The Opening Drive 12/21/25: Buckeyes Begin Prep For Miami
It all starts with slowing down Rueben Bain and that nasty Hurricane pass rush.
We’re back like it’s 2003! The Buckeyes will take on the Miami Hurricanes in their first post-season meeting since that glorious evening in Tempe, Arizona and it should be one hell of a showdown. It was an ugly game at times yesterday in College Station as the Canes defense outlasted A&M to the tune of a 10-3 victory. There’s plenty to discuss about the matchup but Jeremiah Smith’s notable tweet about getting to play the school he nearly attended stands out. Let’s just say he’s ready.
As with any defense-led battle the players on that side of the ball stood out for most of the game. The Canes best prospect is EDGE Rueben Bain and he was all over the backfield yesterday. He had five pressures, three sacks, and a blocked field goal. Some NFL team will fall in love with the skill-set despite some arm length issues.
Bain’s ability to use his leverage to gain power led to multiple big plays in the backfield. He will rush from a variety of locations and Ohio State will need to be ready to send extra help his way on key passing downs. He has a unique power-to-speed blend that is tough for taller offensive lineman to handle.
It starts and ends with finding a way to keep Bain in check but there are certainly others on that defensive unit the Buckeyes will need to plan for ahead of the matchup.
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The challenge for Ohio State will be with the fact Bain isn’t alone on the Hurricanes front. If you send help to Bain’s side you also have to deal with Akheem Mesidor who was a PROBLEM on Saturday for the Aggies offensive line. He had a whopping 11 pressures including 9 hurries, and 1.5 sacks. This long arm to swipe move for a sack stood out on a day he was all over the backfield.
He’s a grown man on the cusp of turning 25 and is till in college due to the Covid year and an injury during the 2023 season. He spent two seasons at West Virginia and is now on his fourth campaign with Miami. He would be a little older on most NFL rosters, let alone still being in college. He’s had 55 pressures and nine sacks on the season and is playing some of his best football right now. He has a whopping 32 sacks across his college career.
Bain and Mesidor are not the only talented threats on the defensive roster. We will discuss more of the Hurricanes defense in the coming days but following a game where the duo combined for 18 pressures we had to start there. We will get to Keionte and Justin Scott in the coming days.
The Buckeyes will have their hands full up front and have to win the trenches.
Buckeye Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh content.
