Ohio State doesn't need help finding motivation for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal. With Miami and OSU meeting in Arlington for the Cotton Bowl, Buckeyes fans and some of the online ecosystem have spent the last week doing what plenty of teams do: collecting quotes and takes that can create an 'everybody doubts us' narrative.
The latest example making the rounds came via a post shared on X: "All I've heard all week is Ohio State doesn't belong on the same field as Miami," followed by a list of supposed talking points that paint Miami as better across the board, from the defensive and offensive lines to the quarterback, coach and run game.
But the reality? Nobody who knows college football is actually saying Ohio State doesn't belong on the field with Miami.
All I've heard all week is Ohio State doesn't belong on the same field as Miami.
— JBook. (@JBook_37) December 28, 2025
Miami supposedly has the better DL, OL, better defense. Toney is better than Jeremiah. Better run game, better coach, better QB. OSU haven't played anyone and they're slow and soft.
Anything else?
Ohio State fans continue to take honest analysis personally
The funny part about this version of bulletin board material is that Ohio State is the No. 2 seed, they're 12-1, and the program is chasing another title. Nobody in their right mind is saying Miami will wipe them off the field. And in the betting market, Ohio State has been listed as roughly a 9.5-point favorite. That is not exactly the profile of a team being widely dismissed.
So, is there any validity to what Ohio State fans and some in the media are claiming?
The Hurricanes' first-round win at Texas A&M was a street fight. The Miami defense forced seven sacks, got three takeaways and Mark Fletcher set a career-high 172 rushing yards. When any team wins a game in that fashion, the narrative naturally shifts to toughness and line play — which is exactly what has happened.
Former ESPN analyst David Pollack, in a clip that really set things off, said Miami is "better on both sides of the line of scrimmage" implying that Miami's offensive line and defensive line are better than Ohio State's.
That is certainly what got the ball rolling on social media, and frankly, a lot of fans and media are in agreement. But, it's still not a complete dismissal of the Buckeyes, especially when you consider that Pollack picked Ohio State to win this game.
Miami will play Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Eve at 7:30 PM EST. That is when we'll find out the answers to all of our questions.