- - College Football Playoff predictions: Cotton Bowl picks for Ohio State-Miami showdown

Erick Smith, Matt Hayes, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Eddie Timanus and Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY December 31, 2025 at 3:09 AM

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College Football Playoff predictions: Cotton Bowl picks for Ohio State-Miami showdown

Ohio State and Miami (Fla.) have met before in the postseason before with a national championship at stake. That meeting was during the 2002 season in the Bowl Championship Series title game. It ended with the Buckeyes winning after a controversial pass interference call extended the game in overtime.

Things have changed greatly for both programs since. Ohio State has been a consistent presence at the top of college football, winning two more national championships. Miami hasn't been anywhere title contention, making just one ACC title game appearance and their first College Football Playoff this year.

But that means little come Wednesday night in the Cotton Bowl when both teams will be playing for a berth in the semifinals. Who will be the winner that moves on to the Fiesta Bowl. Our experts offer their predictions for the New Year's Eve showdown.

Ohio State-Miami predictions for Cotton Bowl

Matt Hayes

A line of scrimmage game. Two of the best offensive and defensive lines in the nation. More important: two quarterbacks who must figure out how to adjust. Ohio State's Julian Sayin is accurate when escaping the rush, Miami's Carson Beck has struggled against pressure. Ohio State 27, Miami 17.

Jordan Mendoza

We saw how Ryan Day responded after a loss right before the playoff last season, can he and the Buckeyes do it again? Miami’s offense struggled mightily against Texas A&M and it doesn’t get any easier in the Cotton Bowl. This one stays close in the early stages before the Buckeyes pull away and put the game on cruise control in the second half. Ohio State 27, Miami 13.

Paul Myerberg

Miami is capable of making things tough on Ohio State on both lines. Ideally, the Hurricanes’ defense will win on first down and pin its ears back on third down. But OSU has so many weapons that Miami will have to play something close to an A-level game, especially with the Buckeyes’ own defense leading the nation in yards per game and per play. Ohio State 27, Miami 17.

Erick Smith

This looks to be a walkover for Ohio State given its advantage in offensive talent. It might take a while to get there with Miami's strength at the line of scrimmage mucking things up. However, look for a strong fourth quarter to allow the Buckeyes to pull away unless Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck has a memorable night. Ohio State 28, Miami 10.

Eddie Timanus

The defenses will set the tone in this one with just a few big throws mixed in. The Buckeyes will force a key miscue late and come away with the win. Ohio State 24, Miami 17.

Blake Toppmeyer

Miami’s defense is excellent. It showed that against Texas A&M. That unit gives the Hurricanes a chance, but Ohio State enjoys the quarterback advantage. Ohio State 17, Miami 13.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cotton Bowl: Ohio State-Miami picks, predictions for CFP matchup

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