Ohio State falls to 0-3 in College Football Playoff games on New Year’s Eve, losing to Miami 24-14 in the Cotton Bowl. 

This game was decided long before the fourth quarter. It was decided early at the line of scrimmage, where Miami took control and never fully let it go.

From the opening series, the Hurricanes dictated the flow on both sides of the ball. Ohio State managed just nine yards of total offense in the first quarter while Miami piled up 110, establishing immediate dominance up front and putting the Buckeyes on their heels.

Ryan Day said, “I take responsibility for not getting the guys ready.” In the first half, we thought it was just a slow start. As the game wore on and Ohio State battled back, the miscues and lack of preparation reared their ugly head, and the Buckeyes couldn’t dig out of the hole.

Miami’s offensive line set the physical tone with sustained drives and clean pockets for Carson Beck. A 13-play, 83-yard touchdown march that chewed up more than eight minutes, featuring seven offensive linemen on the field. Miami was going to lean on Ohio State physically and control tempo.

Ohio State’s offense, meanwhile, never found rhythm early. Protection breakdowns showed up immediately, with Julian Sayin under constant pressure and edge rushers collapsing the pocket. Missed assignments and hurried throws stalled drives, and Miami’s pass rush, led by Ahkeem Mesidor, consistently won one-on-one matchups.

Even when Ohio State flashed explosiveness, it came at a cost. Sayin’s 59-yard strike to Jeremiah Smith briefly sparked momentum, but a coverage sack followed, then a telegraphed throw turned into a 72-yard pick-six that pushed Miami’s lead to 14-0. The Hurricanes capitalized on Ohio State’s discomfort and mistakes as the Buckeyes were unable to execute in a big spot again.

Defensively, Ohio State struggled to get off the field in the first half. Missed tackles and steady push up front allowed Mark Fletcher to find success both running the ball and leaking out in the passing game. Miami converted key downs, controlled possession, and forced Ohio State into reaction mode rather than dictating terms like they’ve done all season.

While Ohio State was a young team, it has some of the best talent in the country on its roster. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always mean winning every game. Teams still have to execute, as Ryan Day mentioned this week. Caden Curry talked about the team and his role as a leader postgame.

He said, “We had a young team, but just using my knowledge and experience to push guys to be better people and better leaders.”

The Buckeyes finally showed signs of life after halftime. Offensive line adjustments and a stronger commitment to the run helped stabilize the offense. An 11-play, 82-yard touchdown drive, with 39 rushing yards, gave Ohio State its first sustained drive and pulled it back into the game.

From there, Sayin settled in and found his groove, connecting repeatedly with Jeremiah Smith and converting critical downs. A fourth-down touchdown pass cut the deficit to three and brought energy back to the Ohio State sideline. However, the early damage mattered, and critical mistakes cost the Buckeyes.

Postgame, a disappointed Sonny Styles said, “This is a team that should’ve won a National Championship.”

That was the Buckeyes’ saddened sentiment postgame, knowing they let one get away for the second game in a row. Ryan Day has now lost back-to-back games for the third time in his career.

Miami’s control of the line of scrimmage in the first half forced Ohio State to chase the game, altered play-calling, and eliminated margin for error. While the Buckeyes fought back and showed resilience late, Miami’s physicality up front and its command of the game’s pace ultimately determined the outcome.

So where does Ohio State go from here? Ryan Day must figure out a system for offensive play calling post-Brian Hartline. But repeating patterns of special teams miscues, occasional unpreparedness, and flat starts plague Ohio State in these games.

A bright spot for Ohio State is from a noncommittal Carson Hinzman, who said he’d love to explore returning to the Buckeyes for another go at it. He also mentioned that he’ll weigh out his options and opportunities with his family before making an official decision. Hinzman’s return would be a massive boost for the 2026 Buckeyes.

The most shocking aspect of tonight’s result in the Cotton Bowl wasn’t Miami owning the line of scrimmage. It was how unenthused the Buckeyes looked during the sixty minutes of game time. Being around the coaches and team all week, and even back in Columbus, tonight’s lethargic effort was a legitimate surprise.

Ohio State was the healthiest it had been in weeks at the skill position players, but injuries on the offensive line became irreparable against the Hurricanes. This is why teams that play deep in the postseason are built from the inside out. The Buckeyes couldn’t block anyone, and next man up wasn’t enough this time.

Stay tuned for more coverage of Ohio State’s retooling efforts to right the ship for the 2026 season.