Miami Stuns Ohio State in CFP Quarterfinal

ARLINGTON, Texas — Keionte Scott made a significant play, returning an interception 72 yards for a touchdown, while Carson Beck threw for another score, leading No. 10 Miami to a surprising 24-14 victory over defending champion Ohio State in the first game of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Wednesday night.

The Hurricanes, holding a record of 12-2 and entering as the No. 10 seed in the CFP, advanced to the top four despite not competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and needing an at-large bid for the 12-team playoff lineup.

Now, they are just one win away from reaching the national championship at their home stadium.

In coach Mario Cristobal’s fourth season, Miami is set to face either No. 3 seed Georgia or No. 6 seed Ole Miss in the CFP semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl on January 8. This new matchup follows a previous double-overtime loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, which denied them a rematch the following year. This marks the last time they faced off in a bowl until now.

The Hurricanes haven’t clinched a national title since 2001, when Cristobal, then an offensive tackle, contributed to their second championship win. “It’s not about me. It’s about all these guys here, the guys who came before them,” he remarked after the game. “This is a team and family effort. We are progressing and getting better.”

On the other hand, Ohio State, sitting at 12-2 and ranked as the No. 2 seed in the CFP, entered the contest as a 9.5-point favorite but fell short of achieving back-to-back national titles for the first time in the program’s history. The Buckeyes hadn’t competed since their close loss to the now No. 1 Indiana on December 6 in the championship game.

The Buckeyes received a bye into the quarterfinal round but, remarkably, lost just like all four teams that had advanced directly in last year’s inaugural 12-team playoffs.

Scott’s momentum-changing interception occurred just 1 minute and 42 seconds into the game, giving Miami a 14-0 lead with 11:49 left in the first half. Beck initially capped the scoring with a quick pass to Mark Fletcher Jr., who wrangled a 9-yard touchdown.

Beck, a pivotal player in Georgia’s national title wins in 2021 and 2022, completed 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards. Reflecting on Miami’s performance, he noted, “How this team has responded to adversity. We knew going into today it wasn’t going to be easy… They’re a very good football team.”

This game marked the landmark 90th Cotton Bowl. Meanwhile, Thayne, the freshman backup for Ohio State, completed 22 of 35 passes for 287 yards with two interceptions and one touchdown to Jeremiah Smith, who made seven catches for 157 yards, including a crucial 14-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Additionally, Carter Davis secured a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter, while Chamar Brown’s 5-yard touchdown run in the final minute brought Miami’s total to 24, the most points Ohio State has conceded this season.