The College Football Playoff quarterfinal kicks off with the tenth-ranked Miami Hurricanes vs. the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl.
The Hurricanes finished the regular season 10-2 and were the last team to qualify for the playoffs, narrowly edging out Notre Dame based on a head-to-head win in week two.
This is Miamiâs first appearance in the College Football Playoff. They also earned their first CFP victory, beating Texas A&M 10-3 in the first round.
Meanwhile, the Buckeyes are coming off a national championship season. They are looking to repeat and become the second team to become back-back champions this decade (Georgia).
This is Ohio Stateâs second appearance in the 12-team playoff and its seventh appearance in the college football playoff, the second most of any team.
Miami enters the game as a +9.5 underdog, with ESPN analytics giving the Hurricanes a 29.5% chance to advance to the semifinal.
Led by quarterback Carson Beck and standout freshman receiver Malachi Toney, Miami is looking to pull off the upset for the second week in a row.
When are the Miami Hurricanes Playing?
Date: Wednesday, December 31
TV/Streaming: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNNews, ACC Network
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Miami has only played in the Cotton Bowl once before, beating Texas 46-3 in 1991. The Hurricanes last played in a New Year’s Six bowl game in 2017 in a 34-24 loss to Wisconsin.
Ohio State and Miami have played four times before, with the series record tied at 2-2. They last played in 2011, when the Hurricanes upset the seventeenth-ranked Buckeyes 24-6.
The two teams last played in a New Yearâs Six bowl game in 2003, when the Hurricanes lost to the Buckeyes 31-24 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Miami Hurricanes’ Keys to Winning
For Miami to pull off its second straight upset win, it needs a dominant performance from its defense.
The Hurricanes’ defensive line is fourth in the country with 41 sacks this season. They’re led by future first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr., who has 7.5 sacks this season.
In Miami’s two losses to Louisville and SMU, the defense only managed a combined three sacks. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin was only sacked six times in the regular season.
If Miami’s defense can create pressure, it would create more opportunities for Miami on the offensive side of the ball.
Miami will also need a consistent game from Carson Beck. In Miami’s two losses, Beck combined for 2 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
In the other 10 games, Beck threw for 24 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
Beck only threw for 103 yards in Miami’s first-round win over Texas A&M, but he didn’t throw an interception.
If Miami doesn’t turn the ball over and can force negative plays on defense, the lofty underdogs might be able to keep their season alive.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post CFB Playoff Schedule & How to Watch: When Is the Miami Game? appeared first on Heavy Sports.