{"id":31347,"date":"2026-01-01T07:46:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T11:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/bowl-game-scores-miami-stuns-defending-champ-ohio-state-24-14-historic-upset-ends-buckeyes-championship-hopes\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T07:46:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T11:46:29","slug":"38507-bowl-game-scores-miami-upsets-ohio-state-24-14-in-shocking-college-football-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/38507-bowl-game-scores-miami-upsets-ohio-state-24-14-in-shocking-college-football-play\/","title":{"rendered":"Bowl game scores: Miami stuns defending champ Ohio State 24-14, historic upset ends Buckeyes’ championship hopes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bowl game scores from last night revealed a stunning upset that will reshape the College Football Playoff landscape. The #10 Miami Hurricanes<\/b> shocked defending national champion Ohio State<\/b>, dominating the Cotton Bowl with a 24-14<\/b> victory in the CFP quarterfinal. This was the biggest upset in College Football Playoff history<\/b>, with Miami entering as a 9.5-point underdog<\/b>.<\/p>\n

\n

\ud83d\udd25 Quick Facts<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Miami defeated Ohio State 24-14<\/b> on December 31, 2025, in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium<\/li>\n
  • Keionte Scott<\/b> returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown to put Miami up 14-0 in the second quarter<\/li>\n
  • Miami led 14-0 at halftime<\/b>, overcoming the defending national champions’ early struggles<\/li>\n
  • Miami advances to the Fiesta Bowl semifinal<\/b> to face either #3 Georgia or #6 Ole Miss on January 8<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    How Miami Dominated the Cotton Bowl Against Ohio State<\/h2>\n

    The Hurricanes’ defense<\/b> was absolutely suffocating throughout the game. Miami started strong and built an insurmountable 14-0 halftime lead that proved too much for the Buckeyes to overcome. The game was played at AT&T Stadium<\/b> in Arlington, Texas, with 71,323 fans<\/b> in attendance on a historic New Year’s Eve night.<\/p>\n

    Carson Beck<\/b> led the Miami offense efficiently, completing 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards and 1 touchdown<\/b>. The Hurricanes’ balanced attack featured strong rushing from Mark Fletcher Jr.<\/b>, who carried the ball 19 times. Miami controlled the clock with 33:20 of possession time<\/b>, limiting Ohio State’s opportunities.<\/p>\n

    Scott’s 72-Yard Pick-Six Puts Game Out of Reach<\/h2>\n

    The turning point came early in the second quarter when defensive back Keionte Scott<\/b> intercepted a screen pass from Ohio State’s Julian Sayin<\/b> and returned it 72 yards untouched for a touchdown<\/b>. According to ESPN, Scott peeked over at the Miami sideline to see the reaction of his teammates<\/b> as he sprinted down the field. This highlight-reel play effectively ended the game as a contest.<\/p>\n

    Miami’s defense<\/b> forced a total of 2 Ohio State turnovers<\/b>, with Scott’s interception return being the most impactful. Fletcher Jr.<\/b> also contributed an earlier touchdown, catching a 9-yard scoring pass from Carson Beck<\/b> with 13:31<\/b> remaining in the second quarter. By halftime, Miami had completely controlled the defending champion offense.<\/p>\n

    Final Scoring Breakdown and Game Statistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
    Team<\/td>\nQ1<\/td>\nQ2<\/td>\nQ3<\/td>\nQ4<\/td>\nFinal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Miami<\/b><\/td>\n0<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Ohio State<\/b><\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

    Miami’s kicker Carter Davis<\/b> made his presence felt with a 49-yard field goal<\/b> in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, running back CharMar Brown<\/b> sealed the upset with a 5-yard touchdown run<\/b> with 0:55 remaining<\/b>. Ohio State fought back with touchdowns from Bo Jackson<\/b> (1-yard run) and Jeremiah Smith<\/b> (14-yard receiving), but it came too late.<\/p>\n

    Ohio State’s Historic Collapse and Missed Opportunities<\/h2>\n

    Ohio State quarterterback Julian Sayin<\/b> threw 2 interceptions<\/b> while completing 22 of 35 passes<\/b> for 287 yards and 1 touchdown. Head coach Ryan Day<\/b> later took blame for Ohio State’s disastrous start<\/b>, acknowledging the Buckeyes’ inability to adjust early. The defending national champions managed only 332 total yards of offense<\/b> compared to Miami’s 291 yards<\/b>.<\/p>\n

    The Buckeyes converted just 3 of 10 third-down attempts<\/b> and struggled in the trenches. Ohio State<\/b> also committed 2 penalties for 15 yards<\/b>, while Miami played a penalty-free game. The defensive performance by Miami’s front seven completely disrupted Ohio State’s offensive rhythm throughout the entire contest.<\/p>\n

    What This Upset Means for the College Football Playoff?<\/h2>\n

    Miami’s victory sends the Hurricanes to the Fiesta Bowl semifinal<\/b> on January 8<\/b> against either #3 Georgia or #6 Ole Miss<\/b>. This represents one of the most shocking results in CFP history, with ninth-place seed Miami<\/b> knocking off the top defensive team in the nation. The victory proves the Hurricanes are capable of competing at the highest level despite their regular season record.<\/p>\n

    Ohio State’s loss<\/b> marks the defending national champion’s exit from playoff contention. The Buckeyes finished with a 12-2 record<\/b>, unable to defend their title after a stunning upset loss on New Year’s Eve. Miami’s success could inspire other lower-seeded teams as the playoff progresses through the semifinals.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Watch the Full Highlights<\/h3>\n