Before each Ohio State game, Eleven Warriors catches up with a media member who covers the opposing team to get his or her perspective on the Buckeyes' upcoming opponent.
#10 Miami
Hurricanes
As Ohio State prepares to play Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl, we’re joined by Adam Lichtenstein, who covers the Hurricanes for the Sun Sentinel.
Lichtenstein breaks down how Miami has returned to prominence, why Hurricane fans have been eagerly anticipating a matchup with the Buckeyes, the Hurricanes’ biggest strength and weakness, Miami players to watch and how he thinks the Cotton Bowl will play out.
Miami has won double-digit games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2003. Is “The U” back? What’s changed over the past couple of years for the Hurricanes to re-emerge as a national contender?
Lichtenstein: That depends on what you consider "back." Many UM fans — especially those who grew up in the glory years of the '80s, '90s and early 2000s will say Miami will only be "back" when it wins its sixth national title. But is "The U" back to national relevance? I think so.
What has changed over the last couple of years is Mario Cristobal has had time to build his roster. He has stacked high-level recruiting classes, combining top prospects that everyone wanted (think former five-star prospect Francis Mauigoa and high four-star Rueben Bain Jr.) with keen evaluations that hit (like offensive lineman Anez Cooper, a four-year starter who was not even in the top 1,000 of his recruiting class). Combine that with key transfer portal acquisitions like quarterbacks Cam Ward and Carson Beck, multiple centers, and defensive end Akheem Mesidor, and you have a recipe for success.
How much do Miami fans still talk about the 2002-03 national championship game – and do you get the sense that they’re viewing this as a revenge game because of that?
Lichtenstein: The answer is a resounding "yes." That title game is an easy place to point to for the slide Miami has taken over the past two decades. The Hurricanes were the best team in the nation in the first few years of this century. Since then, the Hurricanes tumbled and became a mediocre program that could hardly compete for the ACC, let alone national titles. Terry Porter's pass interference call is the perfect demarcation line.
Miami fans have been hungry for this matchup since the bracket was revealed. They want to win this one badly.
What are the biggest things Miami does well that should scare Ohio State fans?
Lichtenstein: UM's pass rush is among the nation's best. Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor are arguably the best pass-rushing tandem in the nation. The pair of them terrorized Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed in the first round. They combined for 4.5 sacks in that win.
But Bain and Mesidor are not the only players to worry about in the pass-rushing game. Defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. is also capable of getting to the passer, notching 4.5 sacks this year. And defensive back Keionte Scott is one of the nation's top pass-rushing defensive backs; he had two sacks against Texas A&M.
Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman has several ways to get to the quarterback, and he will use them. If his defenders can beat the Ohio State offensive line, Julian Sayin could be in for a long day.
What’s Miami’s biggest weakness that Ohio State could potentially exploit?
Lichtenstein: The Hurricanes’ offense was pretty stagnant against the Aggies. The main reason why: Texas A&M bottled up star freshman Malachi Toney. The standout receiver has become the focal point of Miami's offense. He can make big plays all over the field. He runs routes well and can make plays downfield (though the high winds in College Station took that away in the first round). Give him space, and he will make people miss. The Hurricanes will line him up in the Wildcat or at quarterback and let him make plays that way.
The Aggies halted nearly all of that until Toney scored the game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes. With Toney neutralized for the first 58 minutes, UM could not find the end zone. The Hurricanes do have other playmakers, but if the Buckeyes slow down Toney, Miami's offense could come to a halt.
Malachi Toney and Rueben Bain Jr. are the Miami stars who get most of the attention. Who are some Hurricanes that aren’t talked about as much nationally that Ohio State fans should know about entering this game?
Lichtenstein: I have mentioned a couple so far, but I'll focus on three in the secondary: nickelback Keionte Scott, safety Jakobe Thomas and safety Bryce Fitzgerald.
Scott was a potential Thorpe Award candidate before he suffered a foot injury that knocked him out for the final three games of the season. He returned in time for the playoffs, and he did not miss a beat. He had 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. Scott has 54 tackles, 13 tackles for loss five sacks and an interception.
Ohio State fans may remember Thomas from the playoffs last year; he played safety at Tennessee. He has come into his own with the Hurricanes this year. Like Scott, he is a playmaker in coverage and near the line of scrimmage. Thomas has 58 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four interceptions.
Fitzgerald has been a revelation for UM. The freshman was the last member of his class to arrive on campus in the summer, but you would not know it from the way he plays. He has a team-leading six interceptions this season, including two against the Aggies. Coaches and players say the ball just finds his hands. He is becoming a true ball-hawk.
True freshman safety Bryce Fitzgerald had two interceptions in Miami’s first-round CFP win vs. Texas A&M. (Photo: Jerome Miron – Imagn Images)
What’s your prediction for how the Cotton Bowl will play out?
Lichtenstein: I think this might be a better game than some predict. If Miami is playing its best ball and its offense bounces back from its poor showing against Texas A&M, the Hurricanes will be in the game. They have the talent to compete.
Ultimately, though, I think Ohio State has the advantage at too many positions. The Buckeyes win by about a touchdown.
