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Until playoff round 1 of the 2025 CFP Playoffs, Alabama's worst bowl loss by margin of defeat is a 32-point blowout, occurring in the 1972 Orange Bowl where they lost 38–6 to Nebraska.  Today Indiana destroyed Alabama 38-3.  Indiana's last bowl game win was in the 1991 Copper Bowl, where they defeated Baylor 24-0, marking their most recent postseason victory before recent struggles.  Should Alabama have been in the playoffs in the first place? The Case Against Alabama's Inclusion in the 2025 College Football Playoff The 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) selection process has once again sparked heated debate, with the Alabama Crimson Tide's inclusion at the No. 9 seed standing out as particularly contentious. While the expanded 12-team format aims to reward the nation's top programs, Alabama's berth feels like a relic of outdated biases rather than a merit-based decision. With an 11-3 record and three notable losses, the Tide's resume simply doesn't sta...

Miami is without a doubt a good team. In their losses and near loss, is there some common thread?   Miami's defense was elite overall, ranking top-10 nationally in yards per play allowed (~4.51) and total defense (~277-281 yards per game average), but opponents exceeded 275 yards in these games: Vs. Florida State (Win, 28-22): Allowed 404 yards (highest of the season; FSU had 272 passing + 132 rushing despite 3 turnovers). Vs. Louisville (Loss, 21-24): Allowed 367 yards, 248 passing.  Vs. SMU (Loss, 20-26 OT): Allowed 388 yards (including 365 passing yards). One additional game (likely a win against a lesser opponent or close contest) where yards allowed were in the 275-350 range, based on season totals and averages On Offense : Offensive Performance in the Loss to Louisville (21-24) Points Scored: 21 ( below season average ) Total Yards: 334 ( below season average ) Passing Yards: 271 (slightly above season average, but inefficient) Rushing Yards: 63 (well below seas...

  Ohio State’s Path to Victory Against Miami: Physicality, Pressure, and Patience The blueprint for beating Miami is no longer theoretical—it’s already been tested. Louisville and SMU both exposed the same vulnerabilities: disrupt Carson Beck with relentless pressure, eliminate the run game, and force Miami into a one-dimensional offense. Beck has shown a clear tendency to make mistakes under duress, particularly when interior pressure arrives early and often. Ohio State has the defensive personnel to turn that weakness into a decisive advantage. The Buckeyes’ defensive line is the most important unit in this matchup. By rotating fresh bodies and collapsing the pocket without over-blitzing, Ohio State can replicate—and exceed—the disruption that gave Miami problems earlier this season. Winning first down is critical. When Miami is forced into second- and third-and-long, their offense becomes predictable, allowing disguised coverages and late safety rotations to bait Beck into turno...

Quarterback Ohio State: Julian Sayin has been highly efficient, completing ~78% of passes for over 3,300 yards, 31 TDs, and low interceptions. Strong in big games against ranked opponents. Miami: Carson Beck (transfer) has thrown for ~3,175 yards at 8.5 YPA, 26 TDs, and 10 INTs, with a 74.3% completion rate. Capable of big plays but has shown inconsistency and focus issues in pressure situations. Edge: Ohio State – More consistent and efficient production. Running Back Ohio State: Bo Jackson leads with ~950 rushing yards; committee approach with solid depth (e.g., James Peoples, CJ Donaldson). Miami: Mark Fletcher Jr. is the primary back (~685 yards), highlighted by explosive performances like 172 yards on 17 carries vs. Texas A&M in the first-round playoff win. Edge: Slight to Miami – Fletcher provides more big-play threat, though Ohio State has better depth. Wide Receivers/Tight Ends Ohio State: Elite group led by Jeremiah Smith (~942 yards) and Carnell Tate (~793 yards), conside...

: 2003 left many Hurricane fans with a bitter taste that has yearned for redemption ever since.   Miami entered the game on a 34-game winning streak, having won the previous season's championship   2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl , the designated BCS National Championship for the 2002 season, in a dramatic double-overtime thriller, 31-24, securing their first consensus national title in 34 years and ending Miami's 34-game winning streak. The game, played January 3, 2003, is famous for its controversial pass interference call in overtime that helped set up the Buckeyes' winning score.   2002:  Lost National Championship to Ohio State. 2005:  9-3, finished #2 in ACC Coastal. 2017:  10-3, won ACC Coastal, lost ACC Championship. 2024:  10-3, finished 3rd in ACC with a strong showing.   Miami went from a perennial national title contender to a good-to-very-good ACC program that hasn't quite reached the heights of the 80s and 90s, though recent seasons ...