Miami Upsets Ohio State in Cotton Bowl; Scott's 72-yard Interception Shifts Game
Miami upset defending champion Ohio State 24-14 in the Cotton Bowl; Keionte Scott's 72-yard interception touchdown shifted momentum, sending Miami into College Football Playoff semifinals.
The GuardianMiami stun defending champion Ohio State 24-14 in CFP quarter-final
USA TODAYHow Ohio State's slow start spelled doom vs. Miami in repeat CFP title bid
USA TODAYMiami makes CFP title case after Cotton Bowl upset of Ohio State: 'This is our moment'
Chicago TribuneDefending champ No. 2 Ohio State loses to No. 10 Miami as teams with first-round byes drop to 0-5 in College Football Playoff
Overview
Miami upset defending champion Ohio State 24-14 in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal on Dec. 31, advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Miami's Keionte Scott intercepted quarterback Sayin's pass and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown, giving Miami a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.
Ohio State quarterback Sayin threw two interceptions and the Buckeyes were sacked five times, hampering their offense and contributing to the upset.
Jeremiah Smith finished with 157 yards and a touchdown, including a critical 22-yard fourth-quarter catch; Carson Beck threw for 138 yards and Mark Fletcher Jr. rushed for 90.
The upset continued a postseason trend of teams with first-round byes losing in quarterfinals, marking the first major surprise of this College Football Playoff.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Ohio State's loss to Miami as a surprising and disappointing end to a promising season. The narrative emphasizes Ohio State's struggles with a slow start and the impact of Miami's defensive pressure. Language choices like "uncharacteristic" and "disappointing" highlight the unexpected nature of the defeat, while the focus on Ohio State's previous successes and high expectations underscores the shock of their early exit.