By Chris Vannini, Matt Baker and Cameron Teague Robinson

ARLINGTON, Texas — Twenty-three years after Ohio State knocked off defending national champion Miami in one of college football’s all-time classics, the Hurricanes pulled off the feat against the Buckeyes, finally announcing themselves as back in the top tier of college football.

Miami beat Ohio State 24-14 in Wednesday’s Cotton Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinal. On the backs of an efficient performance by Carson Beck and a defensive touchdown, the Canes became the first team to shut out the Buckeyes in the first half in eight years, then held off an OSU comeback attempt over the final two quarters.

The 10th-seeded Hurricanes (12-2) — who earned the last at-large bid into the Playoff field by moving ahead of Notre Dame on selection Sunday — advance to the Fiesta Bowl, where they’ll face either No. 3 Georgia or No. 6 Ole Miss on Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz., for a spot in the national championship.

Miami hasn’t been to the title game since losing to Ohio State in the championship in January 2003, but in beating the Buckeyes (12-2), it looked the part of a team that could win it all this January.

The first quarter was all Miami, with a 110-9 edge in total yards. Only a red zone fumble and time kept the Hurricanes off the board. A Carson Beck touchdown pass to Mark Fletcher Jr. put Miami on the board first early in the second quarter.

Three plays after going up 7-0, Miami cornerback Keionte Scott jumped an Ohio State bubble screen pass, intercepting it in stride and taking it back 72 yards untouched for a 14-0 lead, sending Michael Irvin and Canes fans into a frenzy.

MIAMI PICK-SIX ON JULIAN SAYIN 😱 pic.twitter.com/L4EOq0KAiB

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 1, 2026

The rest of the first half was evenly played, and Miami took that lead into halftime, as Ohio State missed a 49-yard field goal in the final seconds of the half.

But the Buckeyes’ offensive momentum picked up, as it took the first drive of the second half 81 yards, ending with a Bo Jackson touchdown run to cut the deficit to 14-7.

Miami responded, and when faced with a similar 49-yard field goal attempt, Carter Davis made his, pushing the Canes’ lead to 17-7. It was a big kick one game after Davis missed three attempts at a windy Texas A&M in the first round. It also made Miami the first team to score 17 points against the Buckeyes this season.

But Ohio State’s offense continued to find its rhythm, going on a 75-yard drive, capped by a Julian Sayin touchdown pass to Jeremiah Smith on a fourth down to cut Miami’s lead to 17-14.