All eyes are on AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 10 Miami Hurricanes are set to collide in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal—better known as the Cotton Bowl—on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. The stakes couldn't be higher, with a coveted spot in the semifinals and a shot at college football immortality hanging in the balance. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN, with streaming available on ESPN Unlimited, DirecTV, Fubo, and more.
For the Buckeyes, this postseason run is a golden opportunity to capture their second consecutive national championship. They earned a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed, giving them a chance to rest up and fine-tune their game. Miami, meanwhile, arrives in Arlington riding high after a gritty 10-3 victory over Texas A&M in the first round—a game that will be remembered for being the first scoreless first half in College Football Playoff history.
So, what should fans expect from this Cotton Bowl showdown? If the experts and the stats are to be believed, this is shaping up to be a defensive slugfest. Both teams have built their identities on stifling, physical defense, and neither has given up much ground to even the most potent offenses this season. Ohio State hasn't allowed more than 16 points in a game all year, while Miami's defense hasn't surrendered more than 24 points in regulation. No wonder the over/under for this clash is set at just 42.5 points, with most analysts picking the under.
Miami's path to the quarterfinal was anything but easy. Their first-round win over No. 7 Texas A&M was a defensive masterclass, with the Hurricanes holding the Aggies to just three points. That performance was anchored by All-American pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr., who notched three sacks and was a disruptive force all game long. Bain's dominance up front has become a calling card for Miami's defense, and he'll be a key figure to watch against Ohio State's high-powered attack.
On the offensive side, Miami will look to freshman sensation Malachi Toney to make an impact. Toney has racked up 89 catches for 992 yards and an ACC-best eight touchdowns through 13 games, making him a nightmare matchup for any secondary. He also contributes on the ground and in special teams, providing the Hurricanes with a dynamic weapon who can change the game in an instant. Quarterback Carson Beck, a transfer who has found his stride late in the season, will be tasked with protecting the football and making smart decisions against a ball-hawking Buckeyes defense. Beck's turnaround has been remarkable—while he leads the ACC with 10 interceptions, he's thrown just one in his last five games and completed at least 70% of his passes in each of those contests.
Ohio State, for its part, boasts a roster brimming with NFL-caliber talent. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the name on everyone's lips, and for good reason. Smith, who finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting, leads the Big Ten with 80 receptions and has topped the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight year. His ability to get open and make contested catches makes him a constant threat, and Miami's secondary will have its hands full trying to contain him.
Quarterback Julian Sayin has been nothing short of sensational in his debut season, posting a blistering 78.4% completion rate—a figure that, if it holds, would set a new NCAA single-season record. Sayin's poise in the pocket and precision passing have made Ohio State's offense hum, especially with Smith and the rest of the Buckeyes' elite receiving corps at his disposal.
But perhaps the most impressive unit on the field is Ohio State's defense, led by safety Caleb Downs. Downs, a consensus All-American who finished ninth in Heisman voting, is the heart and soul of a group that has suffocated opponents all season. His football IQ and range allow him to erase mistakes and make game-changing plays, and he's surrounded by a cast of fellow All-Americans who give the Buckeyes one of the stingiest defenses in modern college football history.
"These are two dominant defenses built to thrive on the biggest stage," as one analyst put it on CBS Sports. The numbers certainly back that up. In games against elite competition, points have been hard to come by—Miami's 10-3 win over Texas A&M and Ohio State's grind-it-out regular season are testament to that. If you're looking for a shootout, this probably isn't the game for you. But if you love hard-nosed football, bone-crunching tackles, and tactical chess matches, you're in for a treat.
The winner of this Cotton Bowl clash will move on to face either No. 3 Georgia or No. 6 Ole Miss in the semifinals. The stakes couldn't be higher, and the pressure is on both coaching staffs to come up with the right game plan. For Miami, pulling off the upset would be a signature moment in program history and a validation of their defensive renaissance. For Ohio State, it's about legacy—can they keep their dream of back-to-back national titles alive?
Of course, fans who want to catch all the action have plenty of options. ESPN will air the game live, with streaming available on ESPN Unlimited, DirecTV, Fubo, and other platforms. ESPN Unlimited, priced at $29.99 per month, offers access to all ESPN linear networks and a host of other programming, including ABC and ESPN+. DirecTV's Entertainment tier, at $49.99 for the first month, grants access to a wide range of sports channels and even offers a 5-day free trial for new users. It's never been easier to tune in, no matter where you are.
So, as the clock ticks down to kickoff, fans and analysts alike are buzzing with anticipation. Will Ohio State's defense continue its historic run? Can Miami's young stars rise to the occasion and shock the college football world? The only certainty is that when the Buckeyes and Hurricanes take the field at AT&T Stadium, every play will matter, and the margin for error will be razor-thin.
With the College Football Playoff semifinals looming, the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal promises to be a battle for the ages. As the teams make their final preparations, viewers everywhere are gearing up for an unforgettable night of football in Arlington. The action is about to begin, and the road to the national championship is wide open.
