No way to sugarcoat it, folks: The Cotton Bowl was a disastrous collapse for an Ohio State team that spent most of this season looking untouchable.
For me personally, the taste of victory has been replaced
by the taste of my foot in my mouth after days of talking about how Miami wouldn’t make it into the end zone. What was meant to be the start of a run toward a second-consecutive national title instead turned to heartbreak as Ohio State got rocked by the Hurricanes’ defense and steady offense early.
Despite outscoring Miami in the second half, 14-10, it was too little too late.
Still, for approximately two drives in last night’s 24-14 playoff loss, the Buckeyes looked like the team we watched all season, coming to life with back-to-back touchdowns to open the second half. The first, a 1-yard touchdown run from Bo Jackson, got the Buckeyes on the board. After run struggles in the first half, Jackson rushed for 35 total yards on that drive to put the Buckeyes within a touchdown.
But the Buckeye offense never looked more cohesive than on the second of their two touchdown drives, making it down the field without penalties or loss of yards, and tacking on a 22-yard pass to several shorter passes and efficient runs. The drive was capped by a 14-yard touchdown to Jeremiah Smith.
Smith, who hails from Miami and once considered the school among his college choices, looked spectacular for the Buckeyes in spite of the game’s outcome. The sophomore averaged 22.4 yards per catch in Wednesday’s game, logging 157 yards on 7 receptions, including a 59-yarder and, of course, his 14-yard touchdown catch.
The long ball should have set the Buckeyes up to even the score at seven-all, but instead, a disastrous pick-six two plays later gave the ‘Canes a two-touchdown lead. The Buckeyes would never recover, so as it is, Smith’s touchdown catch is the play I’ll be reliving to fuel my fandom during the off season.
How it happened
Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, with the ‘Canes leading, 17-7, Ohio State found itself at a critical 4th and 2 on the Miami 14. On a pass up the middle, Sayin connected with Smith, who caught the ball at about the five-yard line and took it into the endzone to cut Miami’s lead to just three points.
Relive the touchdown here:
