The Miami Hurricanes are bracing for a massive matchup in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, as they’ll take on an elite squad in the Ohio State Buckeyes. Miami won its first-round game because of a strong defense, holding Texas A&M to just a field goal in a 10-3 win.
However, the Buckeyes are markedly better than the Aggies, which has put the Hurricanes into an underdog role for Wednesday night’s game. That said, head coach Mario Cristobal dismissed that notion, suggesting it plays no part in their preparation or focus on the game.
“I don’t place value or strategic changes as it relates to a term like ‘underdog’ or ‘favorite.’ It’s never been a part of the process,” he said, adding, “Our message has been consistent the entire year on how we approach our opponents.”
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“We’re very process-oriented. We’re very intense and very intentional in how we approach every single opponent, and this one is one that we approach in the same manner,” Cristobal said during his press conference before the game.
The current point spread shows Miami as a 9.5-point underdog against the favored Buckeyes. That makes the Hurricanes the biggest underdog of any in the semifinal round.
During his presser, Cristobal praised the elite nature of Ohio State’s program and the current roster, including Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. He mentioned they’re “complemented by a great offensive line and great running game.”
He also included Julian Sayin, a recent Heisman contender, calling him “the most efficient quarterback in the country.”
Miami enters this game with just two losses all season, against unranked opponents, Louisville and SMU, but both losses were by six points or fewer. Wins over No. 6 Notre Dame and other ranked opponents, including South Florida, Florida State, and Pittsburgh, lent credibility to their CFP inclusion.
The hard-fought win against A&M in the first round at the Aggies’ home stadium further proved that Cristobal’s Hurricanes belong in the CFP. Now they’ll attempt to prove they’re not the underdog in this game, although it’s going to be a challenging task against one of the top teams in the country.
At his press conference, Cristobal wouldn’t divulge what he told his team heading into this game as they prepare for the challenge of playing Ohio State.
“Our messaging always takes place behind closed doors, and we like to keep it that way, but certainly we progressed a lot as a program, and these guys have worked really hard to keep earning that progress, and now we find ourselves with an opportunity in the College Football Playoffs, so we’re really excited,” Miami’s head coach said.
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