COLUMBUS, Ohio — When Miami and Ohio State clash in the Cotton Bowl on December 31st, most matchups favor the Buckeyes. But there’s one battleground where the Hurricanes hold a decisive advantage – and it might just be enough to create a playoff upset.

The trenches. Specifically, Miami’s defensive line against Ohio State’s offensive front.

“It’s Miami because this is the area that Miami actually has an advantage over Ohio State,” explained Andrew Gillis on Buckeye Talk podcast. “And it’s it’s a little similar to the receiver conversation… it’s like if Ohio State’s offensive line wins the battle here, what can Miami put its laurels on?”

That’s the billion-dollar question that will determine this quarterfinal matchup. Led by potential top-10 NFL draft pick Ruben Bain and complemented by Akheem Mesidor, Miami’s defensive front represents their lone clear-cut advantage over the Buckeyes.

What makes this matchup particularly dangerous for Ohio State was their offensive line’s alarming performance against Indiana – their only loss this season. The Hoosiers generated consistent pressure, especially from the edge, disrupting Julian Sayin’s timing and forcing uncharacteristic mistakes from the normally poised quarterback.

Stefan Krajisnik emphasized the make-or-break nature of this matchup: “If Ruben Bane and Meador and this defensive front is getting after Julian Saiyan, Ohio State can lose this game. Like its offensive line has to show up because if it doesn’t, then everything about your offense, everything about Cardinal Tate and Jeremiah Smith goes out the window because those guys aren’t making plays down the field if the play doesn’t have time to develop.”

That’s the frightening reality for Ohio State fans. No matter how talented Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are, they become non-factors if Sayin is constantly under duress.

For Miami, this defensive line represents their entire game plan. As Gillis put it, “Miami’s defensive line. Like this is like this is to me where the game’s going to be won and lost because it’s like this is this is the loadbearing wall of Miami’s entire operation, right?”

The numbers back this up. Against Texas A&M in the ACC Championship, Bain recorded three sacks, while Mesidor generated an astounding 11 pressures. They weren’t just disruptive – they were game-wrecking.

The question becomes whether Ohio State’s offensive line, which has been inconsistent at times this season, can neutralize Miami’s greatest strength. The Buckeyes struggled particularly on the right side of their line against Indiana, with questions about who will even start at right guard in the playoff.

For the Hurricanes to pull off the upset, they’ll need Bain and company to dominate – not just pressure Sayin, but hit him repeatedly and force him into mistakes. As the podcast highlighted, there’s a significant difference between a quarterback feeling pressure and actually taking hits.

If Miami’s defensive line can establish dominance early, it changes everything about this matchup. Suddenly, Ohio State becomes more conservative, the explosive plays disappear, and the red zone issues that have plagued the Buckeyes all season become magnified.

The Cotton Bowl might feature an array of future NFL stars at the skill positions, but as is often the case in football, the game will be decided by the men in the trenches. If Miami’s defensive front lives up to its billing, we might just witness the first major upset of the playoff.

Here’s the podcast for this week: