Ohio State is out. Miami is moving on. The College Football Playoff just flipped on its head, and the Ohio State score will sting in Columbus. Miami won a rock fight, a game owned by defense and attitude, and the Hurricanes earned their semifinal ticket with a statement.
Final: Miami knocks out Ohio State
The final whistle brought a rush of green and orange to the field. Miami shut the door with relentless pressure, tight coverage, and clean tackling. The Buckeyes tried to push late, but Miami would not let the door budge. The Hurricanes turned this quarterfinal into a street fight and never blinked.
From start to finish, Miami’s defense set the tone. The front forced hurried throws. The linebackers filled gaps with force. The secondary stayed glued to routes and rallied to the ball. Ohio State needed chunk plays. Miami denied them again and again. [IMAGE_1]
Miami advances to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Ohio State’s season ends on the holiday stage.
How Miami’s defense won it
This was toughness, technique, and trust. Miami’s rush stayed disciplined. They did not fly past the pocket. They squeezed it. That created off-platform throws and rushed reads. The Buckeyes love rhythm. They rarely found it.
The Hurricanes also won early downs. That was the quiet edge. Second and long tilted the field in Miami’s favor and opened the playbook. Zone pressures confused protections. Simulated blitz looks froze the Ohio State front. You could see the Buckeye timing fray with every snap.
In space, Miami tackled with purpose. Slant routes ended on contact. Screens died at the line. There were no free yards. Every yard was a fight, and Miami landed the heavier shots.
The hidden yards
Field position mattered. Miami squeezed Ohio State’s return game and owned the flip in the punt battle. Short fields for the Canes. Long fields for the Buckeyes. That is how a defensive game turns.
What went wrong for Ohio State
Ohio State’s identity is balance, speed, and explosives. None of that showed up for long stretches. The run game never got downhill. Inside zone clogged. Outside runs got stretched to the sideline. That left the Buckeye quarterback living in third and obvious, the worst place against a confident defense.
Protection also cracked at key moments. Free rushers did not always arrive, but leaky edges did. That is enough to throw off timing with receivers, even elite ones. Drops and penalties added to the pain. The Buckeyes had chances. They left points on the field in the red zone and paid for it.
The Ohio State defense fought, but short rest after quick three and outs is a slow drain. They bent long enough for Miami to stack the possessions they needed.
Three swing factors
- Early down wins by Miami, which set up third and long
- Special teams field position in the middle quarters
- Red zone stops by the Hurricanes, turning touchdowns into kicks
What this means for the CFP semifinals
Miami is built like a January team. They hit. They tackle. They travel. This win reshapes the semifinal picture because it removes a blue blood that thrives on big stages. It also inserts a defense-first group that can shrink any game.
The Hurricanes will face a semifinal opponent that now knows the blueprint it must solve. Stop Miami’s front or get suffocated. The bracket will lock in the next matchup shortly, and it will feature a test of patience. Whoever plays Miami must accept short gains, avoid mistakes, and win field position. Few teams stay that patient under pressure.
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Bookmark the official CFP bracket and game notes for kickoff times and semifinal venues. We will update matchups as they are confirmed.
The stakes and the scene
This was New Year’s stagecraft with real bite. The energy was sharp. Every hit echoed. Every third down felt heavy. Miami leaned into the chaos and made it theirs. Ohio State never found the stretch of clean football it needed to take control.
Culturally, this is a pivot for both programs. Miami’s brand has always been swagger, speed, and edge. Tonight, it was also grit and structure. That combination can carry far into January. Ohio State, meanwhile, will replay the missed chances and search for answers on offense. The Buckeyes have rosters that reload, but this one will feel like a window that closed just before the view.
Conclusion
The Ohio State score will read like a warning to the rest of the field. Miami’s defense is real, and it wins real games. The Hurricanes just shoved a giant out of the bracket and claimed a spot in the semifinals. The path to the title now runs through their toughness. Bring your chinstrap and your patience. You will need both.
