It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship.
NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest kicking off the college football playoff quarterfinals:
2026 CFP Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Matchup: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Miami Hurricanes
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Stadium: AT&T Stadium — Arlington, Texas
TV: ESPN
Game Overview
The 2026 College Football Playoff continues on Wednesday.
The Cotton Bowl Classic returns to the annual tournament for the fifth time, with Ohio State and Miami each looking to move on and join playoff winners Alabama (2015 and 2021), Clemson (2018) and… well, Ohio State (2025).
Story continues below advertisement
Joe Montana (1979), Bo Jackson (1986), Troy Aikman (1989), Eli Manning (2004) and Micah Parsons (2019) are just a few of the notable names who have taken home the game’s MVP.
The Buckeyes and Hurricanes will look to add someone to that list on Wednesday.
Team Overviews
No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes
Conference: Big Ten
Head Coach: Ryan Day
Record: 12–1
Story continues below advertisement
Ohio State was just one half away from perfection, but eventually faltered and ended up losing out to No. Indiana in the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game.
The Buckeyes are fully healthy and ready to avenge their only loss of the season, however, with only one former starter set to miss the matchup.
Ryan Day, who hasn’t called plays in two seasons, will return to that role in an effort to take responsibility off the plate of offensive coordinator Brian Hartline after he took the head coaching job at South Florida.
Story continues below advertisement
No. 10 Miami Hurricanes
Conference: ACC
Head Coach: Mario Cristobal
Record: 11–2
Miami is finally hitting its stride, having ripped off five consecutive victories including their final two against No. 24 Pitt in the regular season finale and No. 7 Texas A&M in the first round of the CFP.
The Hurricanes are undefeated in ranked matchups this season, including victories over No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 18 Florida State and No. 18 South Florida.
Story continues below advertisement
Players to Watch
Ohio State
QB Julian Sayin
RB Bo Jackson
WR Jeremiah Smith
WR Carnell Tate
OL Austin Siereveld
DL Kayden McDonald
DL Caden Curry
LB Sonny Styles
LB Arvell Reese
DB Caleb Downs
Miami
QB Carson Beck
RB Mark Fletcher Jr.
WR Malachi Toney
OL Francis Mauigoa
DL Rueben Bain Jr.
DL Akheem Mesidor
DB Kionte Scott
DB Bryce Fitzgerald
Story continues below advertisement
Key Notes
Ohio State holds a 3-2 advantage in all-time meetings with Miami, including their victory in the 2003 BCS National Championship Game.
Betting Lines
Story continues below advertisement
DraftKings Sportsbook: Ohio State -9.5 | O/U 41.5
FanDuel Sportsbook: Ohio State -9.5 | O/U 41.5
BetMGM Sportsbook: Ohio State -9.5 | O/U 41.5
The Pick: Ohio State -9.5
Featured image via Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/Imagn Images
