Miami’s Carson Beck Subdues Buckeyes in Cotton Bowl Upset

Miami quarterback Carson Beck found himself in a bit of a daze before making what turned out to be a pivotal throw, one that led his team to a historic upset in the College Football Playoff. “Honestly, I blacked out there for a second,” he joked to ESPN. “All I had to do was just throw it, and I kind of forget what happened next—just instinct kicked in, I guess.”

After this “blackout,” Beck completed a crucial short screen pass to receiver C.J. Daniels on third-and-four, with Miami ahead by three points and just under two minutes remaining in the game.

In a thrilling Cotton Bowl matchup on Wednesday night, Daniels not only caught that pass but managed to evade a defender, gaining the first down that eventually led to a game-winning touchdown. Miami pulled off a stunning 24-14 victory over the defending champion Buckeyes.

Beck had an impressive outing against Ohio State’s tough defense, completing 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards, including a touchdown, plus adding 23 rushing yards.

“We were well aware that it wouldn’t be an easy task,” Beck said post-game. “They’re an incredibly strong team, but we really put in the effort for all four quarters.” He seemed genuinely proud of his team’s resilience against challenges throughout the match.

Miami’s success that night demanded a concerted effort from both the offense and defense. A critical moment arose on a third-down play late in the fourth quarter. After Ohio State narrowed the score to 17-14, Miami faced a crucial decision at the Buckeyes’ 20-yard line.

With two timeouts remaining for Ohio State, the Hurricanes realized the importance of securing a first down, knowing their rivals had the potential to capitalize on the momentum gained in the second half.

Miami executed the right play, converted the first down, and nearly sealed the game with two more successful plays. An interception that followed, however, ultimately clinched the win for them.

Beck, who had previously backed up for Georgia and won two national championships in 2021 and 2022, is now just two victories away from claiming his first title as a starting quarterback.

The Hurricanes are set to meet the winner of the upcoming semifinal clash between No. 3 Georgia and No. 6 Ole Miss next Thursday.

Reflecting on his performance, Beck stated, “This is what I’ve trained for my entire life. I’ve been putting in the hours, from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., practicing and studying the game to be prepared for moments just like this.”