Miami will face No. 6 Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 after the Rebels beat Georgia 39-34 in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday night.

The Hurricanes are 1-2 all-time against Ole Miss, but the two teams have not played since UM beat the Rebels in 1951.

Miami, which is the No. 10 seed, earned its first trip to the semifinals by beating No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday.

Ole Miss is 13-1 this season. The Rebels picked up key wins over Tulane (twice), Oklahoma and LSU before beating the Bulldogs on Thursday. Ole Miss’ one loss was against Georgia in the regular season, but it avenged that loss in the Sugar Bowl to advance in the playoffs.

The Rebels had a rocky transition from the regular season to the postseason. Former coach Lane Kiffin had a long, public courting with LSU and Florida before leaving to become the Tigers’ coach when Ole Miss refused to allow him to coach in the playoffs. The Rebels named former defensive coordinator Pete Golding the team’s new head coach.

Ole Miss’ key players include quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, running back Kewan Lacy, wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling and defensive end Princewill Umanmielen. Lacy was a first-team All-SEC pick. Chambliss was a second-team selection, as was tight end Dae’Quan Wright.

With the win over Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Wednesday night, Miami has re-established itself as one of the nation’s top teams.

It was a statement victory in a season that has had several of them, from the season-opening win over Notre Dame to the gutty road victory over Texas A&M in the first round.

Here are five things we learned from UM’s win in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night:

All about the trenches

Mario Cristobal is an offensive line coach. He wants to bully teams at the line of scrimmage. Cristobal made the trenches his priority when he got to Miami, and his first full recruiting class at UM had the pair of trench stars Francis Mauigoa and Rueben Bain Jr. in it. Since arriving at Miami, Cristobal has signed six composite five-star recruits. All six are offensive or defensive linemen.

That style of play is not always aesthetically pleasing. Hurricanes fans grew frustrated as one too many runs up the middle got stymied in key moments. But it paid off at the Cotton Bowl. The Hurricanes mauled the Buckeyes in the trenches. Bain and Akheem Mesidor, an early transfer who Cristobal signed before his first season at UM, combined for 3.5 tackles and three sacks. Miami held Ohio State to a season-low 45 rushing yards.

And when the Hurricanes needed to secure the win, they turned to the trenches again, as their ground game carried them to the game-sealing touchdown.

Another dynamic duo

There has been a lot of attention given to the defensive-end combo of Bain and Mesidor, and it is deserved. But there is another dynamic duo on the defense that deserves just as much credit: nickelback Keionte Scott and safety Jakobe Thomas.

Both players transferred to Miami from SEC schools. Scott last played at Auburn, and Thomas transferred from Tennessee. Neither were stellar at their previous schools.

The pair has transformed into two of the top defensive backs in the nation.

Scott, who missed three games at the end of the season with a foot injury, has been all over the field since he returned for the playoffs. He was dominant around the line of scrimmage against Texas A&M, making two sacks and forcing a fumble. He had the play of the game on Wednesday, jumping a short route and returning it for a touchdown.

Thomas, who lost to the Buckeyes in the playoffs when he played for Tennessee last year, had seven tackles and ended the game with an interception of his own.

Carson Beck does what is needed

Ohio State star receiver Jeremiah Smith had more receiving yards Wednesday (157) than Carson Beck had passing yards (138). But Beck’s team won, and Smith’s team did not.

Beck was not perfect in the win over Ohio State. He did not connect for any big passing plays downfield. But he was exactly what UM needed. Beck protected the football and avoided a turnover for the second straight playoff game. He was accurate, completing 73% of his passes. And Beck was hard-nosed, running when he needed to and picking up a fourth-quarter first down by scrambling and lowering his shoulder into the hit.

“There was a third down earlier in the game that I thought I had gotten; I dived for it, but I guess I didn’t get there. I was just a little bit short,” Beck said. “When I didn’t get that one, I was like, ‘You know what? If I get in that situation again, I’m running somebody over, and I’m getting the first down. I’m putting my body on the line to win this football game.’

“And I was presented the opportunity, and I wasn’t going to slide. I wasn’t going to go down.”

Beck has only 241 passing yards across two playoff games. But in part because of his performance, he will get to play a third.

Ground and pound

For the second game in a row, Miami relied on its running backs for the bulk of its offense. Junior Mark Fletcher Jr. did not have the outstanding statistical output he had against the Aggies, but the American Heritage alum bounced back from an early fumble to catch a 9-yard touchdown and rush for 90 yards.

The Hurricanes got some fresh legs into the game in the fourth quarter, as Marty Brown got his first playoff touches. Brown had a first-down catch, a big 13-yard run and the touchdown that put UM ahead by 10.

“To see my brother out there, I told him that I need you,” Fletcher said. “And, shoot, he just had my back. That’s what I love to see, man. I feel like we got the best running back room in the country.”

If you can beat the Buckeyes…

… you can beat anyone. Ohio State spent the vast majority of the season as the No. 1 team in the nation. The Hurricanes beat the Buckeyes, and it was not a fluke.

Miami will face the winner of Thursday’s Georgia-Ole Miss Sugar Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8. The Hurricanes may have been nearly double-digit underdogs against the Buckeyes. They will not be taken so lightly again.

“It means everything to me,” Beck said. “It means everything to this team to get to somewhere that we haven’t been. We haven’t been in for so long. This team has constantly battled through adversity, constantly fought, has never not given enough, regardless of any type of doubt, regardless of any negativity that might surround this team. We’re banded together as one. We’ve shown unity, we’ve shown connection, and we’ve shown that we’re a family. I feel like the way that we play and the brand of football we play shows that.”

All Miami had to do was hold on to their lead by the end. And they held tight. And when safety Jakobe Thomas came down with an interception to seal Miami’s 24-14 College Football Playoff quarterfinal win against Ohio State, it brought in the New Year with new stars and a new path in a very old way.

“Coach Johnson!’’ Miami coach Mario Cristobal shouted to Jimmy Johnson on the Arlington, Texas, field afterward, as if linking up with that old dynasty. “Coach Johnson! There you go, brother. There you go. Greentree Practice Field!”

Jimmy had tears in his eyes. Any old Hurricane was allowed after this night. Beating Texas A&M in the opener of the College Football Playoff was dramatic. But beating the Ohio State team that was defending champs, ranked No. 1 most of this season and 9½-point favorites said everything’s on the table for Miami now.

The title? Why not? Did you see this game? The stage gets bigger and the stakes rise as Miami takes on the winner of Thursday night’s Georgia-Mississippi game in the CFP semifinal. But Miami will be pressed to play a better game than it did against Ohio State.

Breathtaking. That’s what it was when Miami took control after after a scoreless first quarter. Oh, they’d made an impression in that first quarter everywhere but the scoreboard. They had 110 yards in the first quarter. Ohio State had 9. That said they could hold their own against a proven program.

And then the night changed so fast in ways you didn’t expect. That’s what’s so impressive about this Miami team.

Offense? They went on an imposing 18-play, 83-yard drive that was equal parts muscle-flexing run game and precision-strike passing. The touchdown was a nice wrinkle, a power package where quarterback Carson Beck made as if he’d run the ball before passing to Mark Fletcher, who went untouched into the end zone.

Defense? Ohio State had minus-3 yards rushing at half. That told of its every-down muscle. But the play that changed game came less than two minutes after Fletcher’s touchdown when Ohio State quarterback Justin Sayin threw down to the line to a receiver and threw to Miami safety Keionte Scott instead.

Seventy-two yards later, Scott had a touchdown, Miami had a 14-0 lead and the Hurricanes had the necessary cushion they’d ride the rest of the way.

Ohio State wasn’t done. It came out swinging with a touchdown to start the second half. It cut the game to 17-14 in the fourth quarter. But you can go down a roster for how Miami responded from there. It was everyone, everywhere.

Defensive ends Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor made sure Miami had four sacks in four straight games. The offensive line helped Fletcher carry 19 times for 90 yards. Directing it all was quarterback Carson Beck.

Beck didn’t have a monster game. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 138 yards. That didn’t even match Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, the best player in the country, who had seven catches and a touchdown with 157 yards.

But by this new era’s standards, Beck’s cool and experience was worth every penny of the $4.5 million he’s getting at Miami. He didn’t make a mistake and matched every necessary moment. There was Beck crashing over two Ohio State defenders for a first down in the fourth quarter after Ohio State pulled within three points.

There he was throwing a dart to CharMar Brown on third down for another first down later in the fourth quarter. Finally, with two minutes left, there was Beck on third-and-4 at the Ohio State 20, throwing a wide receiver screen to CJ Daniels for the first down.

If the game wasn’t over there, but it was when Brown ran 5 yards for the touchdown with 55 seconds left, followed by Thomas’ interception.

Only it’s not over. Did Miami look like a team that was done? It keeps going now. The fun. The playoff. And the chance to continue the kind of run only they thought possible and that sits before them.

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 pass in the left flat. Scott knew what was coming, sprinted between Sayin and the receiver and picked off the pass.

“I shot my shot, and the ball went in my hands,” Scott said.

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 a 24-14 upset victory over the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night.

“I’ve been here since the start,” running back Mark Fletcher Jr. said. “And I just trusted (coach Mario Cristobal’s) plan, trusted the vision. And he told me that we’ll get this program back to national championship status, and we just continue to keep on going one game at a time.”

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 possession 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, 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, and Scott then made his game-changing pick, returning it for a 72-yard score.

“It’s an easy situation where they give up big explosive. It’s an easy situation where you put your head down, they go in and score and changes the game,” defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said. “And our guys responded. And that’s film study, that’s understanding the situation, seeing what’s going on, understanding what’s going on with that motion and being able to jump a play in that situation. That’s just him coming in, competing, watching film, seeing it in practice and getting that look in the game and taking advantage of it.”

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 attempt at the end of the half. Kicker Jayden Fielding’s 49-yard 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 goal line 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 — who missed three field goals in UM’s win over Texas A&M — hit a 49-yard field goal to put Miami back ahead by 10 points.

“Last week was very difficult,” Cristobal said. “You saw those conditions. Those were 30-mile-per-hour gusts, and everybody’s all over the guy. He walked into my office like, “I’m good.” I go, “I know you’re good,” you know? And he was just drilling them in practice like he always has.”

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 an insurmountable 10-point lead. Jakobe Thomas clinched the win with an interception on Ohio State’s final play.

“What a helluva game,” Beck said. “What a helluva opportunity that we were able to pull out a win at the end. I’m just so proud of our team and our guys.”

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.

“When you got guys like Rueben Bain and myself and then Ahmad Moten (Sr.) who can rush the passer, it’s really fun,” Mesidor said.

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 Texas A&M 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.

“I could just tell when I first got here, the program was very serious about what they were trying to get done,” Scott said. “You could tell everybody in the room had their eye on one goal. That was something I was super excited to buy into.”

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.

“I wouldn’t say deja vu, but it’s football. It happens,” Fletcher said. I couldn’t drop my head. There was no time for that. … It’s all about how you bounce back.”

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 minus-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.

“Just started executing better in the second half. But ultimately, (it) wasn’t good enough,” Sayin said. “Didn’t put up enough points.

Day has coached his team to the playoffs in five of his eight seasons as Ohio State’s coach, culminating in his first national championship last year. His opponent in Wednesday’s Cotton Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal, UM coach Mario Cristobal, is treading new water with his team. The Hurricanes are in the playoff for the first time.

So Day knows how to coach his team through all the distractions surrounding neutral-site playoff games. Cristobal is learning.

“I think the schedule handles that,” Cristobal said Tuesday. “I mean, these guys are up early. They’re always in either a meeting, lifting, conditioning, practicing, or watching film, or getting some extra work in as it relates to preparation. And I think, of course, during their little free time, that’s when your senior or your upper-class leadership certainly has to take over and make sure things are done the right way.”

Day, the playoff veteran, concurred.

“I agree,” Day said. “I think when you get guys into their routine, they’re able to focus and concentrate more on their preparation. And that is a challenge, though, when you go to a different environment like this, is to avoid the distractions, and that’s a big emphasis point.”

Day, Cristobal recall long-ago matchup

Cristobal and Day were prompted with a surprising question at their joint press conference on Tuesday: Do they remember the first time they coached against each other?

The matchup was in 2003. Cristobal was the offensive line coach at Rutgers under Greg Schiano. Day was a graduate assistant under Tom O’Brien at Boston College.

“Did we win?” Day asked Tuesday.

Day did win that game, with his Eagles beating Cristobal’s Scarlet Knights 35-25 on Nov. 15, 2003.

“I don’t remember that,” Day said. “A lot of that time was a blur.”

Said Cristobal: “Well, it was really cold, I could certainly say.”

Ohio State starting inexperienced offensive lineman, Miami missing cornerback Brown

Ohio State will be without starting right guard Tegra Tshabola for the Cotton Bowl. In his place, the Buckeyes plan to start redshirt freshman Gabe VanSickle, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

VanSickle played eight games as a backup this year, racking up 136 snaps. He had a 66.6 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus. The site gave him a 65.7 run-blocking grade and a 66.5 pass-blocking grade.

The Hurricanes’ availability report did not change Wednesday evening. Cornerback Damari Brown was the only key player listed on UM’s injury report. He had been listed as out since Sunday night.

Brown has done well this year after missing most of the 2024 season with an injury. Brown has 24 tackles and one pass deflection, and he has earned a 75.9 defensive grade from PFF. Brown’s 79.4 coverage grade is fourth on the team among players with more than 100 defensive snaps.

The Hurricanes (12-2, 1-0) trailed 43-33 at the break after Pittsburgh broke out on a 20-0 run, but Miami flipped the game behind Reneau’s work in the paint and at the line. Miami outscored the Panthers 43-26 in the second half and took its first lead of the half on Tre Donaldson’s layup with 14:18 remaining.

Miami used an 8-0 stretch to take the lead for good after a layup from Reneau with 5:57 remaining.

Donaldson finished with 19 points, while Tru Washington added 11. Shelton Henderson had 10 points and eight rebounds. Ernest Udeh Jr. grabbed 11 rebounds and had three steals.

Miami shot just 4 of 22 from 3-point range but controlled the glass with a 43-28 rebounding advantage, and went 20 of 26 at the free-throw line.

Corhen led Pittsburgh with 17 points and eight rebounds, and Barry Dunning Jr. scored 16. Damarco Minor added 14 points for the Panthers, who fell to 7-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Up Next

Miami travels to Wake Forest on Jan. 7th.

That is no surprise. The Buckeyes spent most of the season as the No. 1 team in the nation. Their only loss was against current No. 1 Indiana. Ohio State has All-Americans all over the roster.

But UM can win the game. The Hurricanes have the talent, and they already went on the road and beat Texas A&M as the underdog.

If Miami is going to win, they need these five players to step up:

Carson Beck, quarterback

Obviously, Miami’s quarterback is going to play a massive role in the game. But the Hurricanes need Beck to have a better game than he did against Texas A&M. The veteran quarterback did not do much wrong against the Aggies, but arguably his biggest contribution was telling offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson that the inside running game was wide open for UM to exploit.

Beck ended the year on a high note, playing some of his best football at the close of the regular season. Miami needs Beck to make plays to keep the Buckeyes from locking in on the running game.

Keelan Marion, wide receiver

When the Aggies locked down star wide receiver Malachi Toney, the Hurricanes needed another receiver to make big plays instead. They did not really get that, and the offense sputtered as a result. The Buckeyes will surely do their best to shut down Toney, so UM will need another receiver to step up.

Marion may be that receiver. The BYU transfer became one of Beck’s top targets when fellow receiver CJ Daniels was banged up during the last month of the regular season. Marion had 304 yards and a score in the last four games of the regular season, but he had three catches for 33 yards against the Aggies.

If another wide receiver steps up to complement Toney, the Hurricanes’ offense gets more dangerous.

James Brockermeyer, center

Brockermeyer has been a solid anchor for UM’s offensive line all season. He has a difficult task on Wednesday.

The Buckeyes feature All-American defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, who is one of the nation’s best run-stopping defensive linemen. McDonald has a stellar 92.2 run-defense grade, which is the No. 1 grade among all of the nation’s defensive tackles.

Brockermeyer — and Miami’s offensive guards — are tasked with stopping him and helping open up running lanes.

Rueben Bain Jr., defensive end

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin has been one of the nation’s most accurate passers this year. When he is kept clean in the pocket, his 83.1 completion percentage is No. 1 in the nation, according to Pro Football Focus. When he is under pressure, his completion percentage drops to 61.5 (which is still among the best in the nation when under pressure).

Bain is one of the players tasked with putting pressure on Sayin.

Bain has been one of the nation’s top pass-rushers this year. Among defenders with 100 or more pass rushes, his 91.6 pass-rushing grade from PFF is tied for 10th in the nation. His 66 quarterback pressures is the third-most nationally. After notching three sacks against Texas A&M, the star defensive end has 42 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks this season.

Bain and his teammates will have to get into the backfield and make Sayin’s life difficult in order to give UM’s defense a good shot at containing the Buckeyes.

Miami’s secondary

Is it cheating to pick the whole unit? Maybe. But the Hurricanes are going to need the entire group to step up to defend the star receiver duo of Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate.

The cornerbacks assigned to cover those receivers will likely have help from the safeties in coverage. It will be a team effort to contain the pair. Smith and Tate have combined for 1,924 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns this season. They both rank in the top five in receiving grade.

If the Hurricanes can’t contain them, their chances of winning are low.

Everyone knows the story: The Hurricanes appeared to have won the game in overtime. Referee Terry Porter threw a controversial, late pass-interference flag. The celebrations abruptly stopped. The teams went back on the field. Ohio State won the game and the championship.

Miami fans have never gotten over the game. But their team has a chance to exorcise those demons in Wednesday’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

“I didn’t think the robbery from the Fiesta Bowl is anything you ever ‘get over,’ ” said Underwood, who now runs the Hurricanes SB Nation website, State of the U. “We’re moving on and focused on this game, but that memory is one that we won’t ever forget.”

While fans remember the defeat keenly, the actual Hurricanes who will take the field at 7:30 p.m. are not concerned with events that happened before many of them were born. They have a big enough challenge  without worrying about games from 2003.

“When you have programs of this caliber that have played in those caliber games, that’s the best part about college football, right? The pageantry, the competitiveness. The fan bases,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “But as it relates to the current team, it’s the 2025 Miami Hurricanes and the 2025 Ohio State Buckeyes. That’s what they know, that’s what they prepared for. And really outside of that, nothing much matters.”

No. 2 Ohio State (12-1) poses the biggest challenge No. 10 Miami (11-2) has faced all season. The Buckeyes held the No. 1 spot in polls and playoff rankings for nearly the entire season. New No. 1 Indiana unseated Ohio State with a close win in the Big Ten Championship Game.

But the Buckeyes are formidable. Their offense features stellar quarterback Julian Sayin, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist. He has two of the best targets to throw to: star wide receivers Jeremiah Smith — a South Florida star who was nearly a Hurricane — and Carnell Tate.

Five Hurricanes who may decide the Cotton Bowl playoff matchup vs. Ohio State

“They’re as good as you’ve seen in college football over decades,” Cristobal said.

“Explosive and fast. Schematically, they do things to make sure those guys have opportunities to make plays and to create matchups. And I think what also sets that up is the fact that they’re complemented by a great offensive line and a great running game. Those guys can put themselves in great down-and-distance situations, eat up chunk yardage on the ground, and then protect the quarterback really well. (Sayin is) a quarterback that’s, I think, the most efficient quarterback in the country this year — a guy that was, again, up for a Heisman. Should have been one of the top five guys. So … I think that combination certainly is an elite combination.”

Ohio State’s defense is excellent, as well. The Buckeyes were first in the nation with 8.2 points allowed per game. They did not allow more than 16 points in a game all season.

Ohio State has All-American players at every level of its defense, from Caden Curry and Kayden McDonald on the defensive line to Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles at linebacker and Caleb Downs in the secondary.

“Ultimately, we have to match the physicality of the game at the beginning because they’re a very physical defense,” UM offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “Their front is long and big, and we have to do a great job of matching that, which we do pride ourselves on being physical, too. Our O-line is as physical as I have ever had. So it will be a great challenge for us, and we’re looking forward to it.”

But the Hurricanes have earned their spot in the playoffs, too. Their offense got more productive as the season went on; it currently ranks 28th nationally with 32.2 points per game, even after a 10-point performance in a first-round win over Texas A&M. The defense, under first-year defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, is even better. It ranks fourth in the nation with 13 points allowed per game after allowing the Aggies to score just three points.

“Talent is one thing, but the way they play is different,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “And I think that that says a lot about the coaches and how they put their guys in a situation to be successful and how hard they play. So they’re as good as anybody in the country. And it starts with the guys up front and goes all the way to the back end.

“So it’s a tremendous challenge for our offense, and they built it the right way from the inside out.”

But when Miami fired former defensive coordinator Lance Guidry on New Year’s Eve, Hetherman heard from an old friend, Mike Wexler. Wexler, an administrator at the Village School of Naples and a football coach who organizes coaching clinics through his private company, offered to connect Hetherman to Miami’s coaching staff through his long-time friend, UM offensive line coach Alex Mirabal. Wexler had already spoken to Mirabal, recommending Hetherman for the position.

“I flat-out asked him, ‘Coach, would you be interested in the defensive coordinator position at the University of Miami?’ ” Wexler told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a text message. “He was pretty surprised, perplexed even —’Really? Are you serious?’ ”

Said Hetherman: “Through the years, he’s always pushed me, ‘Hey, Miami.’ And I didn’t really think it would ever happen.”

That conversation snowballed, and less than two weeks later, Hetherman was hired as Miami’s new defensive coordinator. His hiring was one of the most consequential coordinator changes of the offseason. Under him, the Hurricanes’ defense went from poor to elite, and it has carried them to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

“It’s something that kind of happened last minute,” Hetherman said. “It was almost 48 hours (and) so much changes. But … it’s awesome to be here and (an) awesome opportunity to have.”

Hetherman’s task was to fix Miami’s struggling defense. He had the tools at his disposal. The Hurricanes already had talent on the roster. They just needed to make some changes and bring in a few key players.

“When he first came in, he asked what kind of players we have,” defensive line coach Jason Taylor said. “And I said, ‘We got two pretty decent D-ends. You might want to look at them.’

“And we had some pretty damn good linebackers and some young guys coming up inside. We had some talented guys, and he’s done a good job of putting their pieces together.”

Hetherman’s initial assessment was not that the defense was bad. It just needed to jell and communicate better.

“I think the biggest thing was just getting the defense to play together — getting the D-line closer with the linebackers, the linebackers closer with the DBs and getting a group that was committed together, a group that enjoyed playing together. And then that way they could work together — communication, play for your teammate, running to the ball, playing physical. And I think that was the biggest thing really, probably in April.

“We get into spring football, and those are the things like, ‘Why aren’t we talking better? Why aren’t guys playing together better as a unit?’ Getting the group together to kind of work together and go after the same goals and be united on what the goal of the defense was, I think, the No. 1 goal.”

Hetherman could not do everything on his own. He and head coach Mario Cristobal added defensive line coach Damione Lewis and defensive backs coaches Zac Etheridge and Will Harris. They dove headfirst into the transfer portal and added several defensive players, completely overhauling last season’s porous secondary.

And as the team continued to work over the summer, leaders emerged. Defensive end Akheem Mesidor, linebacker Mo Toure and defensive back Keionte Scott were among those who seized those roles.

All the preparation led up to the crucial moment at the end of August. Miami hosted Notre Dame in the season opener that proved to be the defining game of the Hurricanes’ season. The Hurricanes held the Fighting Irish to just one touchdown in the first three quarters. Notre Dame rallied to make it a close game in the fourth quarter, but Miami held on for the win. Running back and Heisman Trophy finalist Jeremiyah Love managed just 33 yards. It was a harbinger of things to come.

“The biggest question was: How are we going to play at the biggest stage? Are we going to play together, are guys going to play within the scheme? Are guys going to play within doing your job or are you going to go off and kind of do your own thing?” Hetherman said. “And then No. 2: What’s going to happen the first time you see adversity?

“And we kind of got tested in the first game. We played a very good opponent. We give up a third-down touchdown. Our guys respond, they play really well. And then (in) the fourth quarter, we give up a couple plays. And then to win the game, our guys respond, all playing together, everyone kind of sacrificing making the big play or getting the spotlight for doing their job, playing within the scheme, playing within the defense and playing together as a defense. And I think that every week you’ve seen that get better and better.”

Miami did not allow more than 24 points in regulation for the rest of the season. The only team that scored more than that was SMU, which scored 26 points in an overtime win in Dallas.

Hetherman’s defense only got better down the stretch. In the Hurricanes’ first-ever playoff game, Miami held Texas A&M to just three points. The Hurricanes forced three turnovers. UM scored only 10 points in the victory, but that was enough because of the defense’s stellar play.

The Hurricanes’ defense ranks fourth in the nation in points allowed per game (13), seventh in rushing yards allowed per game (87.00), 32nd in passing yards allowed per game (194.5), tied for fourth in sacks (41) and 12th in tackles for loss (88).

Advanced metrics like Miami, as well. Pro Football Focus gives the Hurricanes top-12 marks in overall defense (third, 94.2 grade), run defense (tied for ninth, 93.1), pass-rushing (second, 92.1) and coverage (12th, 90.7). UM only grades out poorly in tackling (112th, 58).

“We knew we were going to get better because what he does really caters to our personnel,” Cristobal said. “We’re built to be a very aggressive front seven: guys that are explosive, guys that have length, that have power and twitch. So he did some great work at Minnesota. They were a top 10 defense over there, (James Madison), as well. So can you envision this level in Year 1? I mean, I think that’s hard for anybody. Nothing surprises us because of the way our guys work.”

Miami will need its defense to fire on all cylinders again on Wednesday night. Ohio State features Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin at quarterback, a 1,000-yard rusher, Bo Jackson, at running back and two of the nation’s top receivers, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate.

But if the Hurricanes’ first 13 games have shown anything, Hetherman’s defense will be up to the challenge.

“He’s a teacher, and he’s a great teacher at that,” Toure said. “Great soul, great person, great human being. He’s still the same guy, still humble. He still coaches us the same. He still pushes us every single day to be great.”

When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, 6:30 p.m. local time

Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

TV: ESPN

Coaches: Mario Cristobal 33-18 at UM, (95-78 overall); Ryan Day 82–11 at Ohio State

Line: Ohio State is favored by 9.5 points

Weather: Indoor stadium

Quick slant: Miami is coming off a low-scoring win over Texas A&M where its offense struggled but its defense dominated. Ohio State watched that game from home, having earned a bye after an undefeated regular season.

About No. 10 Miami (11-2): The Hurricanes are breaking new ground for the program with each win. Not only is this Miami’s first time in the playoff, it’s also their first time in a major bowl game since the 2017 Orange Bowl. UM will have to stay focused despite all the hoopla around the game.

About No. 2 Ohio State (12-1): The Buckeyes spent nearly the whole season at No. 1 in the polls and playoff rankings. Their only loss this season has come at the hands of Indiana, which beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Three things to watch

1. Can the Hurricanes contain the dynamic receiver duo of Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate? The two star receivers provide quarterback Julian Sayin with two elite options in the passing game. Smith, a South Florida native, and Tate were both banged up late in the season, but they are healthy now. If the Hurricanes can’t keep a lid on the Buckeyes’ passing game, they will be playing catch-up all night.

2. The Hurricanes will have to get star wide receiver Malachi Toney involved in the passing game again. Texas A&M did a good job neutralizing his explosive ability, and Toney ended the first-round game with 22 receiving yards — 12 of which came on a quick from Carson Beck that resulted in the winning touchdown. Without Toney, the Miami offense scuffled. The Hurricanes need to get him in space.

3. Miami will need its offensive line to keep putting up solid performances. Ohio State edge rusher Caden Curry has excelled, racking up 11 sacks this season. UM kept Texas A&M’s All-American defensive end, Cashius Howell, in check in the first round. The tougher test may be slowing down Buckeyes All-American defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, who is among the nation’s best run-stopping defensive linemen.