1. Miami Looked Comfortable on College Football’s Biggest Stage

From the opening possession, Miami showed it wasn’t intimidated by the Fiesta Bowl spotlight. The Hurricanes came out sharp early, putting together an opening drive that set the tone and showed confidence in the game plan. 

Even after momentum swung later in the first half, Miami responded rather than folded — answering scores, regrouping on the sideline and staying aggressive instead of conservative. 

Late in the game, with the outcome still in doubt, Miami continued to push the pace rather than simply trying to survive, a sign of a team that expected to compete, not just participate.

2. Speed, Physicality and Swagger Defined Miami’s Identity

Miami’s athleticism consistently showed up in key moments. On defense, the Hurricanes’ speed was evident on several third-down stops, where pursuit to the ball limited what could have been explosive plays. 

A goal-line stand and a fourth-down stop in the middle quarters highlighted Miami’s physicality and refusal to give ground. Offensively, Miami found success when plays broke down, with skill players turning short gains into chunk plays and energizing the sideline. 

The swagger — celebrating big hits, feeding off the crowd, and responding emotionally to adversity — felt like vintage Miami, even on a neutral-field stage.

3. Missed Opportunities Ultimately Told the Story

As competitive as Miami was, the Fiesta Bowl also came down to moments that slipped away. 

A promising drive stalled in plus territory early in the second half, forcing Miami to settle when points were needed. 

Another sequence saw Miami generate momentum with a defensive stop, only to miss a chance to flip the game with a quick score.

 In the fourth quarter, a potential turning point — whether a missed conversion, a penalty, or a near takeaway — underscored how thin the margin is in games like this. Those moments didn’t erase Miami’s progress, but they highlighted the difference between contending and finishing on college football’s biggest stage.

Overall if Miami wants to see a chance at hoisting the National Championship trophy again at home in Hard Rock Stadium, there needs to be a reset and revival of the team that played against Ohio State.