With the Miami Hurricanes coming away with a 10-3 victory over Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff, the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal is now set. The No. 10 Hurricanes will face No. 2 Ohio State on December 31 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
Miami entered the matchup against Texas A&M as a 3.5-point underdog, with Kyle Field expected to be a major factor. Now, heading to a neutral site against the defending national champions, the Hurricanes have opened as nearly a 10-point underdog against the Buckeyes.
That gap likely reflects Ohio State’s overwhelming talent, a roster loaded with four- and five-star players — including wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Just a sophomore, Smith is already considered one of the best players in college football. But his matchup against Miami in the quarterfinals comes with added layers that go beyond talent alone.
When Smith narrowed down his recruitment, it came down to Ohio State and Miami until the very end. He reportedly even had images ready to announce his commitment to the Hurricanes before ultimately choosing the Buckeyes two years ago. Transfer quarterback Cam Ward was among those trying to flip Smith to Miami, though Smith never responded.
That decision has left Miami fans either hoping for a hometown return someday or holding lingering frustration toward the former No. 1 overall national recruit in the Class of 2022.
Jeremiah Smith Puts Miami on Blast Ahead of Cotton Bowl
Smith is a centerpiece of the upcoming New Year’s Eve showdown, but there’s a larger narrative tied to this matchup that dates back nearly a quarter century.
The 2002 BCS national championship game featured Miami against Ohio State. The Buckeyes ended the Hurricanes’ quest for a repeat national title in a game forever remembered for a controversial pass interference call that swung the outcome. It’s a moment Miami fans still haven’t let go, with many believing it marked the beginning of the program’s downturn.
Speaking with the media on December 22, Smith was asked whether there was still animosity between Ohio State and Miami stemming from that game.
“Oh yeah, for sure,” Smith said. “You see it all over the internet, all over Twitter — they’re still talking about it 20 years later. … We’ve got something coming for them New Year’s Eve.”
Most players in the upcoming Cotton Bowl weren’t even born when that game was played. Smith, now 20, was born on November 29, 2005.
Will Miami Use Jeremiah Smith’s Comments as Added Fuel?
Miami heard plenty of noise leading into its first-round matchup against Texas A&M. Aggies offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III made headlines after downplaying Hurricanes pass rusher Rueben Bain, saying, “I don’t think he is a threat that we need to worry about. We will be able to handle him.”
Bain responded emphatically, finishing with five tackles — four for loss — three sacks, and a blocked field goal in the first half.
“We don’t take kindly to disrespect,” Bain said afterward. “Some people said some things they shouldn’t have said.”
Now the question becomes whether Miami’s defense will treat Smith’s comments the same way. There’s a good chance Bain and the rest of the Hurricanes are paying close attention.
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