Miami has a date with Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl after beating Texas A&M to open their College Football Playoff run. Get ready for some fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
The Hurricanes (11-2) took down the Aggies 10-3 in front of the 12th Man, the program’s biggest postseason win in decades.
Now they get to face the reigning national champions. Behind the nation’s No. 1 defense, the Buckeyes (12-1) smothered their competition this year. No opponent has reached 17 points against them this season, not even Indiana, who handed Ohio State its only loss in the Big Ten championship. Coupled with Heisman finalist Julian Sayin and All-America wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, Ohio State will easily be Miami’s toughest test.
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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 2025-26 schedule
First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National championship
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Early Miami vs Ohio State predictions for Cotton Bowl in CFP bracket
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
