The tenth-ranked Miami Hurricanes will look to shock the college football world when they face the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl for a chance to advance in the College Football Playoff.
The game will take place on December 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium.
The Hurricanes defeated Texas A&M 10-3 in the first round of the CFP after a late touchdown by freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney.
The Hurricanes come into the Cotton Bowl as 9.5+ underdogs and just a 29.5% to win according to ESPN analytics.
If the Hurricanes pull off the upset that not many are expecting, they’ll be one step closer to competing for a National Championship.
It’s also Miami’s first New Year’s Six Bowl appearance since 2017, when they lost 34-24 to Wisconsin.
Led by quarterback Carson Beck and edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., the Hurricanes are hoping to turn their first CFP appearance into their first national title in a quarter century.
This is the Hurricanes’ path to the playoffs, and what could potentially lie ahead if the Hurricanes can advance.
Miami Hurricanes’ Path to the Cotton Bowl
GettyHow have the Miami Hurricanes gotten to this point?
Miami’s inclusion in the College Football Playoff was considered by most college football fans and media to be the most controversial.
Miami defeated Notre Dame early in the season, before the Fighting Irish surpassed the Hurricanes in the CFP rankings following a string of bad losses.
Ultimately, the committee’s decision came down to choosing Miami or Notre Dame, and the committee chose the team with the head-to-head win.
Despite many being upset over Miami’s inclusion, the Hurricanes proved they belong when they defeated Texas A&M on the road in the first round.
Now, the Hurricanes have a chance to pull off another upset when they face the Ohio State Buckeyes for a chance to advance to the CFP semifinals.
What Games Could be Next for the Miami Hurricanes?
GettyIf Miami wins, they would likely play Georgia in the playoff semifinals.
If Miami can pull off the upset against Ohio State, it will head to Glendale, Arizona, to play in the Fiesta Bowl.
In the Fiesta Bowl, the Hurricanes would play the winner of the Sugar Bowl, which will be either Georgia or Ole Miss.
On the other side of the bracket, Texas Tech is playing Oregon in the Orange Bowl, while Indiana is playing Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
If Miami defeats the winner of Georgia and Ole Miss, they would potentially face any of those four teams in the National Championship game.
The betting favorite to reach the title game on the other side of the bracket would be Indiana, followed by Oregon.
While Miami advancing just past the Buckeyes seems unlikely, the Hurricanes already defied the odds once this postseason.
The Hurricanes, who were at one point ranked second in the country, have the talent to play with any team currently in the field.
If Head Coach Mario Cristobal’s team can put together three more games of consistent and complementary football, Miami might be able to shock the college football world.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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