Ohio State's offense needs a hard refresh after another shortcoming in playoff loss to Miami

The Buckeyes offenses sputtered early and late in a loss in the Cotton Bowl

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ohio State got a bounce here last year. Jack Sawyer came screaming off the edge late in the fourth quarter against Texas. He sacked Quinn Ewers. The ball came out of Ewers’ hand. It serendipitously bounced into Sawyer’s hands. You know the rest. Magic.

Miami got a bounce here on Wednesday night. It was in the third quarter. It wasn’t a magic moment. But boy, did it matter. Hurricanes receiver Malachi Toney fumbled, the result of a jarring hit from Caleb Downs. The ball bounced back up into Toney’s hands instead of rolling to an Ohio State defender. The Hurricanes kept possession and kicked a field goal to go up two scores.

The three points weren’t decisive, but they kept Miami in from every trailing in what was ultimately a 24-14 win, one that ended Ohio State’s bid for a repeat national championship.