Ohio State and Miami’s quarterfinal showdown brings together two of the most complete teams in the country, as both the Buckeyes and Hurricanes boast elite talent on offense and defense.
Although each program shares the same objective — advancing to the semifinals and earning a spot in the Fiesta Bowl — their paths to victory look markedly different.
Here are the key objectives I believe Ohio State and Miami must accomplish to come out on top in their Cotton Bowl matchup, set for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 in Arlington, Texas.
Ohio State: Use The Passing Attack To Open Up The Run Game, Finish Drives In Red Zone
For Ohio State to find success on offense, the Buckeyes must extend the field both horizontally and vertically with the passing game to open up rushing lanes.
In Ohio State’s 13-10 Big Ten Championship Game loss to Indiana, the Buckeyes seemed to do the opposite, and their run game faltered. Ohio State rushed 26 times for a season-low 56 yards for an average of 2.2 yards per carry, also its lowest mark of the season.
However, when Ohio State fully leverages its elite receiving corps, the passing game can serve as the catalyst for a more balanced offense.
During a three-game span from Oct. 18 to Nov. 8, quarterback Julian Sayin eclipsed 300 passing yards in all three contests, highlighted by a season-high 36 attempts for 393 yards and four touchdown passes in a 34-0 victory over Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium. Ohio State’s offense scored at least 34 points in each of those three matchups.
The Buckeyes came up empty on two of their four possessions inside Miami’s 20-yard line, marking the first time this season they failed to convert more than one red-zone opportunity in a single game.
Similarly, Ohio State also struggled in the red zone during the Big Ten Championship Game. The Buckeyes came up empty on two of their four possessions inside Miami’s 20-yard line, marking the first time this season they failed to convert more than one redzone chance in a single game.
Ohio State’s final opportunity in the redzone resulted in a missed 27-yard field goal from kicker Jayden Fielding, a kick that ultimately cost the Buckeyes a chance to tie and win the conference title bout.
Whether it’s wide receivers Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss or tight ends Max Klare and Will Kacmarek, Ohio State is loaded with receiving weapons for Sayin, and opening up the passing game can create running lanes for a Buckeye rushing attack averaging 4.7 yards per carry, allowing the offense to find balance rather than relying on a run game that has struggled to gain consistent momentum.
Miami: Rush The Passer, Make Julian Sayin Throw Under Pressure And Force Him Into Mistakes
With several potential first-round picks anchoring Miami’s defensive line, generating consistent pressure on Julian Sayin will be a critical emphasis for the Hurricanes.
The redshirt freshman, Sayin, has struggled at times throughout the season when faced with pressure. With defensive end Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr. manning the edge for the Hurricanes, Miami has the personnel to collapse the pocket in a manner similar to Indiana’s approach.
Miami ranks 19th nationally in sacks per game, taking down opposing quarterbacks an average of 2.73 times per game. Mesidor and Bain lead the Hurricanes with 8.5 and 7.5 sacks, respectively, of Miami’s total of 30 on the season.
Ohio State’s offensive line surrendered just six total sacks prior to the conference championship game, but allowed the Hoosiers to get home five times on Sayin, pressure that proved decisive in the Buckeyes’ 13-10 defeat.
If Miami hopes to topple the No. 2-seeded Buckeyes, it will need to either match their high level of play or force quarterback Sayin into costly errors, something he rarely does. Sayin has thrown only six interceptions this season, though two came in each of his last two games against Michigan and Indiana.
With Miami’s pass defense ranked 27th nationally, allowing 190.2 passing yards per game, getting home on Sayin could be beneficial to alleviating pressure from a Hurricanes’ secondary that is sure to have its hands full with Ohio State’s elite receivers.
Ultimately, Miami’s ability to consistently pressure Sayin and force mistakes could determine whether the Hurricanes can pull off an upset against the Buckeyes.
