Ohio State is set to have its full complement of starters – outside one already confirmed as injured – when it plays Miami in the College Football Playoff on New Year's Eve.
Right guard Tegra Tshabola is listed as doubtful on the team's first status report leading up to the Cotton Bowl, but all of its other starters are currently available for Wednesday's game.
| OSU STATUS REPORT FOR MIAMI |
|---|
| Probable |
|
OL Devontae Armstrong S Cody Haddad WR De'zie Jones RB Anthony "Turbo" Rogers DT Will Smith Jr. S Deshawn Stewart |
| Doubtful |
|
DT Ahmed Tounkara RG Tegra Tshabola |
| Out |
|
DE Logan George S Malik Hartford QB Mason Maggs WR Quincy Porter |
Tshabola has 29 career starts for Ohio State, including each of its games from the last two seasons, but could have been replaced by either Gabe VanSickle or Joshua Padilla after struggling in the Big Ten Championship Game vs. Indiana, pending a competition. Ryan Day confirmed previously that Tshabola is sidelined by injury and likely to miss at least the CFP quarterfinals. Either VanSickle or Padilla will start in his place if he does not play, though it's likely a rotation of both will be used against the Hurricanes. Tshabola was fully dressed during the portion of Ohio State practice open to the media on Friday.
Beyond Tshabola, the most notable name on Ohio State's status report is defensive tackle Will Smith Jr., the Buckeyes' backup nose guard behind unanimous All-American Kayden McDonald. Smith is listed as probable for the game against Miami. If he didn't ultimately play vs. the Hurricanes, he'd be the only other major contributor to miss the postseason bout, barring any late additions to the status report.
Ohio State's next options at nose guard behind Smith are freshman Jarquez Carter and redshirt sophomore Jason Moore. Starting three-technique DT Tywone Malone Jr. or backup Eddrick Houston could also slide over to nose tackle if needed.
Freshman wide receiver Quincy Porter remains out after missing the final two games of Ohio State's regular season and the Big Ten title game. Backup safety Malik Hartford and defensive end Logan George also remain out after missing the end of the regular season.
The Buckeyes kick off vs. the Hurricanes at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday for the CFP quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl. Per College Football Playoff protocols, updated availability reports will be released at 8:10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, with the final injury report for the game released 90 minutes before kickoff Wednesday.
Miami has three players listed as out: Defensive back Damari Brown, linebacker Malik Bryant and wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw. Brown is the most notable absence, as he has started five games for the Hurricanes at cornerback this season. Backup defensive lineman Donta Simpson is listed as doubtful.
