3 & Out: What to know for Ohio State’s game with Miami

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This year at LGHL, the day before Ohio State games we are trying something a little different. “3 & Out” is going to inform you on the upcoming opponent for the Buckeyes. By the name, you probably could tell we are going to handle things in threes.

Along with highlighting three key players from Ohio State’s opponents, we will shed some light on three things the Buckeyes have to be wary of, and close things out by having a little fun by mentioning three notable alumni or facts from the school that’ll be matching up with Ohio State.

First Down

Players to watch for Miami

1) Malachi Toney

The Hurricanes are hoping Malachi Toney is for them this year what Jeremiah Smith was for the Buckeyes last season.

The freshman wide receiver has been fabulous in his first season of college football, catching 89 passes for 992 yards, and eight touchdowns entering Wednesday night’s game. The 89 catches are a single-season school record, breaking the previous mark of 85 receptions set by Xavier Restrepo in 2023.

It’s obvious who Carson Beck’s favorite target is when the Hurricanes are throwing the ball, as Toney’s 89 catches are twice as many as Keelan Marion’s 44 receptions, which ranks second on the team.

Despite only being a freshman, Toney showed in the Texas A&M game his maturity between the ears. Toney fumbled in the fourth quarter while fighting for extra yardage, giving the Aggies a short field and allowing them to tie the game with a field goal.

With Miami driving later in the quarter, Toney was able to atone for his mistake, scoring what would end up being the game-winning touchdown. Many freshmen wouldn’t be able to recover so quickly in such a big game to make a play like that.

Ohio State will have to know where Toney is on the field at all times or else the ACC Rookie of the Year will make them pay.

2) Rueben Bain Jr. & Akheem Mesidor

The junior defensive end showed exactly why he was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year in the win over Texas A&M, sacking quarterback Marcel Reed three times. Bain now has 11.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks on the season.

Ohio State’s offensive line is going to have their hands full trying to keep Bain out of the backfield since he has the perfect blend of athleticism, power, and violence for a defensive lineman. There’s no question when Bain does decide to declare for the NFL Draft that he will be a first round talent.

Bain isn’t the only defensive lineman the Buckeyes have to be worried about. Teaming with Bain is West Virginia transfer Akheem Mesidor, who has 13.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles this season. After seeing how much Ohio State’s offensive line struggled against Indiana, Bain and Mesidor have to be licking their chops when thinking about ambushing Buckeye quarterback Julian Sayin on Wednesday night.

3) Bryce Fitzgerald

Even though he primarily lines up at the nickel back position, Bryce Fitzgerald has been a quarterback’s worst nightmare this season. The defensive back sealed the win over Texas A&M with an interception in the end zone late in the game a couple weeks ago.

The pick was Fitzgerald’s sixth of the season, which is tied for the most among Power 4 conference players. The six interceptions by Fitzgerald accounts for nearly half of the 14 picks the Hurricanes have as a team.

Despite Julian Sayin being the most accurate quarterback in the country this year, there have been a few mistakes over the last couple games. Not only did the redshirt freshman throw an interception early on in the win over Michigan, Sayin was also picked off early in the Big Ten Championship Game by Indiana.

With how well Fitzgerald has proven he can track the football, Sayin will have to be careful on where he is throwing it or Fitzgerald could make a play that shifts momentum in the game.

Second Down

What Ohio State has to be wary of

1) Shake off any rust quickly

Last year Ohio State was in the opposite position. The Buckeyes played in the first round of the College Football Playoff, which proved to be beneficial in the next round against Oregon, who came out flat in the Rose Bowl. Now Ohio State hopes they aren’t the team that gets ambushed early on by a team that played less than two weeks ago. Last year the Buckeyes were the hunter, while this year they are the hunted.

What makes this even more concerning is over the last few years under Ryan Day there have been games where the Buckeyes have started slow. Not so much in the College Football Playoff last season, but there were plenty of games in 2024 where Ohio State took a while to find their footing. 2025 has seen some of the same tendencies. Just look at the Michigan game, which had Buckeye Nation wondering early on if they might be watching a fifth straight loss to the Wolverines.

Hopefully not playing for over three weeks makes Ohio State even hungrier when they take the field at the Cotton Bowl. The key will be to jump on the Hurricanes early on and make Miami have to try and respond. If Mario Cristobal’s team can’t match any early energy from the Buckeyes than it could be a long night for the Hurricanes.

2) Don’t put it on cruise control

This will be the third straight season the Buckeyes will be playing in the Cotton Bowl. At this point Ohio State knows the routine of traveling to Dallas, the media obligations, where they are staying, the practice schedule, etc. What the Buckeyes can’t afford is to fall into complacency. Ryan Day’s team needs to treat this trip to the Cotton Bowl like it’s their first time playing in the game.

Since this will be Miami’s first time playing in the Cotton Bowl in over 30 years, there will be plenty excitement from the Hurricanes to be in Dallas. Hopefully for Ohio State, since they have been here each of the past two years, they’ll treat it more like a business trip, where Miami might see it as more of a vacation. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your time on a bowl trip, the Buckeyes should know when to get serious.

3) Beware of the underdog

The roles were sort of reversed over 20 years ago when the teams met in the BCS National Championship Game. Miami was the favorite and not many people were giving Ohio State much of a chance against the Hurricanes. Not that it wasn’t for good reason, since Miami was the defending national champs and loaded with future NFL players. Ohio State went on to shock the world and down the Hurricanes in double overtime.

Now Ohio State is nearly a double-digit favorite and the defending national champions. It’s not that there aren’t people calling for Miami to win this game, but the overwhelming choice to win this game seems to be Ohio State.

The Buckeyes can’t listen to all the noise on the outside of people already moving them on to the Fiesta Bowl, they just have to go out there on Wednesday night and play their game. The Hurricanes have nothing to lose, which means Ohio State has to be on their toes all game long.

Third down

Ohio State/Miami connections

1) Tate Martell

Remember Tathan? Of course you remember the former Ohio State, Miami, and UNLV quarterback!

Tate committed to Ohio State as a five-star recruit coming out of high school. After redshirting in 2017, Martell was Dwayne Haskins’ backup in 2018, appearing in six games. After Haskins declared for the NFL Draft it looked like Martell would finally get his shot to start at Ohio State, but new head coach Ryan Day had other plans, opting to bring in Georgia quarterback Justin Fields.

Somehow things got even worse for Martell at Miami. Not only was he beaten out for the starting job in 2019 by a redshirt freshman, he was suspended to start the 2020 season but decided to opt out anyway. Following the failed stint at Miami, Martell transferred to UNLV where he would attempt a whole one pass before announcing his retirement from football in January 2022.

2) Maurice Clarett & Sean Taylor

These two combined for one of the most memorable plays in college football history. Luckily for Ohio State fans it went their way. Sean Taylor was returning a Craig Krenzel interception when Maurice Clarett ripped the football away from Taylor in the BCS National Championship Game.

Instead of the Hurricanes possibly tying the game at 14, Clarett’s forced turnover resulted in a Mike Nugent field goal, pushing Ohio State’s lead at the time to 17-7. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know how the rest of the game went.

I’ll take any excuse to not only mention Clarett, but also Taylor, who was one of the greatest safeties of our generation and taken from us far too soon.

3) Marcus Freeman

Since the truly obvious connections between the two schools are lacking, I figured I’d have some fun with the last one. Former Ohio State Buckeye Marcus Freeman is somewhat responsible for these two teams meeting at the Cotton Bowl.

Had Miami not beaten Freeman and Notre Dame to open the season then the Hurricanes don’t make the College Football Playoff and also don’t have the chance to play Ohio State. Before opening up the 2025 season with a loss to the Hurricanes, Freeman closed out the 2024 season with a loss to the Buckeyes.

Don’t feel so bad for Marcus. He just decided to stay at Notre Dame for at least one more season, so he won’t have to go coach the New York Giants, or another NFL laughingstock.

& Out

Prediction: 28-17, Ohio State

Go Bucks!

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