The scoreboard at AT&T Stadium read 24-14, and for a lot of folks in Columbus, it felt like the world stopped. Honestly, it was a weird New Year's Eve. If you were looking for an ohio state buckeyes football live score that night, you watched a 10-point lead for the Miami Hurricanes turn into a season-ending reality for the Buckeyes.
It wasn't supposed to end in the Cotton Bowl. Not with this roster.
But that's college football in 2026. One minute you're the No. 2 seed with a high-flying offense, and the next, you're watching Miami's defense celebrate after a late-game interception. Since that December 31st loss, the "live score" isn't happening on a field; it’s happening in the transfer portal.
The Numbers Behind the Cotton Bowl Exit
People keep asking what went wrong. Basically, the fourth quarter was a ghost town for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State entered the College Football Playoff as a heavy favorite to reach the title game. They had Julian Sayin slinging it for 287 yards and Jeremiah Smith doing Jeremiah Smith things—157 receiving yards on the night. But stats don't always win games. Miami's defense, led by guys like Rueben Bain Jr. and Francisco Mauigoa, turned the screws when it mattered most.
The Buckeyes were held scoreless in the final frame.
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For a team that averaged over 35 points a game during a dominant Big Ten run, putting up 14 in a playoff game is a gut punch. It’s the kind of score that stays on the jumbo-tron of your mind for the entire offseason.
Key Stats from the Final Game:
- Final Score: Miami 24, Ohio State 14
- Total Yards: OSU 342, MIA 310 (Yes, Ohio State outgained them)
- Turnovers: OSU 2, MIA 0 (The real killer)
- Rushing: Bo Jackson was held to just 55 yards
Why the ohio state buckeyes football live score is Moving to the Portal
If you’ve been refreshing your feed this week, you’ve seen more names leaving than staying. It’s chaotic. Ryan Day is currently navigating a roster exodus that feels a bit like a fire sale, though most of it is just the natural cycle of the modern game.
On January 7, Carnell Tate officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. Can you blame him? CBS Sports already has him pegged as the No. 1 wide receiver off the board in their latest mock drafts. He finished 2025 with 875 yards and nine scores, proving he could lead the room even with the massive expectations on his shoulders.
Then you have the portal.
As of January 16, 2026, the Buckeyes have seen 31 players enter the transfer portal. That is a staggering number. Safety Faheem Delane is headed to LSU to join his brother. Cody Haddad is out. Devin Brown is moving on to Weber State for a final run.
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But it’s not all bad news.
The Buckeyes just landed Kyle Parker, a former LSU receiver, and Dominick Kelly, a four-star corner from Georgia. It’s a literal arms race. The score isn't about touchdowns right now; it's about "Scholarship Math."
Tracking Scores in the 2026 Season
Looking ahead? The 2026 schedule is already giving fans anxiety.
The Buckeyes open on September 5th against Ball State, but the real test comes a week later. They travel to Austin to play the Texas Longhorns on September 12th. If you think the environment at the Cotton Bowl was loud, wait until you hear DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium when a top-five Ohio State team rolls in.
Tracking the ohio state buckeyes football live score next season will look a bit different. With the new Big Ten TV deals fully settled, you'll be bouncing between FOX, CBS, and NBC.
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- September 5: Ball State at Ohio Stadium
- September 12: at Texas (Austin, TX)
- September 19: Kent State at Ohio Stadium
- Late November: Michigan (The Game returns to Columbus)
What Most People Get Wrong About the Current Roster
There’s this narrative that Ohio State is "rebuilding." Kinda. But not really.
Even with 31 players leaving, the core of the 2026 team includes guys like Tavien St. Clair—the freshman phenom quarterback who everyone expects to challenge for the starting job—and a defense that still features some of the best young talent in the country.
The "score" people should be watching is the NIL valuation. Carnell Tate hit a $1.6 million valuation before he even left. This program is a factory for pro talent, and as long as that’s true, the Buckeyes will be at the top of the live score ticker every Saturday.
Coach Ryan Day has to replace over 10 starters on both sides of the ball. It’s a tall task. But they’ve done it before. The 2024 National Championship run proved that this system can handle heavy turnover.
Actionable Steps for Buckeyes Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve before the 2026 kickoff, don't just wait for the ESPN app to ping you.
- Monitor the Secondary Window: The transfer portal opens again in the spring. This is when Ohio State usually finds their "missing pieces" for the offensive line.
- Watch the Winter Olympics: Weirdly enough, 12 Buckeyes (mostly from the women's hockey team, like Joy Dunne and Hilda Svensson) are headed to Milan in February. It's a great way to support the "O-H" brand while football is in its quiet phase.
- Book the Texas Trip Early: Hotel prices in Austin for that September 12th game are already skyrocketing. If you're planning to go, do it now.
The scoreboard might be dark at the Shoe right now, but the work being done in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center this January will determine if the next live score we see is a win or another heartbreak.
Stay tuned to the portal trackers. In 2026, that's where the real game is won.