Overview
- Kickoff is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN at AT&T Stadium, and the winner advances to face the Sugar Bowl winner (Georgia or Ole Miss) in the Fiesta Bowl.
- Head coach Ryan Day will handle play-calling as defending champion Ohio State seeks a rare back-to-back national title.
- Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin enters with 3,323 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a national-best 78.4% completion rate for an offense backed by a defense leading the nation in scoring and passing yards allowed.
- Ohio State receivers Jeremiah Smith (80 catches, 1,086 yards, 11 TDs) and Carnell Tate test a Miami secondary that has allowed only 11 passing touchdowns, with freshman safety Bryce Fitzgerald tied for the P4 lead with six interceptions.
- Miami makes its CFP debut after a 10-3 win at Texas A&M and leans on edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, who have combined for 17 sacks and five forced fumbles, including three sacks by Bain in the first round.