Miami made an example out of Ohio State, using the Buckeyes to make a statement: Stephen Means

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Miami conscionable made an illustration retired of Ohio State by flipping a book that was almost 25 years successful nan making.

The Buckeyes erstwhile utilized a vessel crippled against Miami to not only triumph a trophy but besides make a connection that has since shaped nan years that followed, becoming nan look of consistency successful nan sport. Everything that has happened successful nan years since crossed 3 coaches tin beryllium traced backmost to that Fiesta Bowl victory.

Now nan tables person turned, and it’s nan Hurricanes utilizing a triumph complete nan Buckeyes to make a connection that could 1 time beryllium to beryllium conscionable arsenic loud.

Miami’s triumph complete OSU wasn’t a fluke. It didn’t travel down to conscionable 1 infinitesimal that changed nan game’s trajectory. It made plays, constricted mistakes, and capitalized connected its opportunities to score.

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• What if we’ve been incorrect astir Ohio State this full time? Stephen Means’ Halftime Thoughts

The Buckeyes didn’t do that. They spent nan first half being incapable of protecting Julian Sayin successful nan walk crippled because they were dominated up front. The deficiency of first-half accumulation from nan discourtesy put excessively overmuch connected a defense that still managed to springiness up only 10 points. It was nan discourtesy that gave Miami 7 much acknowledgment to a pick-six.

The 2025 Cotton Bowl came down to 1 squad simply being amended than nan other, and it wasn’t nan squad classed 8 spots higher having earned a bye successful nan first round.

This was a connection crippled for some sides.

For Ohio State, it was impervious that this squad astir apt was ne'er arsenic bully arsenic astir thought erstwhile nan regular play ended. At slightest that’s nan lawsuit for an discourtesy that ne'er rather deed nan cogwheel its unit suggested it should beryllium at.

But nan Hurricanes sewage thing overmuch more. They sewage their groove back.

They sewage to get connected nan section pinch nan squad that erstwhile ended their dynasty and precocious stole nan eventual prize from their backyard successful Jeremiah Smith and get moreover pinch nan world watching.

Back successful 2002, Ohio State utilized nan Hurricanes to found a caller era of shot successful Columbus while sending a connection to nan remainder of nan state that much was to come.

As nan sun sets connected nan almanac twelvemonth 2025, Mario Cristobal and his programme are returning nan favor.

Miami is yet fresh to reclaim its spot among nan nation’s elite.

The ‘U’ is officially back.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Almost 25 years ago, Ohio State utilized a vessel crippled against Miami to not only triumph a trophy but besides make a connection that has since shaped nan years that followed, becoming nan look of consistency successful nan sport. Everything that has happened successful nan years since crossed 3 coaches tin beryllium traced backmost to that Fiesta Bowl victory.

Now nan tables person turned, and it’s nan Hurricanes utilizing a triumph complete nan Buckeyes to make a connection that could 1 time beryllium to beryllium conscionable arsenic loud.

Miami’s triumph complete OSU wasn’t a fluke. It didn’t travel down to conscionable 1 infinitesimal that changed nan game’s trajectory. It made plays, constricted mistakes, and capitalized connected its opportunities to score.

The Buckeyes didn’t do that. They spent nan first half being incapable of protecting Julian Sayin successful nan walk crippled because they were dominated up front. The deficiency of first-half accumulation from nan discourtesy put excessively overmuch connected a defense that still managed to springiness up only 10 points. It was nan discourtesy that gave Miami 7 much acknowledgment to a pick-six.

The 2025 Cotton Bowl came down to connected squad simply being amended than nan other, and it wasn’t nan squad classed 8 spots higher having earned a bye successful nan first round.

This was a connection crippled for some sides.

For Ohio State, it was impervious that this squad astir apt was ne'er arsenic bully arsenic astir thought erstwhile nan regular play ended. At slightest that’s nan lawsuit for an discourtesy that ne'er rather deed nan cogwheel its unit suggested it should beryllium at.

But nan Hurricanes sewage thing overmuch more. They sewage their groove back.

They sewage to get connected nan section pinch nan squad that erstwhile ended their dynasty and precocious stole nan eventual prize from their backyard successful Jeremiah Smith and get moreover pinch nan world watching.

Back successful 2002, Ohio State utilized nan Hurricanes to found a caller era of shot successful Columbus while sending a connection to nan remainder of nan state that much was to come.

As nan sun sets connected nan almanac twelvemonth 2025, Mario Cristobal and his programme are returning nan favor.

Miami is yet fresh to reclaim its spot among nan nation’s elite.

The ‘U’ is officially back.

Stephen Means covers Ohio State shot for Cleveland.com while besides serving arsenic nan big of nan Buckeye Talk podcast. Prior to covering nan Buckeyes, he sewage acquisition moving astatine nan Akron Beacon Journal...