When college football ushered in the 12-team playoff, it came with the understanding that some early-round matchups would be underwhelming. The first round saw Oregon dismantle James Madison and Mississippi run Tulane off the field amid its coaching turbulence.
The Miami Hurricanes were the only one-possession victors, taking down Texas A&M 10-3 to advance to the quarterfinals. Their reward is a No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes team with legitimate championship aspirations.
As 10-point 'dogs in Arlington, Miami will need its stars to show out against the best defense in college football. There will be no shortage of Sunday players on display in the Cotton Bowl, setting the scene for the final football game of 2025.
Ohio State prospects to watch
Sonny Styles, Linebacker
Ohio State's defense stole headlines all season long, but Styles' development fell a bit under the radar compared to Arvell Reese. That shouldn't diminish what he's done en route to being a top-15 player in this class.
Styles is a former safety who eliminated the concerns about his inexperience in 2025. His tackling is much improved, and it amplifies the aggressiveness that made him so dangerous against the run. In coverage, his freakish athleticism is perhaps the position's best, and he's thrived against a tough Big Ten schedule.
He may suffer from positional value -- no true linebacker has come off the board in the top 10 since 2019 -- but Styles is very much in play to be the best defensive player in this draft.
Arvell Reese, Linebacker/Edge Rusher
Reese is right alongside Styles, both on the second level of Ohio State's defense and on draft boards. His flashes as a pass rusher elicit upside and inflated his stock, and the ingredients are present for a full-time transition at the next level. He's an excellent mover who has exceptional power for his frame and has multiple ways to beat NFL tackles.
Still, Reese is likely a better run defender than pass rusher, and he hasn't had as many reps as the pass-rushing hype would suggest. Reese is better at shooting gaps than covering backs, too, which could complicate his future role.
It's not outlandish to suggest that Reese is the best player in this class, but there's legitimate risk in this profile. How he holds up against NFL linemen and a quality backfield could be telling against Miami.
Carnell Tate, Wide Receiver
Tate has made a strong case to be the first receiver off the board in April. It hasn't come with elite separation skills, but rather tangible development and a special ability to play above the rim.
Tate has enough speed to make plays downfield and consistently wins at the catch point. He's a quarterback-friendly target who made the most of Jeremiah Smith's gravity, improving week-over-week while racking up highlight plays.
There's a role for him in the NFL, but his ceiling will be determined by his ability to beat man consistently. With a strong CFP, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Tate off the board in the top 10.
Kayden McDonald, Defensive Tackle
McDonald feels like one of the safest projections in this class. He doesn't have the pass-rushing ceiling of his early-Day 1 counterparts, but McDonald's proficiency and athleticism play well against the run.
McDonald is a plug-and-play starter who can transition between 3-tech, 1-tech, and nose tackle, offering a strong sense of leverage and hand usage at each alignment.
MORE: Ranking the 10 best defensive tackles in the 2026 NFL Draft
Run-stuffing tackles can have an invisible impact at times, but Miami will hope to run the ball to counter Ohio State's playmakers. As the anchor of the Buckeyes' defense, he'll be in the spotlight on Wednesday.
Caleb Downs, Safety
Downs has been lauded as a blue-chip prospect since his freshman year at Alabama. He served Nick Saban well, transferred to Ohio State, and has continued to dominate.
Downs' versatility stands out, and his willingness to get his hands dirty complements his experience on the back-end of multiple complex defenses. His combination of processing and athleticism has all the makings of an immediate starter with All-Pro upside.
Expect to see him around the ball all night, whether he's crashing from centerfield, covering a receiver downfield, or making plays in the box. His stock won't reflect it -- safeties just don't get drafted very early -- but he might be the best player on this defense.
Austin Siereveld, Offensive Tackle
Miami offers one of the best edge rushing duos in college football. Siereveld, hoping to pave a path to the top 50, could use a statement performance to boost his stock.
Siereveld has had a little trouble with the best teams on his schedule, stumbling against Texas and Indiana. Even so, he has yet to allow a sack this season. He has pitched a handful of shutouts this season, and as a one-year starter at left tackle, there's a long runway for development.
Siereveld also has experience at both guard spots, offering an off-ramp should tackle go poorly on Sundays. In either event, he's a tall task for both Miami edge rushers, and protecting Julian Sayin's blindside will be key. The Hurricanes want to win this one ugly. Keeping Sayin clean and the offense on track should prevent that.
Miami prospects to watch
Rueben Bain Jr., Edge Rusher
Bain was the top player on a handful of boards entering the season, a bet on 2024 injuries being a small bump on the road to April. In part, they were correct. Bain was the best player on the field against Notre Dame and has been a revelation for the Hurricanes.
He logged 7.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in his platform season, displaying the same power, burst, and instincts that created the preseason hype. He's also versatile enough to take snaps at defensive tackle.
MORE: One number threatens Rueben Bain Jr.'s draft stock
That may become a key factor in Bain's draft stock. He's expected to measure in with outlier arm length -- in the wrong direction. He'll be behind the eight ball as an edge rusher against bigger tackles, which could push him inside more often at the next level. Still, Bain's best film comes off the edge.
Ultimately, Bain has questions to answer during his NFL transition, but that assignment isn't due anytime soon. He'll look the part against Ohio State and buoy his stock in the process.
Francis Mauigoa, Offensive Tackle
It's been a down year for offensive tackles. Francis Mauigoa, though, has held firm as one of the best offensive linemen in college football.
That was evident in his standout performances against Florida State and Texas A&M, and his consistency is promising (albeit against an ACC schedule). Mauigoa's power at the point of contact is promising and makes him an excellent run blocker. He has the athleticism to operate in wide zone schemes but maintains plus physicality, too.
There's some downside risk in his game, largely regarding the possibility of moving to guard, impacting his surplus value. Even so, Mauigoa has starter-level traits and a track record teams can trust. An elite Ohio State defense offers him one more opportunity to make his case for OT1.
Akheem Mesidor, Edge Rusher
Mesidor is a late riser in the 2026 NFL Draft cycle. Despite battling injuries as a sixth-year senior, he logged 8.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss opposite Bain, who boasts a similar frame. He isn't quite as athletic as his first-round partner in crime, but he also moves inside well and can hold his own against the run.
Despite his prowess, two concerns have emerged as a result of his age. Mesidor will be 25 for his entire rookie season. That limits his developmental upside, and it also adds an asterisk to his production. He's always been productive, but it's easier to question one's production when it is coming against players who are multiple years younger than him.
Either way, it seems like he's playing his way into Day 2. It only takes one team to write off the age concerns and take him even earlier, and a quality performance against Ohio State would add credibility to his profile.
Carson Beck, Quarterback
Carson Beck entered the 2025 draft cycle as the top quarterback and left it needing to rebound his stock at a new school. Transferring to Miami has worked out well for all involved. Beck is back on the map, and both the Hurricanes and the Georgia Bulldogs are in the CFP.
Beck has played well this year, flaunting a little more arm talent than most expected. It's been an up-and-down campaign, but as a Day 3 dart throw, Beck still projects as a competent backup who shouldn't need the incubation of his less-refined counterparts.
Needless to say, going toe-to-toe with this defense is a different beast than Miami's schedule has previously offered. If there's any path back to the top 100, Ohio State lies in the way.
Keionte Scott, Cornerback
Scott comes in a similar package to South Carolina's Jalon Kilgore. He isn't a great bet on the boundary, but in the slot and in the box, Scott is a frequent flyer.
With 4.40 speed, Scott is explosive when blitzing off the edge and has a habit of finding himself in the backfield. Five sacks and 13 tackles for loss are exceptional for a defensive back of any nature. He projects as a slot corner at the next level, and his aggressiveness will earn him fans.
Scott's stock isn't particularly clear, but it likely took a dip after a suboptimal performance against Texas A&M. He'll have his hands full on Wednesday.
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