Tonight's Cotton Bowl between Miami and Ohio State might be about more than just advancing in the College Football Playoffs. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day wants to make it about recruiting, most notably recruiting the players in Miami's backyard.
And he wants to make it clear to Mario Cristobal that he's going to challenge the Hurricanes for the top players in the area.
Ohio State has made a habit of plucking some of the most talented players out of South Florida.
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) December 29, 2025
It is part of what has gotten Ryan Day's squad to this point, and it adds a little extra competitive layer to Wednesday's game.
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"There are a lot of great players in south Florida and there's a lot of guys that we're recruiting now that we want to get on our team," Day said in his recent media availability. "Miami is a great school and Florida is a great school and Florida State is a great school.... Ohio State, to me, is just a little bit different."
The Buckeyes have several players on the roster from Miami-Dade or Broward County that have become major contributors, like wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss, defensive lineman Kenyatta Jackson Jr., and running back CJ Donaldson.
"When you come to Ohio State, you've got to think big. Think about the guys that have come here and the success they've had. You see the stage that we play on," Day added. "You see the fanbase. You see everything that comes with the city of Columbus and playing in the Big Ten. We're the most watched team in college football year in and year out. Recruits down in south Florida can recognize that,"
Cristobal is used to the recruiting battles
I don't think there are too many people complaining about the Hurricanes recruiting since Cristobal arrived. It's clear he has a plan, and it's being executed well. But whenever Miami loses out on a top player, like Smith, it always burns.
In a perfect world, the "State of Miami" that Howard Schellenberger declared back in the late 1970s would be a real thing, but in reality programs have always dipped into the tri-county area in south Florida for talent. That's everybody from Notre Dame to Oklahoma to Pitt and all places in between.
Cristobal knows the best way to win the toughest recruiting battles is to win football games. The more the top players believe Miami is competing for championships, the more interested they are. There will always be a Jeremiah Smith or a Calvin Russell and Cristobal can't force them to play college ball at Miami...but he can make them wish they did by winning big game like tonight.