Ohio State’s Disappointing Performance in the Cotton Bowl Classic

The Ohio State Buckeyes faced a major setback during the Cotton Bowl Classic, where they fell to the Miami Hurricanes with a final score of 24-14. This loss marked a significant moment in the team’s history, as it was the first time since the Urban Meyer era that Ohio State was shut out in the first half.

Ryan Day, the head coach of the Buckeyes, found himself under scrutiny for his decisions during the game. While he had promised an up-tempo offense when needed, Day failed to deliver on that promise despite a 14-0 halftime deficit. According to The Athletic’s Cameron Teague Robinson, the Buckeyes made some adjustments in the second half, including bringing in Padilla and allowing Sayin to feel more comfortable against the Hurricanes. However, the decision to avoid any tempo in the second half was a major point of criticism.

“Day spent the entire season saying that Ohio State would turn up the tempo when needed. He didn’t want to push the tempo to do so, which I still believe is smart during the regular season, but if there was a time to pick up the pace, it was in the second half when Ohio State needed to score three times to win. Otherwise, Day was banking on an offense that was shut out in the first half to be perfect. That’s just asking too much.”

Key Weaknesses Exposed

Ohio State could have potentially covered up some of its key deficiencies with an up-tempo offense. Had Day sped up the game offensively, the team’s two glaring weaknesses— at quarterback and at right guard—could have been mitigated somewhat. Gabe VanSickle struggled to contain the Canes’ Akheem Mesidor on several big pressures, while Julian Sayin couldn’t establish rhythm in the pocket as it was constantly collapsing. Getting the ball out quickly could have prevented or at least lessened the damage.

Day didn’t adjust to his personnel. Instead, he remained as stubborn as ever with the clipboard, and now the Buckeyes are on the outside looking in as Miami battles a vulnerable Ole Miss Rebels in the semifinal for a chance to play either the Indiana Hoosiers or Oregon Ducks in the title game.

A Missed Opportunity

Brian Hartline appeared to be more prepared than Day for the 2025 season, but he had other pressing matters, such as stepping down to the Group of 5 ranks to be a head coach. Day should have been more prepared, though. That’s what he’s paid the big bucks to do.

This article originally discussed Ryan Day’s criticism for not delivering on his promises regarding the game plan against Miami in the Cotton Bowl. It highlighted the importance of adapting strategies based on the game’s needs and the consequences of not doing so. The loss serves as a reminder of the critical role that coaching decisions play in determining a team’s success, especially in high-stakes games.