Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - ALERT: Miami aims to UPSET Ohio State in Cotton Bowl | How the Canes can BEAT the Buckeyes

Starting point is 00:00:00 Miami gets set for the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State. Can the hurricanes pull off the upset? You are Locked on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Hello, everyone, and welcome in a locked on ACC. I'm Jackson Holeser, host Locked on Syracuse. That's Kenton Gibbs, host of Locked on NC State Wolfpack. and thank you so much for making us your first listen of every single day here on the Locked-on Podcast Network where, of course, it's your team every day, and we're always free and available wherever you get your podcast here on the number one sports podcasting

Starting point is 00:00:46 network. And on today's show, we are previewing all things Cotton Bowl-related Miami Hurricanes, representing the ACCC, taking on the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. All of that and more coming up here on today's edition of Lockdown ACC. And before we get to everything, this episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code Lockdown College for 20 hours off your first purchase. So the way that this show is going to go is later on, Kenton and myself are going to be giving our official prediction for this game. We're also going to talk about the Miami Hurricanes defense against the Ohio State offense. we are going to start the show talking about the Miami offense versus this very stout Ohio State defense.

Starting point is 00:01:38 These two teams, they play on New Year's Eve, 7.30 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday. So, Kenton, how are the Miami Hurricanes going to be able to score? Yeah, so there, let's make this clear out the gates. there is no easy way to score on this Ohio State defense. When you look at how they performed all year, they have whooped the wheels off of team. They held the Heisman winner to, what was it, 13 points. The most points they allowed all year was 16 points against Illinois.

Starting point is 00:02:19 And so you talk about scoring on this Ohio State defense and how are you going to do it. you want to look for an Achilles Hill in the defense, but this defense has none. So if you look at a defense and you say there is complete as Ohio State, where you have guys like Caleb Downs on the third level, where you got guys like Arvall Reese and company on the second level, and then obviously up front, being as dominant as they are does not happen without a committee of dominant big bodies.

Starting point is 00:02:49 You're then asking, well, what do we do? And the answer for Miami is do what you do. Be who you are. Be that team that your offense does not kill you. You take care of the ball. You play a field possession game. And the last thing you need, need need. This is not a want.

Starting point is 00:03:10 This is not an oh, it would be nice to have. You need to run the ball effectively. Yes, in today's a modern game, everybody talks about spreading it out and going to all these different plays. the reality is you do not. Miami does not have one 600 yard receiver not named Malachi Tony, not one. Okay. Like that's just the reality. And this is no disrespect. But if the thought that Mario comes out with is we're going to pitch it all around a yard and that's how we're going to win this game. Congratulations, Ohio State Buckeyes. You would be moving forward to the

Starting point is 00:03:48 national semifinal. That's that's all there is to it. They have to control the ball, they have to run the ball well. And off of running the ball well, you'll be able to hit some play action shots. But ultimately, that grounded pound scheme, that kind of three to four yard and a cloud of dust scheme, that's what's gotten Miami to the dance. Don't fancy yourselves to be something different now. This Ohio State team is so complete, exploiting an Achilles Hill doesn't make sense. So just be who you are and work out with what you got. And what you got is a damn good offensive line. and backs that are average about 2.15 per in college.

Starting point is 00:04:26 To your point about the Ohio State defense and how they have no Achilles heel, here are some just basic stats about Ohio State. They have the number one defense in the country in both yards allowed and points allowed. Okay, so you can't really move the ball on them and they don't allow points. Not great for Miami right off the bat. they have the number one pass defense in the country and a top five run defense in the country. There are no weaknesses with Ohio State. So when I look at Miami, there are two keys, actually three keys.

Starting point is 00:05:08 Number one, can't have turnovers. Right. You start turning the ball over against this Ohio State defense. We'll talk about it in the next segment. I think Ohio State, despite maybe. having some questions about their offense against a very good hurricanes defense, they may add. They're still going to find a way to put up some points. If you're the Miami Hurricanes, if you start turning the ball over in this game,

Starting point is 00:05:32 it could get ugly very quickly. So you can't have turnovers. Number two, big plays. You mentioned how Miami has to run the football. Where I would push back on that is, I think Miami for one way or another, they're just going to have to find a way to get a big chunk play. We talked about in the Texas A&M game, how that game-winning drive started with a 50-plus-yard run by Mark Fletcher.

Starting point is 00:05:59 Miami's going to need to do that about three to four times in this game. It doesn't have to be Mark Fletcher breaking off a 50-yard run, but they're going to need those 30, 40, 50-yard explosive plays because there just aren't how many times do you think Miami is going to be able to go down the field against Ohio State, you know, seven plays, 70 yards, plays 80 yards. You get the idea where it's like play, play, play, play. And you start matriculating your way down the field. It doesn't seem like Miami's going to be able to do that against this Ohio State defense. So your way around it is get explosive play. And number three, capitalizing the

Starting point is 00:06:37 Red Zone. Very simple. Capitalize in the Red Zone. Miami might only get two to three opportunities in the Red Zone the entire game. So, So when you're in the red zone, getting touchdowns are absolutely imperative. And I guess to your point about running the football, that's where it becomes even more important when Miami gets to the red zone. I don't disagree with anything you said there. The reality is those big plays have to come, but that's where running the ball makes that happen.

Starting point is 00:07:09 Against Texas A&M, the big play was running the football. There are going to be moments where Ohio State is going to commit all out to stopping that run if you're doing so effectively. that's where you can find Malacot Tony downfield. That's where you can find this cast of receivers downfield. That's where you can make some things happen. When Fletcher and Brown have it rolling, then all of a sudden, Keel and Mary, then all of a sudden, CJ Day,

Starting point is 00:07:32 all those guys open up once the run game opens. I'm not saying they don't need to pass the ball at all. What I'm saying is if you had to do one or the other, right, run to set up the pass or pass to set up the run, it's a 95-5 proposition to me. I'm 95% certain they have to run to set up the pass as opposed to the opposite. Like there are very few things I've been more sure of. And so with that being said, I agree.

Starting point is 00:08:00 And as far as your point about the red zone, red zone trips are going to be precious in this game in my opinion. Red zone trips, I think that there will be a good amount of motion between the 30s, but I think the red zone in and of itself, oh, that's going to be rarefied air. And if you're getting into that rarefied air, you need to be finishing those drives off. And like you said, a running game is best to do that because in the red zone, those passive windows get smaller and smaller and smaller. And the defenders start looking a little bigger than they did when you had all that room to work with between the 30s. So ultimately, I do agree that they need to finish in the red zone.

Starting point is 00:08:41 And the big plays, I don't think they need four. I think four puts this game away. I think four gives you this, this is over. You know, we're looking at one of the upsets of the century here. I think they just need one or two of those truly big 30 plus yarders. One or two of those, really two of those, that puts you where you need to be. Once you're getting to three or four, now you're starting to kind of stack up possessions because ultimately I think that this game is going to be a rock fight.

Starting point is 00:09:12 I think it's going to be ugly. I don't think it's going to be high scoring. And so with that in mind, if you're creating explosives and on top of that, you are finishing in the red zone, I mean, at that point, what more can you ask out of a team? And not turning over the ball, of course, at that point, what more can you ask of an offense? Well, how about this? Trick plays. Oh, stop it. Do you think Miami needs to run some trick plays? I'm extremely anti-trick plays.

Starting point is 00:09:40 Let me tell you why. The guys who are supposed to execute those trick plays are not going to be. old enough to have the experience. If they're going to run a trick play, who's going to be the receiver catching the ball and then throwing it or the running back that catches the pitch and then throws it? You see what I'm saying? Can I add this in here, though?

Starting point is 00:09:59 Does it have to necessarily be trickery on offense or maybe I throw this at you? How about like a fake punt? Now, stealing a possession, I like that. Yeah, like a stealing possession, some people are stealing a possession, a trick play. you know, like Philly, something like that, you know, something to try to catch Ohio State off guard in this game.

Starting point is 00:10:21 If you, if you tell me it's still a possession, I can feel you. But a bunch of trick plays, that's not. No, you can't do a bunch of trick plays. You know,

Starting point is 00:10:30 eventually Ohio is smart. You can do maybe one or two and get away with it. Either way. I think if you still one possession, I think you're all right there. Maybe two. Maybe. But that's not who Miami is.

Starting point is 00:10:40 There are certain teams, certain offenses that I'm like, hey, that's kind of your deal. do your dance. That's what you do. Make it happen. Make it glitchy and all that. Miami is a type of offense meat and potatoes.

Starting point is 00:10:54 That's who they are. They want to do their steak and potatoes. Let's chew on our steak of potatoes. Let's make it rough. Let's make it gritty. Let's make it a game that everybody is going to not have a good time if you came in expecting the over. If you thought that the over was going to hit,

Starting point is 00:11:12 I want to let you know early, this ain't that and that ain't this because ultimately when you have a team that throws the ball as well as Ohio State does and a lot of it is based on timing and rhythm and all those things I want you sitting on the bench for as long as possible because the longer you sell on the bench the colder you get and the colder you get not physically cold because this is the the cotton bowl yeah it's not going to be cold it's indoors right yep yeah it's indoors we're not talking about physically cold I mean, if you are a football player, there's a difference between being on the field, executing, playing and play out, getting a drive going, and sitting down on your hands for about eight to ten minutes of real time, if not longer, between times that you get the opportunity to get the ball. So ultimately, I think that this is, again, time of possession, field position, and finding a way to just say, hey, we're going to keep Julian saying, we're going to keep Jeremiah. of Jeremiah Smith, we're going to keep all of these guys on the sideline,

Starting point is 00:12:19 Cardinal Tate Company on the sideline for as much of this game as we can. And we'll go from there. Well, the reason why you keep on saying rock fight is not just because of the Ohio State defense. It's also about the Miami defense, which we're going to talk about next here on Lodont-A-C. There's nothing like college football season, tailgates, pack state, and being right there in the middle of it all. I mean, you got the cotton bowl coming up on New Year's Eve. The energy, the bands, the moments you remember forever, but actually getting tickets, that part

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Starting point is 00:13:28 off your first purchase, terms apply. Again, that's Trode Lock on College, L-O-C-K-E-D, O-N-C-O-N-C-L-E-G for 20 hours off. Download the GameTime app today. The Ohio State offense is loaded. Julian saying that quarterback. You got Jeremiah Smith, who is probably the best wide receiver in all of college football. Even if he were in the NFL right now, he might be a top 10 receiver if you were playing right now in the NFL.

Starting point is 00:13:59 That's how good Jeremiah Smith is. Cornell Tate, he might be a New York jet come 2026 as a first round pick. Ohio State is loaded across the board. But here's the good news, Miami Hurricanes fans. Miami has an elite defense too. So Kenton, how can Miami slow down this Ohio State offense? Well, the key to this game, and I don't think that there will be anything else that we look at at this game and say, was this a win for Miami or not?

Starting point is 00:14:31 There will be nothing else that we look back at, especially there's a world where this game is a blowout for Ohio State. I don't think that there's a world where this game is a blowout for Miami. This game is a blowout for Ohio State. Ohio State in terms of them winning, if Mesidor and Bain are non-factors, they have to bring the ruckus with limited resources spent on pass rushing. Here's the deal, right? When you think about how this whole deal in terms of everything works out with how to stop an offense that has all these weapons and whatnot, when you have to commit more bodies to the box,

Starting point is 00:15:14 you are going to be in trouble. When you have to commit, more bodies to the pass rush, you are going to be in trouble. If you look at how Michigan beat this team last year, it was simple. Too high, let the dogs hunt. Let the dogs hunt. If you look at how Indiana beat this team this year,

Starting point is 00:15:34 for the most part, you did not see, oh, yeah, we're going to go single high all game and we're going to trust our corners one-on-one with Jeremiah Smith and Cardinal Tech. Absolutely not. That's not, you're going to need to go a lot of too high, a lot of, hey, we're taking away the top. We're taking away going over the top. We are going to make it really difficult in that regard.

Starting point is 00:15:55 You've got to hit everything underneath their intermediate and on top of hitting things in the underneath and the intermediate. You're going to have to get your quarterback upright and trusting that those guys are going to be there playing in and play out. The reality of this thing is, Mesdor is the number two rush. in the class. Bain is number one to a lot of people. These guys, they've got to get home. They've got to get it done at a high clip because if they don't, you're going to be looking at a very long day.

Starting point is 00:16:28 You're going to be looking at a lot of fans in the stands doing a OH. You're going to be looking at a lot of that. Okay. The reality is make saying uncomfortable with four, maybe even five. Once you get to bring in six plus, you're in very dicey territory against this Ohio State team. Bill Belichick had a very famous game plan in the 1990 Super Bowl between the Giants and Bills. Do you know what that game plan was?

Starting point is 00:16:59 What was it? In order for the Giants to win, in order for them to stop that high-powered Bill's offense, led by Jim Kelly, the K-gun offense, Andre Reid, all those guys, right? Thurman Thomas needs to run for 100 yards. That was the game plan. Thurman Thomas needs to run for 100 yards. Limit their passing attack and just by time until Buffalo realizes they can run the football.

Starting point is 00:17:30 The reason I mention that is because maybe that's exactly what Miami needs to do. And what you're kind of outlining with Miami playing, you know, too high safety and all that fun stuff, that's kind of exactly what it is. Make Bo Jackson on the ground beat them. Because at the end of the day, Ohio State is Ohio State. They're loaded it across the board. They don't have a weakness.

Starting point is 00:17:56 They're the defending national champions. They're only losses to the team that's rated number one in the entire college football playoff. That is Ohio State. Okay? Yep. They have all this first round talent at wide receiver. Bo Jackson is an elite.

Starting point is 00:18:11 running back. Julian Sane was a Heisman candidate this year. So it's really pick your poison. And I look at Miami and I say, well, out of all the players in Ohio State, all the steel guys, who do I want to beat us? It's Bo Jackson. That's what I mean, do you want Jeremiah Smith going for 200 yards? Good luck. You want Cornell Tate getting wide open for a buck 50? Good luck. You're not going to win. You're not going to win. The only way Miami can actually win this game, particularly on defense, is if they say, you know what, we're going to put as little guys in the box as possible, and we're going to make Ohio State run the football. And if they are able to run the football, so be it. But it goes back to that game plan by Bill

Starting point is 00:18:59 Belichick against that Bill's offense in 1990. Thurman Thomas is going to run for 100 yards. Okay, Bo Jackson for Ohio State, you're going to run for 100 yards. You're going to be maybe the Cotton Bowl MVP at the end of this game. But we are not going to let Jeremiah Smith go crazy. We're not going to let Carnell Tate go crazy. We're not going to let Julian Sandor for three, 400 yards. We're going to make Ohio State beat Miami on the ground. And I think that's a fair way to do it.

Starting point is 00:19:31 When you talk about who you trust the most, who you trust the least, who you won't beat you and all that good stuff, Ohio State's running game is not bad. That's not anything that's not what I am saying. all. I'm just saying, get you're poison. That's what I'm saying. Nobody's arguing that Ohio State's running game is bad. We want to make that clear because we know somebody's going to clip us from some places. They all, look, see, they're disrespecting us or whatever the case may be. However, if you look at what is the objective truth of the matter here, you will not, you will not, you will not have a very good

Starting point is 00:20:03 time if they are marching up and down the field with this passing game. The passing game will get you many more chunk plays much faster than Bo Jackson and Company will. That's just the reality of what we're looking at. And like I've talked about already in this episode, when you look at the teams in the recent years to have beaten Ohio State, there are not many, but those teams were able to stop or at least mitigate the damage done by the run with just using six or seven bodies in a box, no extra. That's it.

Starting point is 00:20:36 Just bring that six and say, hey, We still going to maintain our two deep. We're still going to maintain everything over the top and rally and we'll be okay. And Ohio State could not manage that. But granted, it takes having some superpowered dudes on the inside. Michigan had two first rounders in Grant and Graham on the inside. Well, Miami, you've got two first rounders on the outside in Bain and Mesidor. The reality is you have to do superpowered stuff to beat Ohio State

Starting point is 00:21:07 because they are a superpowered team in essence. And so what we're looking for here, we're going to put some pressure on Bain and Mesidor and Clark and Company. We're going to put some pressure on them. Yep, that's part of the deal. When you're at this level of football playing this ball game, I don't know what to tell you, brother. You've got to do it.

Starting point is 00:21:29 The secondary, I think they're good. I think they're good. I think Miami Secondary is a little bit underrated, but I think that they're good. I think that they've done a good job of not only making plays when it counts, but they've also done a good job of eliminating top targets or limiting top targets. Lineback and core, I think their lineback corps is appropriately rated. I think they're a good group.

Starting point is 00:21:52 I think they're better than solid, worse than very good slash excellent. I think that they're a good group. I think they're a group with Bessain Company that make plays that they should, a few that they shouldn't. I'm not going to sit here and say, oh, Ray Lewis is, walking through those doors type of deal. But again, they're a good group. But the stars of the show are those big dogs up front.

Starting point is 00:22:16 And if Miami is to have any shot in this thing, those big dogs need to hunt early and often. Well, those big dogs, they had a big day against Texas A&M. And to your point, yeah, they're probably going to need to have another big day to upset Ohio State. Speaking of which, coming up here on Locked on ACC, Kenton and myself will be giving our official prediction for this game. Who do we have winning? Find out next on Locked-on ACC.

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Starting point is 00:23:40 Kenton, without further ado, what is your prediction for this game? You know, I'm holding strong at 1310 Ohio State. I'm holding strong right there, but I do want to make one thing clear. Miami has a shot at this thing. I think what ultimately ends up happening is the goal line stand giveeth and the goal line stand taketh away. And I think that we see a moment where Carson Beck just makes a tough re, and Caleb Downs makes a superhero type of play in the end zone

Starting point is 00:24:15 to secure this one for Ohio State. But again, I really do think that Miami, I wouldn't be shocked at all if we're coming on here saying Miami advances because national media is, you know, pretending as if Miami is a make-a-wish team that just showed up and this is the island of misfit toys community college. No, the U is real. and this is a very, very legitimate football team.

Starting point is 00:24:41 So I think they're going to give Ohio State all they can handle. We have similar stores, but I have a little bit more points involved. I got Ohio State winning this game as well by a store of 20 to 13. And I think the difference in this game is that Carson Beck is going to throw a pick six. And that is what is going to ultimately do Miami. I think that their defense is going to be able to hold the fort against Ohio State. I think we outlined it great in the first segment, how it's going to be tough for this Miami offense to be able to store.

Starting point is 00:25:17 And at the end of the day, if they commit turnovers or one big one like I'm predicting, a Carson Beck picked six, it's going to be unlikely that Miami is able to pull this off. Would I be surprised? Would I be shocked? No. We're picking close games here. I'm picking 2013.

Starting point is 00:25:35 You're picking 13. 10, so we're not going to be shocked if Miami does end up winning this game. But objectively looking at this right now, as much as I would love for Miami to win and represent the ACC and get to the college football semifinal, this Ohio State team is just unreal. They don't have a weakness across the board. Miami is going to have to play to close to a perfect game in order to win it. And all it takes for them is one big mistake. and their season will probably end on New Year's Eve. Carson Beck throws a pick six.

Starting point is 00:26:11 Ohio State wins this game, 2013. Kenton, any last thoughts on this game? I think we've said it all. Let's put the damn ball down. Let's line it up. And also my last thought on bowl season in general, just in case this is the last game that we get to cover. I hope it's not.

Starting point is 00:26:29 I hope Miami keeps on rolling. But if this is the last game we get to cover, thank you to all day. ACC teams for showing up this bowl season. Thank you to all the ACC teams who were selected for bowls that, you know, for the most part, we didn't see a ton of opt-outs for most teams that still have a head coach and all that good stuff. Thank you to you guys. And thank you to the listeners for all, you know, for coming on back every single day in 2025. We're going to bring you more great content in 2026. Keep being an every day. We're going to keep this train

Starting point is 00:27:00 rolling, baby. Happy New Year. And speaking of which next week, folks, Alex Dono will be back in the co-host chair of Locked-on ACCC. Okay, he'll be back from his vacation. He will be back to hosting Locked-on ACC with Kenton Gibbs. And just to add on one more thing with a thank yous to all the ACC teams during both seasons. What I would like to say, kind of building off what we were talking about yesterday, is I would like to thank everyone except for Pat and Arduzzi. That's it.

Starting point is 00:27:29 That's it. Pat and Arduzzi doesn't care. He doesn't try. doesn't like football. That's it. We don't like Pat and Arduzzi here on Lockedon ACC. But to everyone else, thank you for showing up during this ball season and representing the conference strong. And of course, thank you all, ladies and gentlemen, for watching and listening to Locked on ACC. And we do hope that on Thursday, when we return, we are talking about the Miami Hurricanes moving on to the college football semifinal. No, I don't hate Miami. I really don't hate Miami. I want Miami. I want Miami.

Starting point is 00:28:03 me to win this game against Ohio State. So does Kenton. Let's just see what happens on Wednesday night. Folks, thank you all so much for watching. Thank you all so much for listening. If you like this podcast, be sure to hit that like button. If you really enjoy the podcast, be sure to hit subscribe. Tell all your friends about locked on ACC, and we will see you all again on Thursday.

Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - ALERT: Miami aims to UPSET Ohio State in Cotton Bowl | How the Canes can BEAT the Buckeyes

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