Hurricanes upset Ohio State, punch ticket to College Football Playoff semis

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Keionte Scott read the play perfectly.

After Ohio State reached Miami’s red zone for the first time, Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin — the nation’s most accurate passer this season — tried to throw a short pass. Scott knew what was coming, sprinted between Sayin and the receiver and picked off the pass.

There was no one in front of him. Scott was untouched for 72 yards down the turf at AT&T Stadium before reaching the end zone, putting Miami ahead by two touchdowns. It set the Hurricanes up for an 17-14 upset victory over the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night.

The Hurricanes will face the winner of Thursday’s Georgia-Ole Miss quarterfinal in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan 8.

Miami and Ohio State traded three-and-outs on their first drives. Carson Beck threw two incompletions on UM’s first drive, and defensive end Akheem Mesidor ended the Buckeyes’ first drive with a 10-yard sack. Miami moved the ball on its second drive, but Mark Fletccher Jr. fumbled on a third-down run, and Ohio State recovered to end the Hurricanes’ drive in the red zone.

Fletcher got his redemption quickly. Miami marched 83 yards down the field, and Fletcher scored the game’s first touchdown on a short pass from Beck.

The Buckeyes looked like they would respond immediately, as Sayin tossed a 59-yard pass to former South Florida star Jeremiah Smith, putting Ohio State in the red zone. But Rueben Bain Jr. sacked Sayin on the next play. Scott read the next pass perfectly and returned it for a 72-yard score.

Miami’s defense dominated the Buckeyes for the first half. Ohio State’s best drive of the first half came at the end of the second quarter after OSU forced a punt when UM was in Buckeyes territory. Ohio State moved the ball down the field but had to settle for a field goal at the end of the half. Kicker Jayden Fielding’s kick went wide left, and the Hurricanes took a two-touchdown lead into halftime.

The Buckeyes were not about to go gently into the night, though. Ohio State drove 82 yards on its second-half-opening drive, with running back Bo Jackson just getting over the goalline for the Buckeyes’ first points of the night.

Miami responded by keeping Ohio State at arm’s length. UM went 43 yards, and Carter Davis hit a 49-yard field goal to put Miami back ahead by 10 points.

Jeremiah Smith, a former star at Chaminade-Madonna who became one of the best players in the nation after choosing Ohio State over Miami, cut the Hurricanes’ lead to three with a 14-yard touchdown catch over the middle early in the fourth quarter.

The Hurricanes made a crucial fourth-quarter stop and got the ball back with 5:56 left in the fourth quarter. Fletcher broke off key runs to keep the clock moving. Running back Marty Brown added key first downs, as well, as Miami moved the ball down the field.

Brown punctuated the final drive with a touchdown run, giving the Hurricanes a safe, 10-point lead. Jakobe Thomas clinched the win with an interception on Ohio State’s final play.

Five takeaways

1. Hurricanes’ dominant pass rush

Miami spent much of the night in the Ohio State backfield. Mesidor and Bain combined for 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in the victory.

Coordinator Corey Hetherman’s defense gave the Buckeyes fits, and Sayin rarely had time to sit in the pocket and target talented wide receivers like Smith and Carnell Tate in the first half.

Ohio State figured out how to handle UM’s pressure in the second half, though. Sayin was sacked twice in the last two quarters.

Miami ended the game with five sacks.

2. Scott is a difference maker

Miami’s defense did well when Scott was hurt, but the first-year Hurricane has been one of the best defensive backs in the nation whenever he has been healthy.

After forcing a turnover and getting two sacks against the Aggies in the first round, Scott had the play of the game with his 72-yard pick-six. The touchdown gave Miami momentum and a cushion that they needed.

3. The one who got away

Smith said earlier in the week that he was strongly considering becoming a Hurricane the day he signed with Ohio State. Ultimately, he stuck with his long-time commitment to the Buckeyes.

The star receiver had an excellent performance on Wednesday, finishing with seven catches for 157 yards, but it was not enough to carry the Buckeyes to a win.

4. Fletcher gets some early redemption

Fletcher had a heartwarming moment when he comforted freshman Malachi Toney when Toney had a potentially costly fumble against Texas A&M.

Fletcher was the one who fumbled on Wednesday, and his turnover in the red zone may have cost UM points. But Fletcher quickly made up for it, scoring the game’s first touchdown on a 9-yard catch.

Fletcher finished the game with 90 rushing yards on 19 carries.

5. Ohio State makes adjustments

The Buckeyes could not do much on offense in the first half, especially on the ground. But Ryan Day and the Ohio State offense figured out how to move the ball in the second half.

After notching -3 rushing yards in the first half, the Buckeyes started moving the ball on the ground. Jackson ended the game with 55 yards and a touchdown. Smith came alive in the second half, scoring Ohio State’s second touchdown.

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