Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis dive into the matchup between Ohio State's defense and Miami's offense.

As kickoff time between Ohio State and Miami at the Cotton Bowl Classic keeps getting closer and closer, its time to take a look at three Buckeye players who need to dominate against the Hurricanes in order to keep advancing in the College Football Playoff bracket.

Over the last decade (or more), Miami and Ohio State have been frequent combatants for elite recruits from all over the country. The results of these recruiting battles has shaped both teams rosters for years, and that will be on full display when the teams meet in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on New Year’s Eve.

Miami beats Texas A&M 10-3 in College Football Playoff to earn date against No. 2 seed Ohio State in Cotton Bowl.

Miami freshman tight end Luka Gilbert, the Hurricanes’ only player from Ohio, was offered by the Buckeyes but committed to Miami without making an official visit to OSU. Nate Roberts committed to Ohio State just five days later, and the Buckeyes later added a second tight end in the 2025 class in in-state tight end Brody Lennon.