Miami Upsets Ohio State in CFP Quarterfinal 24-14 Victory/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ No. 10 Miami shocked defending national champion Ohio State 24-14 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl. Keionte Scott’s interception return and Carson Beck’s sharp passing fueled the Hurricanes’ win. Miami advances to the CFP semifinal with a national title in sight.
Miami vs. Ohio State Quick Looks
- No. 10 Miami defeats No. 2 Ohio State 24-14
- Keionte Scott returns interception 72 yards for a touchdown
- Carson Beck throws 138 yards and 1 TD for Miami
- Mark Fletcher Jr. rushes for 90 yards, scores 2 TDs
- Miami advances to CFP semifinal at Fiesta Bowl
- Ohio State eliminated despite entering as 9.5-point favorites
- Julian Sayin throws 2 INTs, 1 TD for Buckeyes
- Hurricanes now one win away from title game in Miami
- Former Miami stars Irvin, Johnson celebrated on sidelines
- Ohio State fails to repeat national title for first time
- Beck sets Cotton Bowl record with 13 straight completions
- Sayin sacked five times as Miami defense dominates
- Miami has won six straight games heading into semifinal
- Miami did not play in ACC title game, entered via at-large
Deep Look: Miami Upsets Ohio State in CFP Quarterfinal 24-14 Victory
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Miami Hurricanes delivered one of the biggest upsets in recent College Football Playoff history on New Year’s Day, defeating defending national champion and No. 2 seed Ohio State 24-14 in the CFP quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl.
Keionte Scott’s electric 72-yard pick-six and quarterback Carson Beck’s efficient performance led the No. 10-seeded Hurricanes to a stunning win over the heavily favored Buckeyes. It was a moment of redemption and resurgence for a Miami program that has waited more than two decades to return to college football’s elite.
“I was full of emotions,” Scott said after the game. “That was a pretty cool moment. Just having fun — that’s what this team relies on.”
Scott’s game-changing interception came just moments after Beck had connected with Mark Fletcher Jr. for a 9-yard touchdown, swinging momentum sharply in favor of the Hurricanes. The two touchdowns in under two minutes gave Miami a 14-0 lead that Ohio State could never overcome.
The Hurricanes (12-2), who entered the 12-team playoff via an at-large berth despite not playing in the ACC Championship Game, have now won back-to-back playoff games. They are headed to the CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on January 8, where they will face either No. 3 Georgia or No. 6 Ole Miss, who were scheduled to clash in the Sugar Bowl.
With one more win, Miami will have the opportunity to play for a national championship in their home stadium — a potential storybook ending for a team that hasn’t claimed a national title since 2001.
Cristobal’s Impact and Legacy
Head coach Mario Cristobal, now in his fourth season leading Miami, is no stranger to championship football. He played offensive tackle for the Hurricanes during their 1989 and 1991 title runs. Despite the personal significance, Cristobal deflected attention from himself.
“This is 100% not about me,” Cristobal said. “It’s about these guys. I’m part of their team. It’s my obligation to give back to this program and help these players reach their potential.”
Cristobal also acknowledged former Miami legends Michael Irvin and Jimmy Johnson during the on-field trophy ceremony. Irvin, an NFL Hall of Famer, was seen sprinting down the sideline during Scott’s touchdown. Johnson, a Super Bowl-winning coach with the Dallas Cowboys, stood nearby as the Hurricanes celebrated.
Ohio State Stumbles
The loss ends Ohio State’s bid to become repeat national champions for the first time in program history. The Buckeyes (12-2) had entered the Cotton Bowl after a 13-10 loss to No. 1 Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game, yet still received a first-round bye.
All four teams that skipped the first round of the 12-team playoff lost in the quarterfinals, raising questions about rest versus momentum in the expanded format.
“We worked really hard the past three weeks,” said Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. “We wanted to come out strong, win the first quarter. But at the end of the day, we didn’t get it done.”
Freshman quarterback Julian Sayin, a backup during Ohio State’s title run last year, started and threw for 287 yards, completing 22 of 35 passes. However, he was sacked five times and threw two costly interceptions — including the one Scott returned for a touchdown.
Sayin’s lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a 14-yard pass to All-America wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who had a dominant night with seven catches for 157 yards.
Miami’s Balanced Attack
Carson Beck, who transferred from Georgia where he backed up Stetson Bennett during their championship runs, completed 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown. Beck set a new Cotton Bowl record with 13 consecutive completions during the game.
“What stood out to me is how this team responds to adversity,” Beck said. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we came prepared.”
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr., who caught Beck’s TD pass and added 90 rushing yards on 19 carries, was named the game’s Offensive MVP. He later sealed the game with a 5-yard rushing touchdown in the final minute.
Kicker Carter Davis contributed with a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter to push Miami’s lead to 17-7.
Miami’s defense was relentless, forcing turnovers and pressuring Sayin throughout. All-America safety Caleb Downs managed to force two fumbles — a CFP record — but it wasn’t enough to shift the tide for the Buckeyes.
Redemption for “The U”
This victory marks the first time since 2001 that Miami has been in legitimate national championship contention. The Hurricanes were denied a title in their last meeting with Ohio State — a controversial double-overtime loss in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl — making this win particularly meaningful for longtime fans.
Miami has now won six straight games, including a 10-3 road win over No. 7 Texas A&M in the CFP first round. Ironically, that victory came less than 25 miles from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the site of their quarterfinal win.
Looking Ahead
Miami awaits the result of the Sugar Bowl to determine their semifinal opponent. A potential rematch with Beck’s former team, Georgia, could headline the Fiesta Bowl. Meanwhile, Ohio State looks ahead to the 2026 season, which they will open at home against Ball State on September 5.
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