6 keys to Ohio State beating Miami in the CFP Cotton Bowl Classic

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We are just one day away from seeing Ohio State back in action as it looks to defend its College Football Playoff national title against the Miami Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl Classic. As with any matchup, there are things that have to go well for a team to execute the game plan and win, and it'll be no different inside AT&T Stadium when two of the most athletic teams in the country do battle on New Year's Eve.

Though there could be some surprises, especially with the Buckeyes having so much time off, we know both of these teams pretty well based on the entire body of work we've seen through a whole season, so we can kind of understand the style of play and what each team will try to do on both sides of the ball.

Because of that, there are some keys to the game that Ohio State will need to go its way in order to move on past the 'Canes and on down the road to Phoenix to play in the Fiesta Bowl.

Here are five keys to the Buckeyes beating Miami in the Cotton Bowl Classic.

Ohio State must stop the run

Ohio State has been great at stopping the run this entire year, and in fact led the country in that effort, but there were some leaks against Indiana that helped the Hoosiers' passing game make enough plays in key situations. It wasn't an all-out ambush on the ground by Indiana (just 120 yards), but it showed that there can be some balance against this defense.

Miami is a much, much, better team — and Caron Beck is a more productive quarterback — when the Hurricanes can run the ball, so it will be of utmost importance for the Buckeyes to limit Mark Fletcher Jr. and company on the ground. If OSU can make Beck beat them through the air in obvious passing situations, we've seen that movie script result in some turnovers from the Miami quarterback, and you like the chances of that being a sequel in Dallas.

The Buckeyes must be able to run the ball themselves

Conversely, Ohio State has to be able to be balanced as well. That wasn't the case against Indiana until the latter stages of the game in Indianapolis, and it made the passing game less dynamic than usual. You have to be able to slow down the pass rush of Miami, and one way to do that is to keep the defense honest in defending the run so that they aren't just pinning their ears back and putting a target on the back of Julian Sayin.

We know Ohio State can sling the ball around, but there has to be an ability to get things going on the ground once you get into these matchup-type games, where execution and variability often decide the difference between heading home and moving on. Bo Jackson, you are on the clock.

The Ohio State offensive line has to pass protect well

Most notably, the right side of the offensive line has to be able to hold back the Miami pass rush that has two great bookend defensive ends in Rueben Baine Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. They got after Texas A&M last week and have been creating havoc against opposing offensive lines all season. It would probably be unrealistic to think that they would be completely neutralized on Wednesday night, but there has to be a solid effort to keep Julian Sayin clean in the pocket more than what we saw against Indiana.

Phillip Daniels and whoever is lining up on that left side with him will probably be trying to fend off Baine more often than not, and we can't see five or six sacks as we saw in Indy, or the offense is going to get tied up again. The battle between Miami's defensive front and the offensive line of Ohio State might be the most important matchup of the game, and it's one that OSU has to find a way to win.

Ohio State has to open the playbook

While that defensive line for Miami might be a problem, the playmakers on the outside should have a huge advantage going against the Hurricane secondary. Whether it be Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, Max Klare, or Bo Jackson out of the backfield, the nature of the offense has to be an attacking one.

For all of the handwringing and teeth-gnashing that occurred with the playcalling against Michigan in 2024, things seemed to fall back in that pattern against Indiana, and that's playing right into a defense's hands if you don't utilize your best playmakers. The Ohio State coaching staff can't make a defensive challenge type of game a defensive struggle game by falling into a conservative trap. Let it go when it makes sense.

Ohio State special teams have to be special

Special teams have not been the calling card for Ohio State in the big games it has lost over the last few years. Whether it be a shanked field goal against Georgia, a couple of missed field goals against Michigan in 2024, or a yank of a chip-shot field goal in the Big Ten Championship Game last month, those key spots made a huge difference in the outcomes of those losses.

Jayden Fielding has gotten the nod already as the starting field goal kicker, and he has to perform. He doesn't even have to do anything miraculous, just make the kicks he should make, and it'll add up to more points that could mean all the difference in the world.

But it's more than Fielding and the kicking game. OSU hasn't been too terribly dynamic with special teams, and that's been OK. In this one, though, having some explosive plays on special teams would be great, all while keeping Miami at bay when it has the same opportunities.

Ohio State has to cash in when inside the red zone

It sure has been a struggle in the red zone at times, and most especially in Indianapolis. But it's not just this year. There seems to be an issue with personnel grouping, play calling, and execution once Ohio State gets into scoring position. The athletes are too good not be able to punch more possessions into the end zone, so things have to change.

You know, Day and the coaching staff took a hard look at these critical situations, and I would be shocked if you don't see a different approach because the Buckeyes have to make the most of the opportunities they are given if they want to get past Miami and the exceptional defense it plays. Look for Tate and Smith to be more involved, and look for Lincoln Kienholz to be a part of short-yardage situations like QB sneaks, just to name a few things.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State vs Miami: 6 keys to the Buckeyes wining the CFP Cotton Bowl

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