In a thrilling matchup at the Cotton Bowl, the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes defeated No. 2 Ohio State with a score of 24-14. This victory propels Miami into the 2025-26 College Football Playoff Semifinal, where they will face the winner of No. 3 Georgia versus No. 6 Ole Miss. This article provides an overview of the updated playoff bracket following this significant game.
2025-26 College Football Playoff Bracket Updates
Cotton Bowl Results
- No. 9 Alabama defeated No. 8 Oklahoma: 34-24
- No. 10 Miami defeated No. 7 Texas A&M: 10-7
- No. 6 Ole Miss defeated No. 11 Tulane: 41-10
- No. 5 Oregon defeated No. 12 James Madison: 51-34
- No. 10 Miami defeated No. 2 Ohio State: 24-14
Upcoming Semifinal Matches
The next round features the following matchups:
- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 Texas Tech: January 8 at 12 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana: January 8 at 4 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Georgia: January 8 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Semifinal Rematch Day: January 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Cotton Bowl Highlights
The game began as a defensive struggle, but Miami quickly shifted the momentum with two touchdowns in the second quarter. They opened with a scoring drive, followed by a pick-six that gave them a 14-0 lead. After a slow start, Ohio State managed to score in the third quarter but could not regain the lead.
Miami extended their lead to ten points later in the third, with Ohio State responding with a touchdown from Julian Sayin to Jeremiah Smith. Though both teams had empty possessions, Miami executed a crucial final drive. A touchdown pass from Carson Beck to Mark Fletcher sealed the victory, while an interception on Ohio State’s last drive ensured Miami’s place in the semifinal.
Looking Ahead
Miami will face a challenging opponent in the semifinals, whether it’s the formidable Georgia Bulldogs, who have won nine consecutive games, or Ole Miss, fresh off a strong victory against Tulane. With both teams highly motivated, Miami must prepare diligently for their upcoming challenge.
