ARLINGTON, Texas. — CharMar “Marty” Brown didn’t touch the ball until the fourth quarter, but when Miami needed the finishing blow, he delivered it.
Brown scored the game-sealing touchdown during a clock-draining final drive, Carson Beck played efficient, mistake-free football, and the No. 10 Hurricanes rode a dominant defensive performance to a 24-14 victory over No. 2 Ohio State on Wednesday night in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, clinching a spot in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
Miami’s defense set the tone immediately.
Defensive end Akheem Mesidor sacked quarterback Julian Sayin on Ohio State’s opening drive, part of a night in which the Hurricanes harassed the Buckeyes offense by shutting down their run defense, creating consistent pressure, and getting to the quarterback a handful of times.
Miami’s Rueben Bain did not make things easy for Ohio State after drawing a holding penalty and finishing the game with 3 tackles and a sack, but more importantly, facing consistent double teams to allow his fellow defensive linemen to make plays.
On offense, Beck guided the Hurricanes to the game’s first score, capping a methodical opening drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Mark Fletcher Jr. Miami’s physical rushing attack and short passing game kept Ohio State off balance, even after Fletcher lost a fumble in the red zone that briefly stalled momentum.
The Buckeyes never found rhythm in the first half.
Miami held Ohio State to -3 rushing yards on nine carries and forced repeated three-and-outs. The Hurricanes extended their lead in the second quarter when defensive back Keionte Scott intercepted Sayin and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown, pushing Miami ahead 14-0.
Ohio State missed a chance to respond late in the half when Jayden Fielding pushed a 49-yard field goal wide left. Miami entered halftime with a two-touchdown lead, its defense delivering Ohio State’s worst rushing half in 20 years.
The Buckeyes showed signs of life coming out of the break behind Bo Jackson’s running. Jackson capped the opening drive of the second half with a 1-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 14-7.
Miami answered with a Carter Davis 50-yard field goal late in the third quarter, but Ohio State pulled within three early in the fourth when Sayin connected with Jeremiah Smith on a 14-yard touchdown on fourth-and-2.
Smith finished the game with 7 catches, 157 yards, and a score. It was a dominant performance by the true sophomore who is set to return to the Buckeyes next season.
However, Beck responded with poise, converting a crucial third-and-11 with a scramble, then leaning on Miami’s ground game to drain the clock.
Brown, who had not recorded a carry until the final quarter, took over the Canes’ final offensive drive. He picked up key yards on the ground and finished it with a 5-yard touchdown run after Miami forced Ohio State to burn all three timeouts.
Miami’s Xavier Lucas sealed the win with a late interception on Sayin, the quarterback’s second turnover of the day, after pressure from Marquise Lightfoot.
Beck finished 19 of 26 for 138 yards and a touchdown. Miami’s defense recorded five sacks, returned an interception for a score and held Ohio State to 45 rushing yards.
Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal improved to 10-1 this season after taking a lead into the second half.
Up next
Miami will face the winner of No. 3 Georgia and No. 6 Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 8 in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
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