Ohio State’s national title defense begins at the Cotton Bowl against a team that many didn’t think would make the College Football Playoff field.
Miami backdoored into the postseason in the final CFP rankings and then proved it belonged with a road comeback against Texas A&M.
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Which team will be moving on to the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8? Here’s how to watch all the College Football Playoff games (scroll for live updates).
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami (7:30 ET, ESPN)
After an undefeated regular season that included wins over Texas and Michigan, the Buckeyes entered the conference title game as one of just two undefeated teams in college football. But Indiana won the Big Ten title game slugfest 13-10. How will the Buckeyes respond?
It’s probably fair to also use the term slugfest to describe what took place in College Station on Dec. 20. The Hurricanes and Aggies combined for 13 points in Miami’s 10-3 victory and the only touchdown of the game came with less than two minutes to go.
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Miami’s defensive front took over in the second half of the win over A&M. Can it get that type of pressure against Ohio State? That’s Miami’s best chance of pulling the upset. OSU QB Julian Sayin was sacked five times in the Big Ten title game loss to Indiana.
However, the Hurricanes have to score too. Ohio State hasn’t given up more than 16 points to an opponent all season and just five teams have scored 10 or more points. Miami averaged 5.7 yards per play against the Aggies but had three missed field goals and a turnover. There will be far, far less margin for error on Wednesday night.
Live6 updatesWed, December 31, 2025 at 4:29 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Nick Bromberg
Not the fastest start in the world for either offense … though I think we’ll get more than 13 total points tonight.
Wed, December 31, 2025 at 4:50 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
We’ll refrain from too many of these updates, but it’s a slow start offensively for the two teams.
Wed, December 31, 2025 at 4:44 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
It’s a quick three-and-out for the Hurricanes in their first series against the vaunted Buckeyes defense.
Ohio State has the best unit in college football, allowing just 8.2 points per game.
Wed, December 31, 2025 at 4:39 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
We are moments away from kickoff.
The Hurricanes will have the ball first after the Buckeyes won the toss and deferred.
Wed, December 31, 2025 at 3:42 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Click the photo above to read the story. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Wed, December 31, 2025 at 3:39 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Good evening folks and welcome to our live tracker for the CFP quarterfinal game between Ohio State and Miami!
We still have about an hour before kickoff, but there’s plenty to catch up on.