Miami Ends Ohio State’s Title Defense and Guarantees a New Champion
Bowl season delivered another major shakeup, and this one officially closed the door on any chance of Ohio State repeating as national champion in 2026. On Wednesday night in Dallas, under the bright lights of the Cotton Bowl, the defending champions saw their season come to a sudden stop with a 24–14 loss to the Miami Hurricanes. With that result, college football was guaranteed a new champion next year, and the playoff picture was completely transformed.
The tone of the game was set early. Ohio State was pushed onto the back foot almost immediately, as Miami stormed out to a commanding 14–0 lead in the first half. The Buckeyes struggled to find rhythm, and their offense was kept in check by a disciplined Hurricanes defense that refused to give up big plays. By the time halftime arrived, the pressure had clearly shifted onto the reigning champions.
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Ohio State tried to respond after the break. Quarterback Julian Sayin was asked to do much of the heavy lifting, and while he threw for 287 yards and found the end zone once, the cost was high. Two interceptions stalled any real momentum, and every mistake seemed to fuel Miami’s confidence. A third-quarter touchdown briefly brought the Buckeyes within one score, raising hopes of a comeback, but those hopes didn’t last long.
Miami stayed calm when it mattered most. Late in the fourth quarter, the Hurricanes delivered a sequence that defined the night. A crucial defensive stop was made, followed by a short rushing touchdown from CharMar Brown. Moments later, an interception sealed the outcome, and Ohio State’s season was officially brought to an end. The Buckeyes finished 12–2, a strong record on paper, but one that now felt incomplete after an early playoff exit.
For Miami, the win carried historic weight. It marked the program’s deepest run of the College Football Playoff era and gave head coach Mario Cristobal his first victory over Ohio State and Ryan Day. Quarterback Carson Beck played an efficient game, completing 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown, doing exactly what was needed without forcing the issue.
With Ohio State eliminated, the spotlight now shifts forward. Miami advances to the Fiesta Bowl, where a national title appearance will be on the line. More broadly, college football enters a new chapter. The defending champions are gone, the bracket has been blown wide open, and a fresh name will be crowned at the top of the sport when the season finally comes to an end.
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