Dec. 31, 2025, 9:19 p.m. ET
The Ohio State Buckeyes trail 14–0 at halftime. The Buckeye offense got off to a slow start, with Miami holding Ohio State in check across multiple drives. Defensively, linebacker Payton Pierce provided a spark by forcing a fumble on Miami’s Mark Fletcher Jr. The Miami defense has done an effective job of limiting chunk plays and keeping the Buckeyes from finding any real rhythm.
Here are three takeaways at the half of the Cotton Bowl, with Ohio State heading into the locker room trailing. It’s been a strange first half, as Miami has made the Buckeye offense look uncomfortable from the opening kickoff.
Miami’s offensive and defensive lines are dominating
Through the first 30 minutes of action, the Miami Hurricanes have controlled both lines of scrimmage against the Buckeyes. The Miami run game has consistently gashed Ohio State’s defense, while Carson Beck has been kept largely clean in the pocket. Ohio State edge rushers Caden Curry and Arvell Reese have struggled to generate pressure, giving Beck too much time to operate. The Buckeyes’ run defense has been strong all season, but Miami running back Mark Fletcher has run through it so far tonight, and that has to change.
On the other side of the ball, the Ohio State offensive line has looked out of sync early, surrendering three sacks, one by Rueben Bain Jr. and two by Akheem Messidor. Julian Sayin has faced steady pressure and taken hits that are starting to resemble the issues from the Indiana game. Ohio State will need to tighten things up up front and do a much better job protecting Sayin in the second half.
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!The Ohio State offense looks … odd
The Ohio State offense, with Ryan Day serving as the primary playcaller, has not looked like it has for most of the season. There have been a few shot plays mixed in, but Julian Sayin’s pick-six in the second quarter was a major setback, and the run game has struggled to find any consistency. Sayin has been pressured at an alarming rate and is running around searching for plays that are not there.
Bo Jackson has had limited success on the ground, in large part because of timely Miami sacks that have kept Ohio State behind the chains. Overall, everything feels out of rhythm with no Brian Hartline or Kennan Bailey involved in the playcalling. It has made this game feel a lot scarier and has placed even more pressure on an offense that has yet to find its footing.
Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate has to get involved
By halfway through the second quarter, Jeremiah Smith had already hauled in three catches for 82 yards and stood as the team’s leading receiver. Carnell Tate has only one catch, and no other Buckeye had one either, outside of C.J. Donaldson, who brought in a screen pass for 12 yards. Tate is one of the top wide receivers in the country and needs to be a more prominent focal point in this offense.
Miami’s defense is well aware of how dangerous both Tate and Smith can be and has made it a priority to limit them. With little pass protection for Julian Sayin, getting the ball to his playmakers has been a challenge. A shift in offensive philosophy, perhaps leaning more on quicker throws, could help as this game moves forward.
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