Sports Desk | College Football
ARLINGTON, Texas — The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes upset the defending national champion No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes 24–14 on Wednesday night in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, advancing to a CFP semifinal scheduled for Jan. 8 in the Fiesta Bowl, according to official game statistics and postgame sources.
Miami built an early advantage with a 13–0 run in the second quarter, highlighted by a 72-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Keionte Scott and a scoring pass from quarterback Carson Beck to Mark Fletcher Jr., setting the tone against Ohio State’s high-powered offense.
The Buckeyes, who began the season as defending CFP champions, struggled to find rhythm early and never overcame the deficit despite narrowing the margin in the second half. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, who entered with strong season credentials, threw two interceptions that shifted momentum in Miami’s favor, according to play-by-play accounts.
Miami’s defense pressured Sayin throughout the night, recording multiple sacks and forcing turnovers that kept the Buckeyes off balance. Ohio State mounted a pair of scoring drives in the second half, but a late Miami touchdown by CharMar Brown sealed the final margin. Saturday Down South
Head coach Mario Cristobal praised his team’s physical play and resilience in the locker room following the victory, noting Miami’s focused preparation and opportunistic performance against a top-ranked opponent. Ohio State coach Ryan Day acknowledged his team’s slow start and said the Buckeyes “put ourselves behind the 8-ball early,” according to postgame remarks.
The Hurricanes (12-2) will now wait to face the winner of the Sugar Bowl matchup between No. 3 Georgia and No. 6 Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Ohio State’s season ends one win short of a repeat title run.
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Hannah Price is a digital journalist who covers breaking news, global events, and trending stories with accuracy and speed. She has previously contributed to several online magazines and has built a reputation for verifying facts before publishing. Hannah believes in responsible reporting and aims to present stories in a way that readers can trust.
