Photo credit: @FlaPanthers
Miami Hurricanes Cotton Bowl shocker has Florida buzzing, and Matthew Tkachuk fits the pride perfectly.
Wednesday night in Arlington, Miami beat Ohio State 24-14 in the CFP quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl. The Hurricanes didn't just win, they yanked the game into their pace early.
Miami carried a 14-0 lead into halftime, and the biggest gut punch was the Keionte Scott pick-six. It turned an Ohio State chance into points the other way, and you could feel the air leave the Buckeyes.
It wasn't an offensive track meet, it was control hockey, just with helmets and whistles. Miami logged 291 total yards, held the ball for 33:20, and forced two Ohio State turnovers.
Ohio State made a push, because that's what heavyweights do. Jeremiah Smith's touchdown helped cut it to 17-14, then Miami closed the door late to finish the upset.
Miami Hurricanes win, Florida sports pride follows
That's where Matthew Tkachuk sneaks into the conversation, not as the story, but as the vibe. He's 28 now, the sixth overall pick from 2016, and he's become one of the loudest symbols of this team's identity.
He's also a serious franchise investment, eight years, $76 million, with a $9.5 million cap hit, so when he leans into the local energy it hits louder.
Panthers fans are also just itching to see him back out there with his linemates, feeding off that crowd again. With the outdoor Winter Classic against the New York Rangers on Friday at loanDepot park, the timing couldn't be better.
Miami Hurricanes next milestone comes fast on Jan. 8 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal, and you can already feel the state counting down.