Overview
- Miami’s defensive front controlled the trenches with five sacks and limited Ohio State to 45 rushing yards.
- Keionte Scott jumped a screen for a 72-yard interception return to make it 14-0 in the first half, a lead the Buckeyes never erased.
- Ohio State ruled out starting right guard Tegra Tshabola minutes before kickoff, inserting redshirt freshman Gabe VanSickle as protection issues mounted.
- Julian Sayin went 22-of-35 for 287 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions while Jeremiah Smith had seven catches for 157 yards and a score.
- CharMar Brown’s 5-yard touchdown with 55 seconds left sealed the win as Miami advanced to the Jan. 8 Fiesta Bowl to face the Georgia–Ole Miss winner, a result that defied a roughly 9.5-point spread.