The Miami Hurricanes and Ohio State Buckeyes will do battle on New Year’s Eve in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl. It will be the schools’ second matchup since the 2002 national championship game that ended in controversy and a Buckeye title.

But how does this year’s version of the Buckeyes look, and how do they match up with Miami. I touched base with A to Z Sports Ohio State writer Brandon Little and put some questions to him about the defending national champs and how they stack up with Miami.

1) The Buckeyes’ offensive line has seen a very good defensive line in Indiana, and now they will face one of the nation’s best in Miami.  How specifically did the Hoosiers give the Buckeyes issues, and how do you see Miami being able to be disruptive? 

The Buckeyes allowed Indiana to get five sacks of Julian Sayin in the Big Ten Championship and it was by far the most pressure he’s faced this season. Sayin admitted after the game that it was much different and it took time for him to settle in. Ohio State was better in the second half with Gabe VanSickle taking over for Tegra Tshabola at right guard. VanSickle will start against Miami and the hope is that it will partially help the Buckeyes. The best way to success for Miami and their defensive front is going to be through that right side between the tackle and guard, and even at times center. 

2) The Hurricanes’ offensive line has leaned on people for much of the season, and they’re back to being physical and dominant up front since dropping a stinker against SMU on November 1.  Ohio State is filled will physical talent throughout their defense.  Standout DT Kayden McDonald says he can’t be blocked.  How do you see that line of scrimmage battle going? 

Ohio State’s defensive line features three will be draft picks come April and they’ve had great success this season. I expect Ohio State to unleash LB Arvell Reese off the edge a lot more in this game than they have for the last month and a half. The Buckeyes get their push on the inside with McDonald where he collapses things, and then they work in from the edges. The key for Miami will be being able to keep their run game going and not having to get into a dropback game. If it gets into a pure drop-back game, that’s when Matt Patricia is going to dial up disguises and bring the pressure.

3) Malachi Toney has been a gamebreaker this year for Miami.  The Hurricanes have finally gotten him involved more in the offense over the last five games.  How do you see Ohio State accounting for him? 

Have they shadowed players, and will they do that with a defender or roll coverage his way?  Malachi Toney reads a lot like a matchup where the Buckeyes are going to be sending Caleb Downs his way a lot in coverage and in the short to intermediate game. The play of linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese is going to be key on any touches that Toney gets out of the backfield. Toney is going to get matchups with multiple Buckeyes through the course of the game, and for the most part, Ohio State has athletes to match up wherever. The Buckeyes just can’t allow him to do repeated damage consistently. 

4) The Buckeyes’ defense was arguably the nation’s best overall as a unit this season in college football from start to finish.  If Miami finds a way to put points up against Ohio State, how do you see them being able to do it? 

The Buckeyes have had two straight games where Julian Sayin has thrown an uncharacteristic interception to start the drive. Field position is going to be vital for Miami, as will not having as balanced of an offense as they can against this Ohio State defense. The Buckeyes have given up chunk runs against Indiana and Michigan early on. Getting a couple of explosives that at least put you in field goal position is the best way to beat this Ohio State defense, simply put. Freshman cornerback Devin Sanchez is going to be a star, but he’s the one player that the Hurricanes could look to target on the perimeter.

5) Ryan Day has said that he will take over playcalling duties after Brian Hartline was hired as USF’s head coach.  What is the difference in tendencies and philosophy between the two, and how could that change lead to success against Miami?

With Hartline having just one regular season as the play caller, there isn’t a ton to go off of with how the Buckeyes operate offensively. Ohio State ran the nation’s slowest pace of offense this season with explosives in between. The Buckeyes want to score enough points and rely on their defense to keep the offense healthy and off the field. One area that is going to be different is the red zone. Ohio State has brought in extra personnel all season for the red zone, where they’re typically passing the ball.  That was a disaster against Indiana and one of the biggest reasons the Buckeyes lost. Expect Day to open it up on the response more and continue to spread it out with Smith and Tate on the outside. Day has been known for opening up the offense more and looking for the big plays over the years.

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We are just a couple of days away from the Cotton Bowl matchup between Ohio State and Miami.

Brandon Little