College Football Playoff Cotton Bowl live updates: No. 10 Miami upsets No. 2 Ohio State
Heading into the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday, where the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes were set to play the No. 2-ranked and defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes in a College Football Playoff semifinal, Mesidor was asked how he felt about people outside the program viewing Miami as the underdog.
“I don’t really care about what anybody has to say,” Mesidor responded. “I play football. We all play football. We all believe in each other and believe in ourselves, so all the exterior noise and stuff, I don’t really care for it. I’m just here to play football.”
Mesidor and the Hurricanes have never lacked confidence. They’ve never doubted what they could accomplish. When they’re playing at their best, they know they can compete with anyone.
Even the defending national champions.
The Hurricanes did just that on Wednesday, and now they’re one step closer to a potential national championship.
Miami held off Ohio State’s second-half comeback bid for a 24-14 win at AT&T Stadium to advance to the CFP semifinals. The Hurricanes (12-2) will next play in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8 against the winner of Thursday’s Sugar Bowl matchup between the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs and No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels for a spot in the national championship game on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium.
Ohio State narrows its deficit
The Buckeyes put together another strong drive, going 75 yards on 10 plays capped by a 14-yard touchdown catch from Jeremiah Smith.
Miami leads 17-14 with 13:28 left to play.
Miami still leads after three quarters
The Hurricanes are up 17-7 after three quarters.
The Buckeyes are at the Miami 21 when play resumes.
Hurricanes add a field goal
A nine-play, 43-yard Miami drive ends in a 49-yard Carter Davis field goal.
That had to feel good for Davis after he missed three of four in the first-round game against Texas A&M.
It’s 17-7 Miami over Ohio State with 3:01 left in the third quarter.
Ohio State scores to start second half
Touchdown Ohio State. Bo Jackson 1-yard run on third and goal.
Well executed drive by the Buckeyes. 11 plays, 82 yards over 6:49
Miami is still up 14-7 with 8:05 left in the third quarter.
Hurricanes need to respond to avoid giving the Buckeyes a chance to tie it up.
Hurricanes lead at halftime
Miami goes into the break up 14-0 on Ohio State. The Buckeyes missed a 49-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half in what was their only scoring opportunity of the game thus far.
The Hurricanes’ defense has been stifling. The offense needs to grind out another scoring drive or two.
But all in all, Miami will surely take this.
Shout out to special teams
Miami’s punt unit has been fantastic in the first half. Dylan Joyce has pinned Ohio State inside its 10-yard line with each of his past two punts and is averaging 49.7 yards per punt overall so far tonight.
Miami’s defense isn’t messing around
The Hurricanes defense has rattled Julian Sayin. He’s been sacked three times and is just 4 for 10 on the game so far. Of his 94 yards, 59 were on that one pass to Jeremiah Smith before ultimately throwing a pick-six.
Big play Keionte Scott
The Hurricanes gave up an explosive play immediately after their touchdown, with Jeremiah Smith hauling in a 59-yard reception to get the Buckeyes into the red zone.
The next two plays?
A Rueben Bain Jr. sack.
And then a Keionte Scott pick-six.
Just like that, it’s 14-0 Miami.
Yeah... this is something.
Milestones for Fletcher, Toney
On that scoring drive, Mark Fletcher Jr. and Malachi Toney each hit individual milestones.
Fletcher became the 11th player in UM history to have 2,000 career rushing yards, while Toney became the first Hurricanes freshman with a 1,000 receiving yard season.
Touchdown Hurricanes
That’s the type of drive Miami’s offense is going to have to replicate through the game.
Thirteen plays, 83 yards, a 9-yard touchdown pass from Carson Beck to Mark Fletcher Jr.
Miami leads Ohio State 7-0 with 13:31 left in the second quarter.
Defense holds strong
Miami’s defense once again came up big, making sure Ohio State didn’t capitalize on the Mark Fletcher turnover.
Buckeyes punt again.
Solid drive ends in fumble
The Hurricanes put together a solid drive, marching into the Ohio State red zone. But on third and 2 from the Buckeyes 19, Mark Fletcher Jr. fumbled on a run up the middle. Payton Pierce recovered.
Miami can’t afford to do that against an Ohio State team that leads the nation in scoring defense.
Mesidor sack caps stellar defensive drive
The Hurricanes return the favor and force a three-and-out of their own, capped by a monstrous Akheem Mesidor third-down sack on Julian Sayin.
Hurricanes three and out on first drive
Miami goes nowhere on its first drive.
Two Carson Beck incompletions with a 3-yard Mark Fletcher Jr. run sandwiched between.
Pregame scenes
A look at some of the activities that went on during the Hurricanes’ pregame warmups...
Final availability report
Both the Hurricanes and Buckeyes will be without one key player for the Cotton Bowl.
For Miami, it’s Damari Brown, who is part of the team’s four-player rotation at outside cornerback.
For the Buckeyes, it’s Tegra Tshabola, their starting right guard.
Pregame Miami Hurricanes reading
Need to catch up before kickoff? Here are the highlights of the Miami Herald’s coverage leading into the Cotton Bowl.
-Memories of past resurface, but Hurricanes focused on present with Ohio State
-How Rueben Bain Jr. and Malachi Toney are helping Hurricanes on the field and their community off it
-Three ‘unsung heroes’ Mario Cristobal says are key to Hurricanes’ playoff success
-As he helps Hurricanes in the present, Jakobe Thomas honors UM great of the past
-South Florida Buckeyes looking forward to facing hometown Hurricanes in Cotton Bowl
-Cotton Bowl a homecoming for Hurricanes’ Brockermeyer. He’s focused on something bigger
-How Keionte Scott fast-tracked his recovery to return for Hurricanes playoff run
-‘He’s that guy’: Hurricanes freshman Bryce Fitzgerald has risen to the occasion
-Mark Fletcher is the Miami Hurricanes’ ‘heart and soul.’ He’s not going anywhere
-Miami Hurricanes’ defensive transformation gives them a chance for a championship
This story was originally published December 31, 2025 at 6:30 PM.