Ohio State’s Slow Start Crushes CFP Title Hopes vs Miami
Ohio State’s slow start proved costly as the Buckeyes fell to Miami in the CFP quarterfinal, ending their title hopes despite a second-half rally.
After 45 games in the College Football Playoff, the Ohio State football team found itself in a predicament it had never faced before against Miami.
Against the Hurricanes, Ohio State trailed 14-0 for the first time since their 45-23 loss to Michigan in 2022. Despite largely dominating their competition throughout 2025, they managed only nine yards of offense in the first quarter.
And while Ohio State showed some signs of life at the start of the second half, it wasn't enough to overcome the slow start.
Ohio State's season ended with a disappointing 24-14 loss to Miami in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal, despite the Buckeyes entering the game as heavy favorites. Coach Ryan Day and his team had appeared poised to win another national championship in 2025, boasting a 12-0 record and the No. 1 ranking heading into the Big Ten Conference Championship game.
Instead, the Buckeyes ended their season in a rather disappointing — and surprising — fashion, losing their final two games against Indiana and Miami.
"I still can't believe it," Ohio State senior defensive end Caden Curry told reporters after the game. "I mean, I'm still in my jersey and pads."
Ohio State did begin the second half with an impressive 11-play, 82-yard scoring drive, capped by Bo Jackson's 1-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 14-7. Miami responded with a field goal before the Buckeyes scored again, this time on a 22-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Jeremiah Smith on fourth-and-2, bringing OSU within three points at 17-14 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Smith caught the pass from Julian Sayin at the 5-yard line before being surrounded by three Miami defenders, but he managed to break free from the tackles and reach the end zone, a huge moment that kept Ohio State in the game.
This play highlighted Ohio State's offensive struggles: the Buckeyes had little success moving the ball in big moments outside of Smith, who finished the game with 157 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions. The unanimous All-American selection was Ohio State's X-factor in their national championship run last season, catching 19 passes for 381 yards and five touchdowns in four CFP games as a true freshman. That formula almost worked again against the Hurricanes, before Miami's game-sealing touchdown drive took 5:01 off the clock, leaving the Buckeyes with less than a minute to score 10 points and tie the game.
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“I thought it took us a little while to get into the rhythm of the game,” Day said after the game. “I thought we were able to do that coming out in the second half. And by then, being down 14-0, it was going to take a very, very efficient second half to win the game.”
Day felt the Buckeyes had an advantage in the passing game with Smith, who he considers one of the best players in the country. However, it was a double-edged sword, as Stroud's multi-step drops gave Miami's edge-rushing duo of Ruben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor the opportunity to wreak havoc on Ohio State's offensive line.
Ohio State had given up 11 sacks on the season before the Cotton Bowl. By the end of the game, they had given up 16, three of which came from the All-American duo of Bain Jr. and Mesidor.
“We felt like we could do that and be aggressive, but we also knew the pros and cons of it,” Day said. “And so that was part of what we were working on. Ultimately, it didn’t work out.”
Miami's pressure managed to hurry Heisman Trophy finalist Stroud even on the game's most crucial play. Stroud attempted a screen pass early in the second quarter, but the pass was tipped by Miami's Keontay Scott, who intercepted the pass and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown, making the score 14-0.
It was a lapse in judgment by Day and the Ohio State coaching staff, as Scott explained after the game that he knew the play was coming. Day took over play-calling duties for the first time since 2023 against Miami, as offensive coordinator Brian Hartline was hired as head coach at South Florida. Hartline still coached in the game, but in a reduced role. “It was definitely on film,” Scott said. “I think in that moment, with all the skill players on one side of the ball, (I) clearly knew the ball was going to that area.”
After the first quarter, Ohio State trailed Miami in total yards, 323 to 181. The Buckeyes had a chance to take the lead on their second-to-last possession of the game, but after gaining just 6 yards on seven plays and chewing up 4:20 of clock time, they were forced to punt.
Ultimately, it wasn't enough, and the Hurricanes made big plays at the right time to defeat the Ohio State team, which went from a national championship frontrunner to being eliminated from the CFP quarterfinals in just a few weeks.
"When you start like that, you put yourself in a position where you have to play really, really well in the second half to win the game," Day said.
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