The Miami Hurricanes are back in action two weeks after a gritty 10-3 victory over the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies, a wind-swept battle where their defense shone brightly to secure their advancement.
Wednesday brings an even stiffer test as the Hurricanes face the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl, with a coveted spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals hanging in the balance.
Quarterback Clash: Beck vs. Sayin
A central storyline heading into the Cotton Bowl revolves around whether Miami’s quarterback, Carson Beck, can compete with Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Miami has navigated its share of early-season hurdles, but they’ve found their stride, closing out the regular season on a four-game winning streak. However, the offense sputtered in the challenging conditions at College Station, with Beck managing just four yards per attempt and a total of 103 passing yards.
Despite that performance, Beck has enjoyed a strong season overall, throwing for 3,175 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, while completing a career-high 74.5 percent of his passes and averaging 8.5 yards per attempt. Can Carson Beck deliver a standout performance against a formidable Ohio State defense?
His QBR ranks 13th nationally (79.6), and Miami’s offensive line has provided excellent protection, allowing Beck to be sacked just 11 times – the lowest pressure rate in college football.
Buckeyes’ Sayin: A Different Approach
Ohio State will counter with redshirt freshman Julian Sayin, whose offensive gameplan differs significantly. Sayin has thrown for 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns, and six interceptions, completing a remarkable 78.4 percent of his passes and averaging 9.3 yards per attempt.
His QBR is second in the nation (90.1), and he’s also benefited from strong pass protection, having been sacked just 11 times this season.
Both quarterbacks have established themselves among the elite in college football. The question remains: does Miami possess the edge at the most crucial position?
Beck is tasked with a diverse role within the Shannon Dawson offense, a system that has both unlocked Miami’s potential and created challenges.
Beck and the Hurricanes were peaking at the season’s end, with the quarterback averaging 281.3 passing yards in his final four games, while Miami averaged 37.8 points during that stretch. He was throwing with accuracy, stretching the field, and, crucially, protecting the football.
He recorded 11 touchdowns to just one interception in those four games, demonstrating both accuracy and a willingness to take risks. However, this aggressive approach has also led to trouble in key matchups this year.
Beck’s 10 interceptions are a concern. He threw two against USF, four against Louisville, two against SMU, and one against both Florida and Pitt. These turnovers tend to occur in clusters, often coinciding with dips in his accuracy and decision-making.
A key for the Miami offense will be establishing a consistent running game with Mark Fletcher, who proved to be a difference-maker in the win against Texas A&M. A successful ground attack could alleviate some pressure on Beck.
However, he’ll need to perform significantly better than he did against the Aggies for Miami to emerge victorious.
Ohio State’s strategy with Sayin centers on quick passes and utilizing a variety of routes. He hasn’t faced significant pressure this season, but struggled against Indiana, who recorded five sacks in a 13-10 loss.
If Miami can generate similar pressure, it could disrupt Sayin and alter Ohio State’s offense, even with their talented playmakers.
Sayin has excelled at short, quick throws, relying on his receivers to gain yards after the catch. However, against Miami’s stout pass defense, he may need to push the ball downfield more often, stepping outside his comfort zone.
The running game will be important for both teams, but both have demonstrated the ability to contain opposing ground attacks. This places even greater emphasis on the quarterbacks, and the more effective player at the position could ultimately lead their team to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
