Cover 3 College Football Podcast

Episode: Miami UPSETS Ohio State In Cotton Bowl | INSTANT REACTION | CFP Quarterfinal Results
Date: January 1, 2026
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, Bud Elliott

Episode Overview

This instant reaction episode dissects Miami’s shocking 24–14 upset over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl — a College Football Playoff quarterfinal. The hosts analyze how Miami, previously with zero CFP wins, knocked out the favored Buckeyes, and what it means for the Hurricanes’ national title hopes and the Ohio State program moving forward. The tone is energetic and a bit incredulous, reflecting the unforeseen result and its potential impact on the playoff landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Miami's Historic Win and Game Flow

[02:55-05:34]

• Miami entered the season with no CFP wins; they now have two and a trip to the semifinals.
• Ohio State was widely considered the betting favorite and a top pick among analysts.
• The panel expresses collective surprise over the nature and significance of the upset.

“The Miami Hurricanes had zero College Football playoff appearances and zero College Football playoff wins before this season. Now they have two... after a 24-14 win against Ohio State.” — Chip Patterson [03:28]

Line of Scrimmage Dominance & Key Adjustments

[05:34-07:42]

• Miami’s defensive line dominated Ohio State's O-line early, repeatedly pressuring QB Julian Sayin.
• Key moment: Miami’s red zone fumble early kept Ohio State in the game.
• Ohio State adjusted with 12 personnel (extra tight end) in the second half, tempering Miami’s pass rush briefly, but Miami adapted back.

“If Miami was going to win this game, they had to win along the lines of scrimmage — and they were really kicking Ohio State’s ass.” — Tom Fornelli [05:51]

Quarterback Performances: Carson Beck’s Poise & Sayin’s Struggles

[07:42-12:21]

• Carson Beck (Miami): Missed early throws but used his legs and protected the football. Didn’t hit deep balls, but converted critical third downs, kept drives alive with short, sharp passes.
• Julian Sayin (OSU): Struggled with pocket presence, took drive-killing sacks, rarely stepped up effectively under pressure.

“I thought Beck was really sharp. Miami protected exceptionally well, and you’re not going to go out and score 40 on Ohio State’s defense. Like, this was a pretty good effort.” — Bud Elliott [07:42]

“Poise in the pocket. To be 50% on third down was fantastic... this was the type of game, especially the one where he put his shoulder down... You’re like, I’ll do whatever it takes.” — Danny Kanell [12:03]

Miami’s Gameplan & Offensive Playcalling

[12:51-17:18]

• Multiple contributors delivered for Miami (Keonte Scott, Motore, David Blay); transfer portal additions and new DC Corey Heatherman were credited for team transformation.
• Mark Fletcher, healthy and powerful after injury setbacks, ran with authority.
• Miami kept the ball for extended stretches, with seven of eight true drives running three minutes or more.
• Mario Cristobal’s coaching: Aggressive late-game decision-making; trusted Beck to pass on a key fourth down instead of conservative clock-killing.

“They didn’t turtle up... it wasn’t for lack of effort. It was just because Ohio State was stopping them.” — Tom Fornelli [15:47]

“Maybe this is a new Mario Cristobal who’s going to let some of these players play and make plays. Shannon Dawson made some great play calls...” — Danny Kanell [16:20]

Miami’s National Title Chances

[17:18-18:32]

• The panel agrees Miami now has a legitimate path to the championship.
• Some skepticism remains regarding offensive consistency ("Can they go 7 of 14 on third down next week? We’ll see." — Tom Fornelli [18:13])
• With Ohio State out, the field feels wide open.

“Miami can beat anybody that’s left in this field. Exciting time for the Hurricanes.” — Chip Patterson [18:05]

Buckeyes’ Postmortem: What Went Wrong?

Slow Starts, Sacks, and Lack of Experience Under Pressure

[20:12-27:02]

• Five sacks (for 42 lost yards) were cited as drive-killers; Miami’s defense consistently sped up Sayin’s process.
• Sayin struggled with pressure, often drifting backward on sacks.
• Miami forced short, unsuccessful routes (e.g., Carnell Tate's 8 targets for just 37 yards).
• Ohio State lacked regular-season adversity; faced true in-game pressure only twice all year, possibly causing late-season execution issues.

“If you take a nine yard sack, I guarantee the stats on your drive being dead are astronomical.” — Bud Elliott [21:01]

“Sayin does not step up… he always goes backwards… that’s why he loses those chunk yardage when he gets sacked.” — Tom Fornelli [22:50]

“Look at the veteran experience of Carson Beck… how many times did he step up right by the edge rusher… because he’s been in that pocket for 40 starts. Julian Sayin, still a young quarterback.” — Danny Kanell [24:17]

Possession Limits and Play Calling Constraints

[27:02-27:57]

• Miami’s clock control (long drives) meant Ohio State had only nine real possessions.
• Early Miami dominance forced Ohio State to ditch its planned in-game tempo.

“I think Miami completely overwhelming their offensive line caused [Ryan] Day to throw that plan out the window.” — Tom Fornelli [27:29]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If Miami was going to win this game, they had to win along the lines of scrimmage.” — Tom Fornelli [05:51]
• “He didn’t complete a ball over 15 yards in the air tonight… kept drives alive on some of these short, precise passes.” — Bud Elliott [07:42]
• “This was a roster construction win… making the right decisions with your staff hires, with your portal additions…” — Chip Patterson [12:51]
• “For the first time, you’re like facing this huge test and you don’t know how you’re going to react.” — Danny Kanell [24:17]
• “The sport is more compressed than it’s ever been at the top. This is a pretty good example.” — Bud Elliott [28:03]

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Time | |--------------------------------------------|-----------| | Instant Reaction Begins | [02:55] | | Miami’s Physicality & O-line Breakdown | [05:51] | | QB Discussion – Beck vs. Sayin | [07:42] | | Mark Fletcher Highlighted | [14:00] | | Cristobal’s Aggressiveness | [15:34] | | Title Chances Debate | [18:01] | | Ohio State’s Problems Analyzed | [21:01] | | Sayin’s Pocket Awareness Critique | [22:50] | | Lack of Adversity Hurt Buckeyes | [24:17] | | Miami’s Controls Possession | [27:02] | | Possession/Tempo Talk | [27:29] | | Season Compression & Parity Discussion | [28:03] |

Summary & Concluding Thoughts

• Miami’s win was attributed to a combination of physical superiority at the line of scrimmage, solid game management by Carson Beck, and aggressive, well-timed coaching decisions.
• Ohio State, despite strong season-long metrics, was undone by unfamiliar adversity, poor handling of pressure situations, and a lack of big-game seasoning for their young QB and O-line.
• The panel is optimistic about Miami’s chances going forward while recognizing remaining hurdles and expressing surprise at the perceived parity/volatility in the new playoff era.
• The episode ends looking ahead to other CFP games, with continued analysis forthcoming.

Hosts’ Socials:

• Chip Patterson: @Chip_Patterson
• Tom Fornelli: @TomFornelli
• Bud Elliott: @BudElliott3
• Danny Kanell: @DannyKanell

Next Episode: Preview and reaction shows for the remaining CFP semifinals will be available after tomorrow’s bowl games.

This summary captures the energy, insights, and key moments of the episode, providing a comprehensive guide to this historic Cotton Bowl upset and its implications for the College Football Playoff landscape.