Miami Shocks Ohio State in Playoff Upset: Hurricanes Prevail 24-14

Miami Shocks Ohio State in Playoff Upset: Hurricanes Prevail 24-14

In a stunning playoff upset, the Miami Hurricanes defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes with a final score of 24-14. The game was a hard-fought battle, with Miami ultimately capitalizing on key opportunities to secure the victory.

Key Individual Performances

Miami's offense was powered by a balanced attack. Quarterback Carson Beck completed 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown, efficiently managing the game. The ground game was spearheaded by Mark Fletcher Jr., who rushed for 90 yards on 19 carries. CharMar Brown added a rushing touchdown, contributing valuable points for the Hurricanes. C.J. Daniels led Miami's receiving corps with 49 yards on 5 receptions, while Keelan Marion also contributed with 36 receiving yards.

Ohio State's offense relied heavily on the passing game. Quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 287 yards, completing 22 of 35 passes, with one touchdown. His primary target was Jeremiah Smith, who had a dominant performance, racking up 157 receiving yards and a touchdown on 7 receptions. Bo Jackson led the Buckeyes' rushing attack with 55 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Davison Igbinosun led Ohio State with 10 tackles, while Caleb Downs and Kayden McDonald each recorded 8 tackles. Jakobe Thomas and Mohamed Toure led Miami's defense with 7 tackles each.

Turning Points

Several pivotal plays shaped the outcome of this playoff contest. In the 1st quarter, Ohio State's Julian Sayin was sacked for a loss of 10 yards by Miami's defensive end, A. Mesidor, setting the tone for a tough day for the Buckeyes' offense. Early in the 2nd quarter, a long pass from Sayin to Jeremiah Smith for 59 yards, bringing Ohio State close to scoring. However, the Buckeyes' momentum was quickly halted when Sayin's pass was intercepted by Miami's K. Scott, who returned it 72 yards for a touchdown, giving Miami a significant boost. The 2nd quarter also saw Sayin sacked twice more for losses of 6 and 13 yards, by R. Bain Jr. and A. Mesidor respectively, highlighting Miami's defensive pressure.

In the 3rd quarter, C. Davis successfully kicked a 49-yard field goal, adding crucial points for the Hurricanes. A deep pass completion of 23 yards from Sayin to Smith helped Ohio State, but the Buckeyes were unable to convert these gains into enough points to overcome Miami's lead. In the 4th quarter, Sayin was sacked for a loss of 9 yards by W. Bissainthe. Another negative play was the completion from Miami's C.Beck to M.Toney for a loss of 6 yards.

Looking Ahead

This playoff victory is a significant achievement for the Miami Hurricanes, showcasing their ability to compete and win against a top-ranked team like Ohio State. The Hurricanes will look to build on this momentum as they advance in the playoffs. Ohio State, on the other hand, will need to regroup and analyze the game tape, addressing the issues that led to their defeat. Both teams demonstrated their strengths, and this game served as a thrilling display of college football at its best.