (that’s mostly receiving, but with rushing and passing thrown in too). The Buckeyes counter with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, who have nearly 2,000 receiving yards and 20 touchdown between them, and 1,000-yard rusher Bo Jackson.
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Tack on that 20-year-old history, and we’ve got a stellar Cotton Bowl to kick off the CFP quarterfinals.
Miami vs. Ohio State prediction
Strap in for a defensive slugfest. The Buckeyes rank No. 1 in the nation in several major categories, including scoring (8.15 points per game) and total yards (213.5 ypg). They’re tops in pass defense (129.1 ypg) and red-zone defense (opponents scored on 66.7% of possessions that get inside the 20), and they’re No. 6 in rush defense, just ahead of Miami (84.5 ypg vs. 86.8 ypg). The Hurricanes can compete with the sixth-ranked scoring defense (13.83 ppg) and 11th-ranked total defense (277.8 ypg), even though Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are likely going to break open some big plays.
The question is whether Carson Beck can make just enough plays to make the difference, and after his 103-yard day against Texas A&M, doubts will be high. Fernando Mendoza wasn’t wildly impressive in the Big Ten championship — he even threw a pick — but he took advantage of what few opportunities the Buckeyes gave him. Beck went cold in the second half against Notre Dame, letting them close the game. He’ll have to come up big a few times, and there’s no way the Hurricanes can whether another interception storm.
Miami vs. Ohio State score prediction
Ohio State 20, Miami 16
When does Miami play Ohio State in College Football Playoff?
The Hurricanes and Buckeyes will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, and streaming options include Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
Miami vs. Ohio State tickets
You can find College Football Playoff tickets for Miami vs. Ohio State on StubHub.
College Football Playoff bracket 2025-2026 dates
First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National championship
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Will Miami top Ohio State in Cotton Bowl? Here’s our CFP predictions
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
