ARLINGTON, Texas — As people gathered near and far to celebrate and count down the minutes on the calendar year, the Miami Hurricanes gave their fans another reason to cheer — their 2025 football season will extend into 2026.

Riding another emphatic defensive performance, the Canes jumped out to an early lead and held on late for a 24-14 victory over second-ranked and defending national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl before a crowd of 71,323 at AT&T Stadium.

No. 10 Miami improved to 12-2, advancing to the CFP Semifinals at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on January 8 and notching its first dozen-win campaign since 2002. Second-ranked Ohio State ended its season at 12-2.

The Canes’ defense forced two turnovers – including a pick six by cornerback Keionte Scott – racked up five sacks and held the Buckeyes to just 45 rushing yards. Meanwhile, the offense put together two impressive touchdown drives, including a game-sealing march late in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Carson Beck completed 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown, at one point completing 13 straight passes to set a Cotton Bowl record. Running back Mark Fletcher, Jr., had his second straight monster postseason game, rushing for 90 yards and 19 carries and adding a nine-yard touchdown reception. Wide receivers CJ Daniels, Keelan Marion and Malachi Toney each had five receptions with Toney becoming just the seventh Cane to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving on the season. The 24 points scored by Miami were the most yielded by Ohio State this season.

Scott had four tackles to go along with his 72-yard interception return for a score, which gave the Canes a 14-0 lead. Linebacker Mohamed Toure and safety Jakobe Thomas paced Miami with seven tackles each. Defensive end Akheem Mesidor posted five tackles and two sacks, while fellow end Rueben Bain, Jr., had three tackles and a sack. The Canes limited the Buckeyes to just 3 of 10 conversions on third down.

Fletcher was the Cotton Bowl Offensive MVP and Scott was the Defensive MVP.

OSU quarterback Julian Sayin completed 22 of 35 passes for 287 yards with one touchdown and two picks. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith hauled in seven passes for 157 yards and one score. Running back Bo Jackson rushed for 55 yards and one touchdown. Cornerback Davison Igbinosun racked up 10 tackles, while safety Caleb Downs had eight stops and two forced fumbles.

Both defenses forced three-and-outs to open the game, and the Canes opened their second drive from their 39-yard line. Beck found Fletcher in the flat for a 16-yard catch-and-run and then fired a laser to Daniels for 13 yards to the Buckeyes 30. But Fletcher fumbled three plays later and OSU linebacker Payton Pierce recovered at the 19-yard line.

Sayin connected with Smith for the Buckeyes’ initial first down, but Miami’s defense held from there and the Canes got the ball back at their 16. Fletcher ripped off a 13-yard run to give Miami some breathing room before Beck found Daniels to pick up a first down to the Buckeyes 39.

The Canes kept churning, eventually setting up 3^rd and 1 at the nine-yard line. Beck found Fletcher open again in the left flat and the junior waltzed into the end zone to give Miami a 7-0 lead. It was a 13-play, 83-drive that took more than eight minutes.

Sayin started the ensuing drive by looking deep for Smith and connecting on a 59-yard completion. But Bain dropped Sayin for a six-yard loss and on the next snap Scott picked him off and raced untouched 72 yards to the end zone. The Canes led by two touchdowns and OSU was facing its biggest deficit of the season.

The Buckeyes reached midfield on their next drive, but Mesidor swallowed up Sayin for a 13-yard sack to eventually force a punt. The Canes appeared to pick up a first down on a scramble by Beck but video review overturned the spot. Dylan Joyce came onto the field and drilled a 60-yard punt that pinned OSU back to its nine-yard line. Miami forced a quick three-and-out and got the ball back at its 42.

Beck found Marion for 14 yards to cross midfield. The Canes then went for it on 4^th and 2 and Beck completed a six-yard pass to Toney to the OSU 30. But the Buckeyes sacked Beck and dropped Toney in the backfield on consecutive plays. Joyce came back in and lobbed a nine-iron that defensive back Jaboree Antoine downed at the two-yard line with 1:36 left in the first half.

Sayin started to find his rhythm, completing 7 of 8 passes to move the ball to the Canes 31. The Buckeyes called their last timeout with 16 ticks on the clock. Miami forced two incompletions, forcing Jayden Fielding to line up a 49-yard field goal attempt. He hooked it left, and the Canes had a 14-0 lead heading into the locker room. The Buckeyes had minus-three rushing yards and were 1 of 6 on third down in the opening 30 minutes.

OSU got the ball to start the second half and Jackson broke into the open field for an 18-yard run before Sayin connected with Smith across the middle for 23 yards to the Miami 26. A 14-yard reception by wide receiver Carnell Tate set up the Buckeyes first and goal from the eight-yard line. Three plays later Jackson bowled in from a yard out and OSU had sliced Miami’s lead in half.

Beck converted a third down with a 12-yard pass to Marion before Fletcher carried twice for 18 yards to the Buckeyes 40. The drive stalled at the 32-yard line, but Carter Davis nailed a 49-yard field goal to push Miami’s lead back to double digits.

Sayin went back to work, hitting tight end Will Kacmarek for 12 yards before finding Smith deep down the left sideline for a 22-yard gain to the Canes 22. On 4^th and 2 from the 14-yard line, Sayin hooked up with Smith on a crossing route and the sophomore wideout scampered into the end zone to make it a three-point game.

Beck scrambled for 11 yards to move the chains, but the drive stalled and the Buckeyes got the ball back at their 25-yard line. Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe dropped Sayin for a nine-yard loss before the quarterback found Smith again for 16 yards to pick up a first down. But a holding penalty – the first penalty by either team – thwarted the drive and the Canes took over at their 30 with 5:56 left in the game.

On the next snap, Fletcher burst through the left side of the line for a 19-yard gain. On 3^rd and 3 from the OSU 44 Beck found running back Marty Brown out of the backfield for five yards to move the chains again. Brown followed with a 13-yard run and suddenly the Canes were at the Buckeyes 26.

Three plays later it was 3^rd and 4 and Beck hit Daniels on a quick throw for 13 yards. The Canes had another first down and the clock was firmly on their side. Brown ensured that didn’t matter, scoring on a five-yard run to put the game out of reach. Thomas put an exclamation point on the win with a late interception.

In the Fiesta Bowl, Miami will play the winner of tomorrow’s Allstate Sugar Bowl between No. 3 Georgia and No. 6 Ole Miss.