Miami outlasted Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff, defeating the Aggies 10-3. Their reward is a quarterfinal date with the two-seed Ohio State Buckeyes on New Year’s Eve. There are 2026 NFL Draft implications with several intriguing prospects taking the field.
We've identified and analyzed the 10 most notable draft-eligible prospects in Wednesday’s Ohio State-Miami CFP showdown.
Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
Ohio State hybrid linebacker/EDGE Arvell Reese enters the College Football Playoff a little cold. The dynamic and versatile defender hasn't registered a sack in five consecutive appearances. Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia asked Reese to play a selfless role down the stretch, allowing him fewer opportunities to play in space and rush the passer. The potential top-three pick will hopefully be put in a position to make splash plays.
Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
Francis Mauigoa played a relatively clean game versus the Aggies. Miami's right tackle was credited with allowing just one pressure despite it being a defensive battle. Mauigoa, who some scouts view as a candidate to kick inside to guard, gets another chance at a resume game against the Buckeyes' stout defensive line.
Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
In a game littered with future NFLers, Ohio State's Caleb Downs may be the best prospect on the field. Positional value questions will dominate the pre-draft discussion surrounding Downs, but he's arguably the top overall player in the 2026 NFL Draft. The sideline-to-sideline safety pairs rare instincts with playmaking potential.
Reuben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Rueben Bain Jr. must have seen all the online chatter about his alleged short arms and positional questions. The strong, powerful pass rusher responded with arguably his strongest game of the campaign, registering three sacks against the Aggies. Scouting grades may vary on Bain, but there’s little point in doubting his impact potential.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate is the early favorite to be the first wideout drafted. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound pass-catcher has scored one or more touchdowns in four straight appearances, including one against Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. Tate flirted with 1,000 receiving yards despite sharing the field with a potential generational prospect in Jeremiah Smith.
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Sonny Styles is an impressive athlete who projects as an excellent coverage linebacker. His natural feel for man and zone coverage is evident as a former safety. Styles carries routes with ease and he's also an outstanding open-field tackler who clicks and closes on ball carriers with ease. He's capable of covering every blade of grass.
Carson Beck, QB, Miami
Carson Beck was the definition of a game manager in the win over Texas A&M. He was efficient and accurate, completing 14-of-20 passing attempts for 103 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. Beck, who is attempting to improve his pre-draft stock after failing to meet expectations at Georgia, will probably need to be more impactful if Miami is to upset Ohio State.
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald possesses a rare combination of size, strength, and athleticism. Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher rushed for 172 yards via 17 carries against the Aggies, averaging 10.1 yards per carry. Rushing lanes will be harder to come by with McDonald controlling the line of scrimmage.
Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
Hurricanes nickel cornerback Keionte Scott is a lightning rod. The former Auburn transfer is incredibly disruptive around the line of scrimmage. Competitive toughness and athleticism led to Scott making a bunch of impact plays as he recorded 10 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery against Texas A&M in the first round.
Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
With Smith and Tate drawing so much attention, Max Klare takes advantage of favorable matchups to make an impact for Ohio State's passing game. Klare has just two touchdowns this season, but he concluded the regular season with five straight games with 20-plus yards, including a 105-yard showing versus Rutgers. Julian Sayin trusts him to make plays.
Bonus: Ahkeem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
With Bain drawing so much attention versus the Aggies, his running mate Ahkeem Mesidor put forth an eye-popping showing. Mesidor was consistently disruptive, notching five tackles and 1.5 sacks. The Ottawa, Ontario, Canada native had 11 total pressures.