The Buckeyes reached this stage after going undefeated in the regular season with 12 wins, before falling to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten Championship Game. Now, head coach Ryan Day will look to guide his squad toward a back-to-back championship run.

On the other side, the arrival of Carson Beck has elevated the Hurricanes to another level, turning them into a legitimate contender. On December 20, they took down Texas A&M, and now Mario Cristobal’s squad is looking to knock off the reigning champions.

What happens if Ohio State defeats Miami?

If the Ohio State Buckeyes manage to defeat the Miami Hurricanes, they will not only claim the Cotton Bowl Classic but also secure a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. There, they would face the winner of the matchup between No. 3 Georgia and No. 6 Ole Miss.

What happens if Ohio State loses vs Miami?

If the Ohio State Buckeyes lose today to Miami at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, they will not only miss out on the chance to add another bowl trophy to their storied history, but will also be automatically eliminated from the College Football Playoff. Their dream of reaching another National Championship Game would come to an abrupt end.

When and where do the Buckeyes play the Hurricanes?

The Ohio State Buckeyes will face the Miami Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl Classic on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

According to NOLA.com, Kiffin has signed a seven-year, $91 million deal with the Lousiana State University. If the Tigers win a national championship in college football under Kiffin’s guidance, then the automatic escalator in his deal assures he will become the highest paid coach in the nation. At the moment, he holds second place.

As reported, Kiffin will earn an average of $13 million per year. However, that number is subject to change due to the bonus incentives included in his contract. As it stands, only one other coach in the NCAA makes more in a season: Kirby Smart. The Georgia Bulldogs’ head coach signed a ten-year, over $130 million extension. According to USA Today, he made $13.28 million this year.

Kiffin and Smart’s salaries are now in close proximity. However, fans in college football note Smart has won two national titles. Kiffin, on the other hand, is still after his first. Moreover, as Kiffin won’t coach Ole Miss in the College Football Playoffs, he has yet to call the shots in a postseason game.

How much do Day and DeBoer make?

As reported by NOLA.com, Kiffin and Smart are the only head coaches set to make $13 million before incentives. However, Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day is on their tail. Following the national title conquest in January, Day earned $12.5 million in the 2025 NCAA season, per CBS Sports. Moreover, his contract included max bonuses up to $1.5 million.

As for DeBoer, the second-year coach in Alabama made a base salary of $10.25 million, according to Tuscaloosa News. At the time of his signing, DeBoer was the third highest paid coach in the Southeastern Conference.

Sitting behind Smart ($13.28M) and Steve Sarkisian ($10.8M per year), DeBoer will now make room for another coach, taking the fourth spot instead. However, that could all change if any of Smart, Sarkisian, or DeBoer win the natty, which would almost certainly put them in line for a pay raise.

LSU demands results

Signing Kiffin in such fashion and under such a rich contract only raised the stakes for LSU. Sky-high expectations were always going to be set for the program with Kiffin at the helm. Now, however, it’s truly championship-or-bust for the Tigers. And if it is a championship, then Kiffin will receive a significant bonus in his bank account, along with the long-desired silverware on his résumé.

The reigning NCAAF champion entered this matchup with strong chances of securing a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, as their fate largely rested in their own hands. With a 27-9 victory, it’s now official—Ryan Day and his players will be present in this crucial title-deciding game.

Had they failed to secure the win at the Wolverines’ stadium, they would have depended on teams like the Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks losing their games. However, that became irrelevant after OSU’s convincing victory.

Once the final snap of the game was over, the Buckeyes ended a four-game losing streak against their biggest rival, and now all eyes turn to what lies ahead in the upcoming Playoffs.

Ryan Day’s second victory

Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day has finally vanquished his Wolverine woes, securing only his second victory in “The Game” since taking over the Buckeyes program.

Following his dominant 56-27 win in his inaugural matchup with Michigan in 2019, Day had endured a frustrating four-game losing streak against the bitter rival.

This latest triumph, which was a crucial win for Playoff positioning, marks a significant milestone, giving Day a much-needed, hard-fought second success and potentially shifting the narrative that has long plagued his otherwise sterling tenure in Columbus.

Turning it around in just one game is unlikely, as Day has lost more times than he has won against the Wolverines. Still, the experienced coach secured a new victory that puts him on the path to rewriting the history books.

How has Ryan Day fared each time he’s faced Michigan? After this afternoon’s game, the head coach has faced the Wolverines six times, winning the first and last matchups while losing the other four.

Having a 2-4 record against your biggest rival is far from ideal for a coach like Day. The 2025 edition of The Game was a prime opportunity for his team to start turning the tide.

Ryan Day’s first bright spot

Until this Saturday, Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes have only managed to secure one victory against their fierce rivals, Michigan. This success occurred in his inaugural full season at the helm in 2019.

The Buckeyes put on a dominant display, defeating the Wolverines with a commanding 56-27 score. That year, the offensive synergy was undeniable, as quarterback Justin Fields and running back J.K. Dobbins contributed significantly, accounting for four combined touchdowns to deliver Ohio State its 51st overall win in the storied rivalry.

A story dominated by Michigan

Historically, the Michigan Wolverines have maintained the upper hand in The Game, holding a dominant edge in the all-time series record against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Michigan’s longevity in the rivalry, which began in 1897, has resulted in them securing more total wins than Ohio State.

Despite the intense periods of Buckeye success in recent decades, the Wolverines’ early and sustained victories throughout the 20th century have allowed them to retain a significant advantage, proving that the storied tradition has historically favored the team from Ann Arbor.

Last year’s meeting remains a vivid memory on each school’s head. Last season, Michigan walked into The Shoe in Columbus and handed Ohio State a heart-crushing loss. This time around, the Wolverines will vie to snap the Buckeyes’ 11-game win streak and spoil their unbeaten season hopes.

Although Ohio State went on to hoist the NCAA Division I National Championship last season, the loss to The Team Up North left an indelible stain on the Buckeyes’ résumé. On top of that, watching the Wolverines plant their flag at midfield sparked an all-out brawl between the two sides. This time around, Moore and Michigan are making their intentions clear to Day and Ohio State should they win at home in The Big House.

“We talked about that at the beginning of the year,” Sherrone Moore admitted, via On3. “And we’ve been pretty good about any postgame interactions. When we win a game or when you’re in the game, we’re going to go to our student section and go to our band and shake hands, cordial ending, and be done with it. And that’s it. So, our guys have been good about that, and we’ll continue to do that.”

Lesson learned after chaotic ending in 2024

Although nothing can take away the feeling of fulfillment Michigan had last year after taking down Ohio State to cap off an otherwise discouraging season, the postgame incidents did leave a sour taste on everybody’s mouths.

Now, Moore and company preach taking the high road regardless of the outcome. However, whether that actually happens remains to be seen. After all, ‘The Game’ is a rivalry matchup filled with tension and flying sparks. When the zeros hit the clock, who knows if the Wolverines can keep their promise about being cool, calm, and collected?

The game within ‘The Game’

One thing is clear: Saturday’s showdown in Ann Arbor is a must-watch. Ryan Day and Ohio State (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) could suffer their fifth straight defeat to Michigan (9-2. 7-1 conference) and risk losing their spot in the Big Ten Championship Game—a position that was virtually secured coming into the matchup.

As for the Wolverines, a win would do wonders for their College Football Playoff résumé and could even send them to the conference title game—though that will depend on results elsewhere around the league.

Through the years, Ohio State and Michigan have established their dispute as the biggest rivalry in college football. Whenever the two programs collide on the gridiron, tempers flare, and neither side comes out the same as it was going in. As the two schools face off in the regular-season finale, winning or losing could prove the difference between going on a hot streak to win it all or being stopped in one’s tracks and spiraling out of control entirely.

Once again leaning on the exceptional talent of Julian Sayin, the Buckeyes came away with a 34–16 victory, allowing them to remain undefeated this season.

Following the game, head coach Ryan Day spoke to the media and shared his initial thoughts on the matchup, specifically highlighting the intensity his players brought to the field.

“I thought we came in early and had really good energy match the intensity of the environment,” Day told FOX’s Jenny Taft. “I thought we played well early on, and then I just, I wish we could finish the game a little bit stronger. We kind of took our foot off the pedal, so I got to take a deep breath right now.

“But there was a lot of really good moments, a lot of big stands down there by our defense. A lot to grow upon and build upon.”

Eyes on what’s next

Next Sunday, October 18, the Buckeyes will head to Wisconsin to face the Badgers — a matchup that will undoubtedly serve as a major test for a team already focused on what lies ahead.

“I think you just got to keep getting better,” Day said. “I thought we played physical in the game. They have a great team and a really good quarterback, so I thought defensively we played hard and found ourselves with some long drives, eating up a lot of clock.

“I thought we really did do a good job finishing down in the red area, got physical. All that was good. We’ll keep looking at what we gotta get better at. But as you know, we just got to keep getting better week after week. So we’ll get back, enjoy this a little while, and it’s on to Wisconsin.”

Staying on track

Fresh off a dominant start to the season, the Ohio State Buckeyes know their road back to the National Championship Game runs through a grueling Big Ten slate. With key matchups looming against ranked conference foes, the reigning national champions must maintain their focused, week-to-week dominance. For the Buckeyes, the mandate is clear: keep piling up wins to solidify a top College Football Playoff seed and earn the right to defend their crown.

Despite Manning’s turbulent performance at The Horseshoe, the opposing head coach made it clear that the young quarterback’s talent is undeniable — and that he could very well become one of the best at his position in the NCAA this year.

“No, he’s going to be a great player and is a great player. We just felt like in Week 1, we didn’t want to beat ourselves, so we took that into consideration in everything that we did. … It’s the same thing on defense,” Day said postgame.

“And he’s going to be a great quarterback and is a tremendous talent. But anybody you play in that first week, you just don’t want to beat yourself, and then you go from there. He made some really good throws there in the fourth quarter, and you could you can see the talent, but give our defense credit.”

Will they meet again in the playoffs?

Last season, the Buckeyes faced off against the Longhorns in the playoffs, coming away with a win that brought them one step closer to the national title just weeks later. While the new season is only just beginning, there’s already a real possibility of another postseason clash — and Ryan Day can feel it coming.

“You know, we’ll have to look at the film and see. I mean, that’s a stout front, there’s a lot of guys in there,” he said. “And, yeah, when we play them again, I don’t think it’ll look the same way, but you know, leaning on some of our tight ends in there, there were some good runs in there. I gotta really look hard now at the film and see, you know, where things didn’t go perfect.

“We were pretty tied in on both edges there. And so, you know, those are downhill runs we’re looking to really get physical and push guys around. But I do think that we were getting movement out there. It was not a high scoring game. I think we had four possessions in the first half. When it’s time to spread everybody out and air it out, we’ll do that and create more space. But this is a team that has great team speed, great team speed, and so we took that into consideration, putting the game plan together. It certainly wasn’t perfect, but it’s a start.”

What’s next for Ohio State?

• vs Grambling State, September 6
• vs Ohio, September 13
• @ Washington, September 27
• vs Minnesota, October 4
• @ Illinois, October 11

While he could have highlighted the performance of his new starting QB, Julian Sayin, the successful head coach chose instead to direct his initial praise toward his coaching staff — specifically, Matt Patricia.

“Well, he did a great job,” Day said of Patricia to FOX’s Jenny Taft postgame. “Our staff did a great job. I thought the play coming in was excellent. They kept fighting. I can’t say enough about these guys for the first game coming out and playing like this.

“It’s just a start. We got a lot to improve on. But yeah, defense really did a great job all night. A lot of respect for Arch and for Sark and they’re gonna have a great season. But man, what a great win for us to start off with such a young group.”

Despite gaining 336 total yards, Texas struggled to capitalize, as Ohio State’s defense came up big—forcing several turnovers on downs and picking off Manning once. The Buckeyes held the Longhorns to just a single score.

A strong debut for Sayin

Replacing Will Howard was never going to be an easy task — even less so after winning a National Championship. Despite that, Julian Sayin delivered a solid debut as the Buckeyes’ starting QB, something Ryan Day truly appreciated.

“I really like his composure,” Day said. “We probably could open it up later in the game, but his first start, we didn’t want to do that, so we won’t. But I think he could have handled it. This is a great start for him to win a game in his first star to beat the number one team in the country. Big time play over here. I thought he took care of the football and then, I mean, yeah, what a start for him.

“But, you know, just a gutsy win for our team. It’s a long season, so we got a long way to go. But I’m just proud of these guys. Gutsy win here to start.”

Will Howard’s departure to the NFL left a big question mark for the coach of the current champion, who ultimately decided to go with Sayin to start a new chapter from here on out.

Ahead of a major showdown against Sarkisian’s team, Day spoke with the press and revealed the main reasons he chose the sophomore player, emphasizing the trust his teammates have in him on the field.

“When Julian came in, he came in and really had a good spring, good preseason, and then learned behind Will about what it means to be a leader, about what it means to have command in the huddle, what it means to prepare, what it means to go through tough losses and come back from those,” Day said on College GameDay.

He also said: “So that was an important thing during the process (for) both Lincoln and Julian. You know, I used to say during bed check, make sure you watch how Will Howard’s going about his business, because that’s going to be you guys next year. So he’s learned a lot from there.

“And then I think as the season’s gone on, or the preseason has gone on, (he has) momentum. You know, he makes quick decisions. I feel like he’s got a good command of the huddle, and it’s like anything else you got to go play and figure out what you got. But I think the guys believe in them because of his ability. Now it’s time to go play.”

Clash of styles

Saturday’s blockbuster season opener between No. 1 Texas and No. 3 Ohio State won’t just be a clash of college football giants—it will be a duel of five-star quarterbacks making their highly anticipated starting debuts.

On one sideline, you have Arch Manning, the latest in a legendary football lineage, taking the reins of the Longhorns’ offense. On the other, the Buckeyes will be led by Julian Sayin, a polished and cerebral passer who has already earned the trust of his championship-caliber teammates.

Both young signal-callers enter the spotlight carrying immense pressure, but this high-stakes matchup in The Horseshoe offers a unique opportunity for one of them to make a definitive statement and plant their flag as a future Heisman contender from day one.

When and where will the game take place?

In what is being hailed as one of the most significant season openers in college football history, today’s highly-anticipated clash between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes is set to kick off at noon ET.

The monumental matchup will take place in front of a packed house at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, affectionately known to fans as “The Horseshoe.”

This game, a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal, will not only serve as a barometer for both teams’ national title aspirations but also as a showcase for their highly touted quarterbacks, Julian Sayin and Arch Manning, as they make their first starts under the brightest of spotlights.

The Buckeyes have yet to make their first presentation in college football’s 2025 campaign, yet they’ve made headlines already. Such is the hype around the showdown against Arch Manning’s Longhorns, that the school is barring Fox Sports’ Dave Portnoy from entering the stadium.

While the news on itself were shocking, a new report claims the man behind the decision is none other than Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. Talk about game-planning for the No. 1 college football program in the nation, Texas.

“I’m going to tell you who, and this is 100% true: Dave Portnoy has been banned from the Horseshoe. Everybody’s scrambling,” OutKick radio host Dan Dakich boldly stated. “Ross Bjork is the athletic director at Ohio State, and they’re saying FOX banned him. FOX is going to say nothing. That’s fine. But the guy that banned him is very simple, and I know this as fact. It’s Ryan Day.”

Why would Day want Portnoy away?

A season removed from winning the NCAA Division I National Championship, one would guess Day and the Buckeyes wouldn’t let anything—or anybody—get under their skin. Still, Ohio State is apparently trying to send a message.

“Ryan Day banned Dave Portnoy because Portnoy has been very personal in his attacks on Ryan Day. He’s gotten personal to the point of going after his children, not just calling him a loser,” Dakich commented.

Ohio State sets record straight

While the prospect of Day stepping in and banning a media personality from The Horseshoe is one that raises the stakes ahead of Saturday’s showdown, the school intervened with a statement.

“Ohio State routinely holds planning meetings with media partners and provides input regarding broadcast set-up, kickoff times, and other matters,” the statement read. “FOX representatives informed the department that the only talent who would be inside the stadium for the last hour of the show would be their main set-desk talent team. [FOX] informed us that David Portnoy is not part of their ‘main desk’ crew. Ohio State did not ban anyone from our stadium.”

After the Buckeyes secured the most recent National Championship, Will Howard made the pivotal decision to declare for the NFL Draft. He ultimately landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which will now be his new home at the pro level.

With a highly challenging debut ahead against the Longhorns, Ryan Day offered solid advice to Julian Sayin, emphasizing that he should stick to what he’s done so far — the very approach that earned him this privileged position in the first place.

“All he needs to do is just do what he’s been doing,” the HC said on Monday to the press. “We’ve talked a lot about that whole Roy Hobbs myth: ‘You just need to be you.’ You’re going to sink to the level of your training. And so I think that he knows that the team has confidence, the coaches have confidence in him. So go let it rip.”

A fresh start full of promise

The Ohio State Buckeyes are poised for a new era as true freshman Julian Sayin steps in to fill the massive void left by quarterback Will Howard, who is now headed to the NFL. Sayin’s rise to the starting role represents a significant turning point for the program, as his exceptional talent and poise have already earned him the trust of the coaching staff.

With Howard’s departure, the team is now fully committed to Sayin as their new leader on offense, and all eyes will be on him to see if he can deliver on the immense hype. His performance will not only shape the Buckeyes’ season but also determine the team’s trajectory for years to come.

A tough debut ahead

On August 30, the reigning champions will begin their title defense at home against Arch Manning’s Texas Longhorns, in what promises to be a highly demanding opener. From there, a tough stretch of games will put Ryan Day and company to the test, as they look to prove whether they’re truly capable of repeating last season’s success.

• vs Texas, August 30
• vs Grambling State, September 6
• vs Ohio, September 13
• @ Washington, September 27
• vs Minnesota, October 4