The quest for the 2026 college football national championship has taken an unexpected turn as Ohio State’s hopes for a repeat title were dashed by the rejuvenated Miami Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday.
Despite falling behind 14-0 in the first half, the Buckeyes mounted a determined comeback, narrowing the gap to 17-14 in the final quarter. However, Miami, under the guidance of coach Mario Cristobal, orchestrated a crucial 10-play, 70-yard drive that extended their lead to 10 points with just a minute remaining.
Ohio State’s fate was sealed when quarterback Julian Sayin’s pass was intercepted by Miami’s defensive back Jakobe Thomas, allowing the Hurricanes to run down the clock for a 24-14 victory. This triumph propels Miami into the Fiesta Bowl on January 8, keeping their sights set on the CFP championship scheduled for January 19 in Miami.
Earlier doubts about the College Football Playoff committee’s choice to select No. 10 Miami over Notre Dame have been put to rest. The Hurricanes have silenced critics by defeating No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 2 Ohio State, earning a spot in the CFP semifinal.
The Hurricanes celebrated their victory alongside Miami legends such as Ray Lewis, Michael Irvin, and former coach Jimmy Johnson, creating a memorable moment on Wednesday.
In a heartfelt post-game exchange, coach Cristobal called out to the 82-year-old Johnson with gratitude, exclaiming, “There ‘ya go, brother!” during his interview.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal holds the Field Scovell Trophy following the Cotton Bowl
Mark Fletcher Jr. of the Miami Hurricanes reacts after a first down against Ohio State
Hurricanes legend Michael Irvin is seen kneeling during the second half in Dallas
There wasn’t just one hero on Wednesday for Miami.
Keionte Scott returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown and Carson Beck tossed a touchdown as the Hurricanes improved to 12-2.
There hasn’t been a national title for ‘The U’ since 2001. The Hurricanes were denied a repeat the following season with a double-overtime loss in the Fiesta Bowl to Ohio State, the only other time the teams met in a bowl game.
Now it’s third-ranked Ohio State (12-2, CFP No. 2 seed), which went into the game as a 9 1/2-point favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook, that won’t be able to win back-to-back national titles for the first time in program history.
The Buckeyes hadn’t played since a 13-10 loss to now-No. 1 Indiana in a Big Ten championship game matchup of undefeated teams on Dec. 6. They still got a first-round bye, then lost just like all four teams that went directly to the quarterfinal round in the inaugural 12-team playoff last season.
Scott’s second pick-six this season came when he jumped a quick screen pass to the left thrown by Sayin, then had a wide-open field to sprint untouched to the end zone for a 14-0 lead with 11:49 left in the first half.
That came only 1:42 after Beck’s quick pass to Mark Fletcher Jr. coming out of the backfield for a 9-yard score.
Former NFL and Hurricanes players Ray Lewis, left, and Michael Irvin react after Miami running back Charmar Brown, not visible, scored a rushing touchdown during the second half
Ohio State QB Julian Sayin, center, is sacked by Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor
Beck, who was part of Georgia’s national titles in 2021 and 2022 when Stetson Bennett was the starter, completed 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards. The TD throw to Fletcher, who also ran 19 times for 90 yards, was the seventh of 13 consecutive completions for Beck to set a record in the Cotton Bowl, which was played for the 90th time.
Sayin, a freshman backup behind Will Howard for Ohio State’s championship run last season, was 22 of 35 for 287 yards with two interceptions and a TD to Jeremiah Smith. Sayin was sacked five times.
AP All-America receiver Smith, the Miami native, caught seven of those passes for 157 yards, including a 14-yard TD on a fourth down in the fourth quarter.
Carter Davis added a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter and ChaMar Brown ran for a 5-yard TD in the game’s final minute for the Hurricanes, whose 24 points were the most Ohio State gave up this season.
Next for Miami in Cristobal’s fourth season is a CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on January 8 against No. 3 seed Georgia or No. 6 seed Ole Miss, the SEC teams in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday night.
