Jeremiah Smith, Rueben Bain Jr. Shine in Miami's Cotton Bowl Upset vs. Ohio State

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Ohio State won’t be repeating as national champions of college football, as Miami dealt the defending champs a 24-14 upset loss in the Cotton Bowl Classic on Wednesday night.

The Buckeyes fell short despite another impressive performance from star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who hauled in seven receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown, averaging over 22 yards per catch.

Smith was the only consistent source of explosive plays for the Ohio State offense, and helped them claw back into the game in the second half with this score:

But that solo showing wasn’t enough against a dominant Canes defense, led by Rueben Bain Jr. and a relentless pass rush that kept redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin in a blender all night long. Bain and fellow defensive end Akheem Mesidor combined for three of Miami’s five sacks on the night, against a Buckeyes offense that had given up just five sacks all season prior to their loss to Indiana in the Big Ten title game.

While Ohio State’s defense featured two players (Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs) who could each make a strong case to be the first non-quarterback selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Bain reminded everyone that he belongs in that conversation.

His game-wrecking ability off the edge created constant havoc for Sayin and the Buckeyes all night long, from scoreless first half to forcing the game-sealing interception in the final seconds. Bain has a complete skill set that should translate to immediate success at the next level, and his ability to single-handedly take over games (especially on these big stages), should make him a top-five lock in this year’s draft.

The same would be true for Smith, but he still won’t be eligible for early entry until the 2027 NFL Draft, despite the fact that he likely would have been the best player available in 2025 and 2026, regardless of position. By the time he’s actually able to make the jump to the pros, there won’t be any doubt about his ability to instantly become one of the NFL’s best wide receivers. Following Carnell Tate this cycle, Smith is sure to make it seven years in a row with at least one Ohio State wide receiver selected in the first round.

This game was loaded with NFL talent on both sides, but it was Bain and Smith who lived up to expectations that were already through the roof. We’ll get to see them again, too, as Bain prepares for at least one more college game in the Sugar Bowl, while Smith heads back to Columbus to prepare for the 2026 season.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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