If you're looking for the live what's the Ohio State football score update right now on January 15, 2026, you won't find one. The Buckeyes aren't playing today. Their season actually hit a brick wall a couple of weeks ago in Texas.
Honestly, it’s still a bit of a shock for fans in Columbus. After a dominant regular season where they looked like the undisputed juggernaut of college football, everything fell apart on New Year’s Eve.
The Final Score: Ohio State vs. Miami (Cotton Bowl)
The last time the Buckeyes took the field was December 31, 2025, for the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. If you missed it, the final was Miami 24, Ohio State 14.
It wasn't just a loss; it was a total offensive stalemate that nobody saw coming. Ohio State entered that game at AT&T Stadium as nearly a double-digit favorite. People were already booking flights for the semifinals. Instead, the Buckeyes got stuck in the mud.
Julian Sayin, the freshman phenom who had been lighting up the Big Ten all year, finally looked like a freshman. He threw for 287 yards, which looks okay on paper, but two massive interceptions—including a 72-yard pick-six by Miami’s Keionte Scott—basically handed the Hurricanes the momentum.
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A Breakdown of the Scoring
The game started with a scoreless first quarter that felt like a heavyweight boxing match where neither guy wanted to swing. Then the wheels came off for OSU in the second.
Miami’s Mark Fletcher Jr. caught a 9-yard touchdown from Carson Beck to open the scoring. Minutes later, that Scott interception happened. Suddenly, Ohio State was down 14-0 before they even realized they were in a dogfight.
Bo Jackson (the freshman runner, not the legend) tried to spark a comeback with a short touchdown run in the third, and Jeremiah Smith—who is basically a human highlight reel at this point—caught a 14-yarder to pull it within 17-14 in the fourth. But the Buckeyes couldn't get that final stop. CharMar Brown sealed the deal for the 'Canes with a 5-yard touchdown with less than a minute left.
Why the Score Looked Different This Year
If you’re wondering what's the Ohio State football score trend for the whole 2025-2026 season, it was a tale of two halves.
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The regular season was a bloodbath for opponents. Look at some of these results from the fall:
- A 70-0 demolition of Grambling State.
- A 34-0 shutout in Madison against Wisconsin.
- A satisfying 27-9 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor.
But things got "weird" in December. The Buckeyes lost the Big Ten Championship to Indiana (13-10) in a defensive slog, then followed it up with that 24-14 loss to Miami. For a team that averaged over 35 points a game for most of the year, scoring only 24 points combined in their final two games is the story of the season.
The defense, led by guys like Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau in their final runs, did their job. They held a high-powered Miami offense to just 291 total yards. You should win games when you do that. But five sacks allowed and those turnovers were just too much to overcome.
What’s Next for the Buckeyes?
Since the season is over, the focus has shifted entirely to the roster. If you're checking for scores now, you're better off looking at the basketball court or the hockey rink.
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The football team is currently dealing with the "Winter Portal" madness. Just today, news broke that standout cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. is planning to enter the transfer portal, which is a massive blow to the secondary for 2026.
On the bright side, the 2026 schedule is already looking spicy. They open up on September 5th against Ball State, but the real date everyone has circled is September 12th. That's a massive road trip to Austin for a rematch with the Texas Longhorns.
Actionable Steps for Buckeye Fans
If you’re mourning the Cotton Bowl loss, here’s how to stay plugged in during the off-season:
- Monitor the Portal: Keep an eye on the 247Sports Transfer Portal tracker. With Scott Jr. leaving, Ryan Day is almost certainly going to be hunting for a veteran corner.
- Follow the Freshmen: Check out the early enrollees from the 2026 recruiting class. Spring ball starts in March, and that’s when we’ll see if Julian Sayin has short-term memory regarding that Miami game.
- Check Other Sports: If you need an Ohio State fix, the women’s basketball team is currently on a tear. They just beat Penn State 108-84 behind 33 points from Jaloni Cambridge.
The quest for the next national title officially starts in the weight room this month.