OSU ready to put Indiana loss in the past

DALLAS – Working for a repeat and trying to avoid a repeat. That's the mindset Ohio State has going into its College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Miami on Wednesday night in the Cotton Bowl. The repeat the Buckeyes obviously want is to match the national championship last year's team won. The one they want to avoid also is obvious. They don't want to see anything resembling their 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game. Five match-ups to watch when Ohio State (12-1) takes on Miami (11-2) on Wednesday night: … Ohio State's offensive line against Miami's defensive line. OSU's offensive line took a step backward against Indiana. The protection for quarterback Julian Sayin broke down too often and he looked uncomfortable on too many pass plays. After allowing only six sacks in the first 12 games of the season, OSU gave up five against IU. Miami could present a challenge similar to that of Indiana, with two first-team All-ACC defensive ends, Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, and second team All-ACC defensive tackle Ahmad Moten. The Hurricanes are fourth nationally with 41 sacks. It could also take some of the heat off Sayin if OSU can run the ball consistently and in red zone situations. . … Whose quarterback turns the ball over more. Overall, OSU and Miami both have mostly avoided turnovers – the Buckeyes have lost three fumbles and Sayin has thrown six interceptions. Miami has lost three fumbles and its quarterback Carson Beck has thrown 10 interceptions. Beck has had several games with a high number of interceptions in his career, though. He threw four picks in a 24-21 loss to Louisville earlier this season and in 2024 when he was at Georgia he had three games in which he threw three interceptions. … Ohio State's defensive line against Miami's offensive line. Defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, a first-team All-American, and defensive end Caden Curry, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, have gone from back-ups on last year's national championship team to stars of a defensive front which has been a big part of OSU's success. They'll be matched up against a Miami offensive line led by first-team All-ACC left tackle Francis Mauigoa. … Ohio State's back seven on defense against Miami's receivers. Miami's Malachi Toney has had 89 catches for 970 yards and 8 receiving touchdowns as a freshman and was voted first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hurricanes also have Keetan Marion (44 catches) and C.J. Daniels (37 catches). Ohio State's defense ranks No. 1 nationally in scoring defense (8.2 points per game), total defense (213.5 yards per game), passing touchdowns allowed (6), passing yards per game (129.1) and yards per catch (8.8). Sixteen points in a 34-16 win over Illinois is the most points the Buckeyes have given up this season. Illinois quarterback Luke Altmeyer (248 yards) and Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (222 yards) are the only quarterbacks to throw for more than 200 yards against them this season. Indiana's Charlie Becker is the only receiver with more than 100 yards of catches against them and only four receivers had more than four catches against them. … Ohio State's receivers against Miami's back seven defensively. Miami has not given up more than 26 points in a game. It is fifth nationally in scoring defense (13.0 points per game) and has allowed only 11 touchdown passes. Miami's defensive backfield combines aggressive coverage with bringing blitzes. Nickel back Keionte Brooks has five sacks and 13 tackles for losses. Bryce Fitzgerald has six interceptions and Jakobe Thomas has four interceptions. OSU's top receivers, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, should be 100 percent healthy or close to it, but Miami's defensive backs might be some of the best competition they've faced this season. However, if Smith and Tate are healthy, you have to like their chances against any defense. The prediction: Ohio State 28, Miami 17.