Urban Meyer Blames Trenches, Not Play-Calling, for Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl Exit

Overview

• Miami beat Ohio State 24–14 in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, fueled by 22 pressures, seven tackles for loss and five sacks that stifled the Buckeyes’ offense.
• Urban Meyer said on the Triple Option podcast that play-calling was overrated in this case and that Ohio State was beaten at the line of scrimmage in its final two games.
• Ryan Day had assumed play-calling after the Dec. 6 loss to Indiana and postgame accepted responsibility for the Cotton Bowl defeat as analysts criticized a slow, conservative start.
• Coaching turnover is underway with Brian Hartline leaving for South Florida and Cortez Hankton stepping in as wide receivers coach, while the offensive coordinator role remains open.
• Offseason priorities include portal reinforcements at offensive tackle, edge rusher and cornerback after Julian Sayin was sacked five times by both Indiana and Miami despite a defense that allowed only 17 offensive points to the Hurricanes.