Several days have passed since the Ohio State Buckeyes suffered a surprising 24-14 loss to the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve. The defeat marked an abrupt end to the Buckeyes’ hopes of repeating as national champions.
For the initial time following that setback, Urban Meyer, the former Ohio State head coach who now serves as an analyst on Big Noon Kickoff, shared his thoughts on the team’s elimination from the quarterfinals.
“I’m a huge fan of Mario Cristobal…that defense is legit, legit. But I think if you take away the pick-six… and then the final drive, which is one of the best drives I’ve seen all year in terms of being physical…again, if Ohio State doesn’t turn that ball over, scores two touchdowns, and plays a little better defense…but give credit to Miami. We all agree, Miami is a problem,” Meyer said on the “Triple Option” podcast, which released on Monday.
“They controlled the line of scrimmage, and that was a great win for them. But again, when you can control the line of scrimmage, I don’t care who you are — you can win.”
Meyer also addressed questions about the shift in offensive responsibilities in Columbus prior to the matchup. Head coach Ryan Day assumed play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Brian Hartline. Meyer pointed out that Hartline faced significant demands after being named head coach at South Florida.
“When I was head coach, who called the plays…you know the head coach is going to be involved. Who’s calling the plays at that point, I think it’s important, but a little overrated. Here’s the issue: you got your [expletive] kicked at the line of scrimmage the last two games,” Meyer said.
The game highlighted Miami’s dominance in the trenches, where they imposed their will on both sides of the ball. A critical pick-six early on shifted momentum, and the Hurricanes sealed the victory with a punishing, clock-eating drive late in the contest.
While Ohio State managed to score twice, turnovers and defensive lapses proved costly against a resilient Miami squad that capitalized on physical superiority.
With the Buckeyes out of contention, the semifinal matchups feature No. 5 Oregon facing off against No. 1 Indiana, while Miami prepares to battle No. 6 Ole Miss, who pulled off an upset over No. 3 Georgia.
Notably, three of the four teams that earned first-round byes fell in the quarterfinals, raising questions about the impact of the extended rest period on performance.
Meyer’s commentary underscores a broader narrative in college football: success often hinges on controlling the line of scrimmage, regardless of seeding or expectations.
The expanded playoff format continues to deliver unexpected outcomes, as lower-seeded teams like Miami demonstrate their capability to challenge and defeat higher-ranked opponents.
As the semifinals approach, attention turns to whether Miami can maintain their momentum and advance further, solidifying their status as a formidable contender in this year’s tournament.
