Ohio State’s biggest weakness proved stronger than its biggest strength vs. Miami in the Cotton Bowl vs. Miami

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Miami’s protect statement had been nan talk of nan week heading into Wednesday’s Cotton Bowl.

As it turned out, it was for bully reason. The Hurricanes proved their vaunted protect beforehand was worthy nan hype -- and past immoderate -- arsenic they were nan backbone successful a shocking 24-14 upset complete Ohio State successful nan College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

Miami battered Ohio State’s violative statement and backmost Julian Sayin each nighttime long. It changed nan discourtesy for nan Buckeyes, and really they ran it, who had to set done a ferocious Hurricanes rush. By then, it was excessively precocious for nan Buckeyes to recover.

And successful nan end, that was a monolithic portion of why Ohio State’s play ended conscionable earlier midnight successful Arlington. It was a stunning nonaccomplishment for Ohio State, which entered arsenic multiple-score favorites, but now, nan offseason beckons.

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Ohio State entered nan crippled classed No. 6 successful nan federation astatine 0.85 sacks allowed per game, pinch conscionable 11 full crossed 13 games. Statistically, those numbers showed Ohio State had 1 of nan champion units successful nan sport.

Then nan crippled kicked off.

Miami had 3 sacks successful nan first half and countless much pressures connected Sayin. Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor wreaked havoc connected nan Buckeye front, and a operation of stunts and twists caused chaos up front.

New correct defender Gabe VanSickle struggled mightily and was replaced by Josh Padilla successful nan 2nd half, but only aft he had been beaten aggregate times by nan talented Hurricane rush. Added into nan truth that near tackle Austin Siereveld near nan crippled pinch an injury, and it was a messiness for nan Buckeye statement to person to sift through.

A heavier attraction connected nan Ohio State tally crippled successful nan 2nd half slowed things down for nan Miami protect line, but nan harm had been done. Especially erstwhile Ohio State had to driblet Sayin backmost successful nan pouch down aggregate scores successful nan 2nd half, Miami’s rushers were capable to tee off.

While Ohio State’s discourtesy recovered its hit successful nan 2nd half, nan mediocre first half doomed nan Buckeyes to a shortage it couldn’t claw backmost from. Miami was capable to unit Sayin consistently successful nan 2nd half, and things shifted erstwhile again.

Even superstar receiver Jeremiah Smith missed a artifact connected nan edge, which caused a prime six headed nan different measurement for Miami.

Continuity and dominating astatine nan statement of scrimmage was a interest each play agelong for Ohio State, specifically astatine correct guard. But it was nan full portion that took nan nonaccomplishment to Miami.

The Buckeyes’ beforehand 5 had been, statistically, 1 of nan champion units successful nan federation entering nan nighttime successful Arlington. And against 1 of nan amended protect lines successful assemblage football, they couldn’t lucifer up erstwhile it mattered.

That sent nan remainder of nan discourtesy into a tailspin that it had a difficult clip recovering from. When put successful advantageous positions, Miami’s protect statement won nan battle. That ended up winning nan war, too.

Ohio State’s discourtesy had immoderate of nan champion accomplishment players successful nan federation successful nan 2025 season, but successful nan end, its undoing was being incapable to get them nan shot arsenic it had each play long. Miami’s walk unreserved made judge of that.

And arsenic a result, nan Buckeyes are headed home.

Andrew Gillis covers Ohio State shot and recruiting for Cleveland.com. He provides updates connected Ohio State shot arsenic a whole, its prospects and nan Buckeyes each week. He antecedently covered nan Bengals for...