The highly anticipated Cotton Bowl showdown between the No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes and the No. 10 seed Miami Hurricanes is set for December 31, 2026. The stakes are high as both teams prepare to compete in the College Football Playoffs (CFP) quarterfinals. In a significant pre-game announcement, head coach Ryan Day revealed a last-minute adjustment to his coaching staff for this crucial match.
Coach Day has decided that Brian Hartline will be positioned on the field during the game, while Keenan Bailey will assume a role in the coaching box to handle play-calling responsibilities. This strategic move suggests that Day may be considering promoting Bailey to offensive coordinator at the season’s end.
In his remarks, Day explained the reasoning behind the coaching change: “It looks like Brian and I will be down on the field. We will have Keenan go upstairs, and then Brian can really help — he’ll still be involved with everything we do, everybody is involved with the play calling, and ultimately I’ll have the last say.” His comments were reported by Chase Brown of Eleven Warriors.
Expert Insights Ahead of the Game
As excitement builds for the Cotton Bowl, former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban weighed in on the matchup. In a recent interview on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Saban emphasized the need for Miami to enhance its offensive strategy to compete effectively against Ohio State.
“I think Miami is going to have to do more on offense to beat Ohio State,” Saban stated on December 30, 2026. He noted that Miami played conservatively in their previous game against Texas A&M, relying heavily on their defense and a strong running game. Saban warned that a similar approach against Ohio State would not suffice. “They’ve got the quarterback to do it,” he added, suggesting that Miami must incorporate explosive plays and utilize play-action passes to challenge Ohio State’s defense.
As the clock ticks down to kickoff, emotions are running high among fans and players alike. The Ohio State-Miami matchup promises to deliver exhilarating moments that could rival any New Year’s Eve celebration. With both teams prepared to bring their best, this game is poised to be a memorable encounter in the College Football Playoffs.
