(Arlington, Texas, January 1, 2026) — The Miami Hurricanes upset the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes 24-14 in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday, marking the first time in two years of the expanded 12-team playoff that all teams receiving first-round byes have lost.
The No. 10 seed Miami Hurricanes shocked the No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes, advancing to the Fiesta Bowl semifinal.
- Miami secured a 14-0 halftime lead, fueled by a touchdown catch and a pick-6.
- This is the first year of the 12-team CFP playoffs where all five teams that received first-round byes lost.
- The Hurricanes will face either Georgia or Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on January 8.
The Upset
Carson Beck passed for 138 yards and a touchdown as Miami upended Ohio State, 24-14, at AT&T Stadium, according to reports from the game.
The Hurricanes (12-2) built a commanding 14-0 lead by halftime. Mark Fletcher Jr. scored on a 9-yard pass, and Keionte Scott added a 72-yard interception return for a touchdown, the reports stated.
Game Details
Ohio State (12-2) attempted to rally in the third quarter with a 1-yard run by Bo Jackson, but Miami responded with a 49-yard field goal by Carter Davis to extend their lead to 17-7 with 3:01 remaining in the quarter.
A late touchdown pass from Julian Sayin to Jeremiah Smith narrowed the gap to 17-14, but Miami sealed the victory with a 5-yard touchdown run by CharMar Brown with 55 seconds left on the clock.
Sayin finished the game completing 22 of 35 passes for 287 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, while Smith had seven receptions for 157 yards, according to game statistics.
Why It Matters
The Hurricanes’ victory is a significant upset, not only because they defeated the defending champions but also because it continues a trend of unexpected results in the expanded College Football Playoff. The fact that all five teams with first-round byes have been eliminated in the two years of the 12-team format suggests that the expanded playoff is creating more competitive balance and opportunities for lower-seeded teams to make a run for the championship. This outcome challenges the conventional wisdom that a high seed guarantees success and underscores the unpredictable nature of college football.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by Field Level Average and added independent analysis and context.
