Ohio State didn’t take the field this past weekend, but the playoff picture sharpened anyway. Bowl season churned on, narratives shifted, and the College Football Playoff quarterfinals came into full focus. For the Buckeyes, the pause served less as a break and more as a final recalibration point before New Year’s Eve, when Ohio State meets Miami in a matchup that feels stylistically uncomfortable, physically demanding, and revealing in all the right ways.

With the expanded playoff narrowing and nothing left to hide behind, Ohio State enters this stage knowing exactly what it is and what it still must prove. Miami represents the kind of opponent that doesn’t allow shortcuts. A defense built to stress protections, muddy reads, and punish mistakes.

Miami arrives with one of the most balanced resumes left in the field. Offensively, the Hurricanes average 31.2 points per game, leaning more heavily on the pass than the run, but showing a clear ability to shift identities depending on opponent. Against Notre Dame, Florida, and Texas A&M, Miami proved it can find balance when necessary, pairing explosive runs with timely throws and staying ahead of the chains.

Quarterback Carson Beck brings experience and steadiness. Completing roughly 75 percent of his passes with 26 touchdowns. His favorite target, freshman Malachi Toney, has emerged as one of the most dangerous young receivers in the country, leading Miami in catches, yards, and touchdowns. CJ Daniels adds a vertical element, while Mark Fletcher Jr. gives the Hurricanes a physical, efficient runner.

Defensively, Miami’s identity is clearer and more dangerous. This is a top-five scoring defense and a top-10 run-stopping unit anchored by an elite defensive line. Reuben Bain and Akheem Messidor are both NFL-caliber edge rushers, the kind of players who don’t need blitz help to wreck a game. The secondary has been more vulnerable, especially against elite receivers, but Miami’s ability to collapse pockets and erase early-down runs allows them to dictate terms.

That combination makes this the best defensive front, in my opinion, Ohio State has faced all season.

For Ohio State, the stress points are obvious. Protecting Julian Sayin against a relentless pass rush is non-negotiable, especially with right guard Tegra Tshabola unlikely to be available. The rotation of Gabe VanSickle and Josh Padilla will be under a microscope, not just in pass protection, but in sustaining drives against a front that thrives on second/third-and-long.

This is also where Ryan Day’s postseason tendencies come into focus. Last season, Ohio State played methodical football through the regular season before dramatically increasing tempo and aggressiveness in the playoff. There’s little reason to believe this year will be different. Expect quicker decisions, early shots, and an offense willing to put pressure back on Miami’s secondary, particularly with receivers like Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate capable of winning 1 on 1 matchups.

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