Udynasty
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NEW ARTICLE ( 23 YEARS IN THE MAKING)
THE MIAMI HURRICANES HAVE ARRIVED: CANES DOMINATE THE BUCKEYES 24–14 TO WIN THE 90TH COTTON BOWL
There was a moment in last night’s Cotton Bowl that perfectly encapsulated the makeup and DNA of the Miami Hurricanes. After taking a 14–0 halftime lead against the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, the Buckeyes roared back, scoring 14 points on consecutive 11- and 10-play drives that shifted the entire momentum of the game. When Miami got the ball back, they found themselves facing a 3rd-and-11 with 12:41 left in the fourth quarter. A sputtering offense. A rejuvenated Buckeyes defense. And a crowd that was roaring.
In times past, Miami would have either taken a sack, thrown a pick, or completed a feeble pass that would have forced a punt—followed by the defense giving up a touchdown and losing a game they were winning. Except these are not the same old Canes. Because these Canes have heart. Miles and miles of heart.
It starts with their quarterback, Carson Beck, who has been questioned all year and even called “dog****” by “analyst” @coachzachsmith. On that crucial play, Beck refused to let Miami falter and, seeing no passing lanes open, used his legs, lowered his shoulder, and went straight into Ohio State’s safety—bulldozing him and a cornerback as Miami picked up the first down.
The heart of a champion. The “I won’t let my team lose” attitude. The willingness to put your life on the line for this U. Those are the types of plays that inspire your teammates to go to war for you. You can’t quantify that with a box score or a stat. These are the moments that change program trajectories—from *****-up teams that play scared to teams forging championship mettle.
Miami would go on to punt, but the play had already shifted the momentum back in Miami’s favor. The offensive momentum Ohio State had? Gone in the blink of an eye. Miami’s defense held strong, and Wesley Bissainthe knocked a blocker back into Julian Sayin for a violent, grown-man sack. Momentum changer.
Miami would then go on a 10-play, five-minute drive, riding Fletcher on the ground as he demoralized Ohio State’s trenches. Beck converted two clutch third-down throws—one to Marty Brown and another on a tunnel screen to CJ Daniels that set up a Marty Brown five-yard touchdown. Bully ball. Mario Ball. Championship trenches and a championship response.
This is the culture Mario Cristobal has brought to Miami. Ever since that fateful night when Terry Porter’s phantom pass-interference call cost Miami the championship, the program spiraled toward irrelevance. Two decades of failure. Watching our best players go to Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State. Watching South Florida kids make plays and raise trophies elsewhere while Miami languished in 7–6 and 6–6 seasons. Miami had not won a bowl game since 2016. Miami had not won a New Year’s Six bowl since 2003. The Canes had not posted back-to-back 10-win seasons since 2002–03. Miami had not won 11 games since 2003 and had not reached 12 wins since 2002.
But Mario Cristobal changed all of that.
Miami got serious about football and laid the foundation. The first year was disastrous—a 5–7 abomination—but Cristobal brought in foundational pieces that transformed Miami’s culture from one of failure into a championship culture.
Francis Mauigoa, the 6’6”, 340-pound monster on the offensive line, led the way for a unit that paved the road for 153 rushing yards, surrendered zero sacks, zero quarterback hits, and allowed only five pressures (PFF did not credit the offensive line with the two sacks). Rueben Bain Jr. led a Miami defense that wrecked Ohio State’s offensive line, producing five sacks, 22 pressures, and seven tackles for loss. And Mark Fletcher—the highly touted South Florida star who once committed to Ohio State before flipping to Miami late in the 2023 cycle—carried the ball 19 times for 90 yards, added a receiving touchdown, and was the workhorse who closed the game for the Canes on the final scoring drive.
Culture changers. Program changers.
Miami faced the most talented team in the nation—the defending national champions—with a potential five first-round picks. The best defensive tackle in the country. The best wide receiver in the nation in Jeremiah Smith, a local kid who spurned Miami for Ohio State. An NFL-caliber linebacker. A top-10 pick safety in Caleb Downs. All-conference edge rushers and a very good tight end.
It didn’t matter.
Miami had Carson Beck and elite trench play that wasn’t scared. Not scared of the moment. Not scared of the accolades, titles, or honors bestowed upon their opponent. When the lights got bright, the Canes shone brighter.
Miami is now headed to the Fiesta Bowl, and everyone keeps saying Miami is back. Miami isn’t “back” until they win a national championship. But what we can say is this: from here on out, win or lose, the Miami Hurricanes are here. Miami is a national title contender that just took down Goliath and will carry immense confidence into the Fiesta Bowl, with an opportunity to advance to a home game at Hard Rock Stadium.
After Miami defeated Texas A&M on the road in their playoff opener—in front of 104,000 rabid fans and swirling winds—I wrote in the aftermath that
“for the first time since 2002, Miami has a real chance to change its destiny from a middling ACC team to the kings of college football once again. Just as that electric October night foreshadowed the greatness of two true freshmen, this Texas A&M win may have foreshadowed Miami’s return to the throne.”
With the win over the Buckeyes, the Hurricanes have not only gotten retribution for the robbery of the Fiesta Bowl, but they have also announced something to the college football world:
Miami is a legitimate national championship contender.
Miami is not a fluke. Miami is elite.
MIAMI IS HERE.
#GoCanes #CFBPlayoff #GoodyearCottonBowl