After recording nine tackles for loss and seven sacks against Texas A&M in the first round, Miami will face a vulnerable Ohio State offensive line in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night.
Ohio State allowed nine tackles for loss and five sacks in a 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big 10 Championship game, their last time out. Rueben Bain had five tackles, 4.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks after Texas A&M offensive tackle Trey Zuhn III doubted his effectiveness before the game.
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin completed 21 passes in 29 attempts for 258 yards, one touchdown and one interception against Indiana. Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith had eight receptions for 144 yards against the Hoosiers.
Bain and Akheem Mesidor led a Miami defense that has the second-best Pro Football Focus pass rush grade behind fellow CFP quarterfinalist Texas Tech. Miami is 12th nationally with 88 tackles for loss and fourth with 41 sacks. Ohio State is 29th nationally in PFF pass blocking grade.
Julian Sayin has a quick release
Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus noted that the ability for Sayin to get the ball out quickly and make accurate throws could be the difference against Miami. Sayin is first nationally, completing 78.4 percent of his pass attempts and Carson Beck is second at 74.5 percent for Miami.
Wasserman stated that when Sayin releases passes in 2.5 seconds or less, he has a 90.2 PFF passing grade with a 79.9 completion percentage. Both of those numbers are in the top six nationally in FBS for QBs with at least 100 dropbacks in that metric.
Miami has the second-most pressures and sacks within the first 2.5 seconds of dropbacks nationally in 2025. Ohio State is 13th nationally, allowing 49.0 TFLs and sixth, permitting 13.0 sacks. The Miami DL versus the Ohio State offensive line will feature strength versus strength.
Wasserman concluded his examination that "Ohio State’s pass game versus Miami’s pass defense, Julian Sayin vs. Miami’s pass rush" that "Sayin will be under immense pressure to process Miami’s coverage quickly and make accurate throws before he succumbs to an elite pass rush."