The air in Arlington was thick with expectation, the kind that only follows a team that spent most of its season looking like an unstoppable freight train. But when the dust settled at AT&T Stadium on New Year’s Eve, the scoreboard told a story that many in Columbus are still trying to wrap their heads around.
If you are looking for the quick answer: Miami 24, Ohio State 14.
It wasn't just a loss. It was a jarring halt to a season that felt destined for a national championship run. For a team that had dismantled rivals and cruised through the Big Ten regular season, the score of the Ohio State football game against the Hurricanes served as a cold reminder of how quickly things can go sideways in the College Football Playoff.
A Tale of Two Halves in the Cotton Bowl
The first half was, honestly, a disaster for the Buckeyes. Watching the offense struggle to find any sort of rhythm was painful for the traveling fans. They went into the locker room down 14-0, a deficit that felt even larger given how dominant the Miami defense looked.
Ryan Day's squad has always been known for its explosive potential. We’ve seen Julian Sayin make throws that look like they belong on a Sunday afternoon in the NFL, but against the Hurricanes, the timing was just... off. The protection broke down. The running lanes weren't there.
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Then came the third quarter. For a moment, it looked like the comeback was on. Ohio State came out swinging and cut the lead to 14-7. You could feel the momentum shift in the building. The Buckeyes were finally playing Buckeye football—aggressive, fast, and physical.
But Miami didn't blink. They answered with a poise that silenced the "O-H-I-O" chants.
Why the Final Score Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
People will look at 24-14 and think it was a comfortable win for Miami. It really wasn't. It was a grind.
The Ohio State defense actually played quite well for large stretches of the game. Davison Igbinosun was everywhere, racking up 10 tackles and trying to keep the team afloat while the offense sputtered. If you look at the stats, the Buckeyes' defense held Miami to several long drives that ended in punts or field goals rather than touchdowns.
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The real issue? Efficiency.
- Turnovers: You can't give the ball away against a top-10 team and expect to survive.
- Third Down Conversions: The Buckeyes couldn't stay on the field.
- Red Zone Woes: When they did get close, they couldn't punch it in.
Basically, the Hurricanes played a cleaner game. Carson Beck, the Miami quarterback, managed the game with a veteran presence that Julian Sayin is still developing. It was a clash of styles, and on that specific Wednesday night in Texas, the Hurricanes' balanced attack won out over Ohio State's "all-or-nothing" explosive philosophy.
The Context: A Season of Highs and Lows
To understand the score of the Ohio State football game, you have to look at the weeks leading up to it. The Buckeyes entered December ranked No. 1 in the country. They had just finished a dominant regular season, punctuated by a 27-9 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor.
That Michigan game was supposed to be the "hump" they finally cleared. After years of frustration against the Wolverines, the 2025 squad looked like they had finally found the formula. But then came the Big Ten Championship game against Indiana.
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Losing 13-10 to the Hoosiers in Indianapolis was the first crack in the armor. It cost them the conference title and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. By the time they hit the Cotton Bowl as a No. 3 seed, some of that early-season invincibility had clearly faded.
What's Next for the Buckeyes?
Honestly, the fallout from this loss is going to be loud. Whenever Ohio State loses two high-stakes games in a row—the Big Ten Title and a CFP Quarterfinal—the pressure on the coaching staff reaches a fever pitch.
Expect a lot of talk about the offensive line this spring. While the skill positions are loaded with talent like Jeremiah Smith and Bo Jackson (the freshman phenom who showed flashes of greatness late in the season), the trenches are where this game was lost.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're a Buckeye fan looking for a silver lining, there are a few things to keep an eye on as we head into the 2026 offseason:
- Quarterback Development: Julian Sayin is the future. This loss was a "growing pains" moment, but his ceiling remains incredibly high.
- Transfer Portal Strategy: Watch for the Buckeyes to be aggressive in hunting for experienced offensive linemen. They need "day one" starters to protect their young star QB.
- The Defensive Core: Much of the secondary is returning. If they can maintain that level of play, they will remain a playoff contender next year regardless of offensive hiccups.
The score of the Ohio State football game might be a bitter pill to swallow right now, but the foundation in Columbus is still among the strongest in the nation. It’s just a matter of whether they can find that missing gear when the lights are brightest.
For now, the focus shifts to recruiting and the spring game. The road back to the playoffs starts immediately.