90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Ohio State vs. Miami — A New Era of College Football Excitement
Football fans around the country are gearing up for one of the most anticipated postseason matchups of the 2025–26 season as the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is set to take place on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This year’s edition of the historic bowl isn’t just another game — it’s a College Football Playoff (CFP) Quarterfinal, part of the expanded 12-team playoff system that has transformed the postseason landscape.
The Matchup: Buckeyes vs. Hurricanes
The No. 2-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) will face the No. 10-seeded Miami Hurricanes (11-2) in a high-stakes showdown with a CFP semifinal berth on the line. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT) and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
Ohio State enters the Cotton Bowl with a stellar season behind them and a strong playoff pedigree. The Buckeyes are the defending national champions, having secured the 2025 CFP title and won multiple games in the current playoff. Under head coach Ryan Day, Ohio State has made seven CFP appearances in the last 12 years, the most of any program during that span.
Miami locked up its spot in the Cotton Bowl with a dramatic 10-3 win over Texas A&M in the CFP first round, showcasing a tenacious defense and a clutch game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.
History Meets Present
Though Ohio State and Miami have met only a handful of times historically, their past clashes have been memorable. The all-time series is tightly contested, and their most iconic meeting came in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, where Ohio State edged out Miami in double overtime to claim the national championship.
This Cotton Bowl meeting marks just the fifth time the programs have faced each other and their first postseason matchup since that unforgettable 2003 game, adding an extra layer of narrative to this year’s contest.
What’s at Stake
As a CFP Quarterfinal, the stakes for both teams couldn’t be higher:
The winner will advance to the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Jan. 8, 2026, putting them one step closer to the CFP National Championship.
Ohio State is aiming to continue its dominant playoff run and make another deep title push.
Miami, despite being an underdog in many projections, has shown it can grind out wins with tough defense and opportunistic play.
This combination of talent, history, and playoff implications sets up what promises to be one of the most compelling bowl games of the season.
The Venue and Tradition
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is one of college football’s oldest and most storied bowl games, first played in 1937. Since moving from its original Dallas Stadium to AT&T Stadium in Arlington in 2010, the game has become a centerpiece of New Year’s Eve football and a showcase for the CFP’s elite teams.
AT&T Stadium’s massive, state-of-the-art facilities provide the perfect backdrop for this quarterfinal clash, combining historic tradition with modern spectacle in front of thousands of passionate fans.
Looking Ahead
As Ohio State and Miami prepare for this pivotal showdown, fans from both schools — and neutral observers alike — will be watching closely. With playoff momentum on the line, national title aspirations within reach, and an exciting chapter of college football history in the making, the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is shaping up to be a must-see event.
Stay tuned as both teams finalize their preparations for a December 31 matchup that could very well define the 2025 season.
