Miami vs Ohio State Injury Report: Cotton Bowl Updates on Damari Brown, Tegra Tshabola

• No. 2 Ohio State faces No. 10 Miami in the Cotton Bowl CFP quarterfinal on Wednesday, December 31
• Both teams released updated injury reports with key players ruled out
• Check out the full Miami vs Ohio State injury report and availability updates below

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The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 10 Miami Hurricanes meet Wednesday night in the Cotton Bowl for a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup. Both teams released their latest injury reports, with several key contributors ruled out for the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff in Dallas.

Miami will be without starting cornerback Damari Brown for the second straight playoff game. Ohio State has four players ruled out, including starting right guard Tegra Tshabola listed as doubtful.

The final availability report will be released 90 minutes before kickoff Wednesday evening. We’ll update this article when that report drops.

Jump to: Miami Injury Report | Ohio State Injury Report | How Injuries Impact the Game

Miami vs Ohio State Injury Report: Key Updates

The biggest storylines center on Miami’s secondary and Ohio State’s offensive line. Miami loses a starting corner against one of the nation’s best receiving duos. Ohio State will likely be without their starting right guard against a nasty Miami defensive front.

Here’s the complete injury picture for both teams.

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Miami Injury Report: Damari Brown Out Again

The Hurricanes got good news on several players who were banged up in their first-round win over Texas A&M. But they’ll be without starting cornerback Damari Brown for the second consecutive playoff game.

Miami Availability Report

Damari Brown Ruled Out

Brown missed Miami’s 10-3 first-round win over Texas A&M and won’t play Wednesday night. The starting cornerback has been part of Miami’s four-man rotation at outside corner this season alongside Xavier Lucas, OJ Frederique and Ethan O’Connor.

Highest forced incompletion % among ACC CBs:

33.3% — Damari Brown

Quietly having an unreal season. pic.twitter.com/ICKbaxxVqX

— CanesMuse (@canes_muse) November 7, 2025

Brown dealt with an ACL injury earlier this season, missing time before returning to the lineup. He’s been one of Miami’s top cover corners when healthy, but hasn’t recovered in time for the Cotton Bowl.

Secondary Tested Against Elite Receiving Duo

Brown’s absence puts extra pressure on Miami’s remaining corners against Ohio State’s weapons. The Buckeyes feature All-American freshman Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, both 1,000-yard receivers. Smith has 71 catches for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

Without Brown, Miami will lean heavily on their defensive front to pressure Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. The Hurricanes held Texas A&M to just three points in the first round behind a dominant defensive performance.

Good News on Texas A&M Injuries

Miami got several players back healthy from their first-round game. Linebacker Mohamed Toure, defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr., and safety Zechariah Poyser were all injured at various points against the Aggies. None of the three has an injury designation on Tuesday’s report.

Cristobal said Monday he anticipates all three playing in the Cotton Bowl.

Depth Losses

Linebacker Malik Bryant and wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw are both ruled out. Bryant is a reserve edge rusher who provides depth in the rotation. Upshaw is a backup receiver.

Defensive tackle Donta Simpson is also out. Simpson is a freshman reserve who hasn’t seen significant playing time this season.

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Ohio State Injury Report: O-Line Issues

The Buckeyes have four players ruled out and two listed as doubtful on Tuesday’s report. The most concerning absence is along the offensive line, where starting right guard Tegra Tshabola is doubtful.

Ohio State Availability Report

Tegra Tshabola Doubtful

The biggest concern for Ohio State is along the offensive line. Starting right guard Tegra Tshabola is listed as doubtful after getting injured in the Big Ten Championship Game against Indiana. The senior left that game early in the second half and never returned.

NEWS: Tegra Tshabola is expected to be OUT for the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal 🚨 pic.twitter.com/YQHjx7u2w7

— Buckeye Blitz (@BuckeyeBlitzz) December 16, 2025

Head coach Ryan Day addressed Tshabola’s injury Monday. “We’re going to take it as it goes, but it will probably be a little while, at least a few weeks, anyway,” Day said.

Tshabola has 29 career starts for the Buckeyes. His absence forces Ohio State to shuffle their offensive line against a Miami defensive front that held Texas A&M to just three points in the first round.

Offensive Line Depth Chart

With Tshabola doubtful, redshirt freshman Gabe VanSickle and sophomore Josh Padilla will rotate at right guard. VanSickle was listed as the second-string left guard on Ohio State’s most recent depth chart. Padilla was the third-string right guard.

Miami’s defensive line features Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, two pass rushers who can collapse the pocket. Ohio State will need their reshuffled offensive line to hold up against a Miami defense that forced three turnovers against the Aggies.

Receiver Depth Thin

Wide receiver Quincy Porter is out for the Cotton Bowl. The freshman reserve has been unavailable multiple times this season and has caught four passes for 59 yards.

Porter’s absence isn’t a major blow with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate both healthy. But it thins Ohio State’s depth at receiver. Wide receiver Shawn Lodge is listed as questionable, which could limit the Buckeyes’ options even further if he can’t play.

Six Ohio State players were listed as probable on Sunday’s initial report. All six were removed from Tuesday’s updated report, meaning they’re available to play. That group includes wide receiver De’Zie Jones, running back Anthony Rogers, safeties Deshawn Stewart and Cody Haddad, defensive lineman Will Smith Jr., and offensive lineman Devontae Armstrong.

Depth Losses on Defense

Safety Malik Hartford is out for the Buckeyes. Hartford is a backup who provides depth at the position. His absence puts more pressure on the starting safeties to stay healthy.

Defensive lineman Ahmed Tounkara is doubtful. Tounkara is a reserve who helps in the rotation but isn’t a starter. Defensive lineman Logan George is also out, but George is a walk-on who wouldn’t see significant playing time.

Quarterback Mason Maggs is out, but Maggs is a reserve who only plays in mop-up duty.

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How Injuries Impact Miami vs Ohio State

The injury situations create two key matchups to watch. Miami’s depleted secondary faces Ohio State’s elite receivers. Ohio State’s shuffled offensive line faces Miami’s dominant defensive front.

Miami loses a starting cornerback against one of the best receiving duos in the country. Without Damari Brown, the Hurricanes will need to generate pressure up front to disrupt Ohio State’s passing game. If Julian Sayin has time, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate will find openings.

Ohio State loses its starting right guard, forcing them to play inexperienced backups against a Miami defensive line that dominated Texas A&M. If Miami can collapse the pocket from the inside, it disrupts everything Ohio State wants to do offensively.

The Hurricanes held the Aggies to negative-15 rushing yards in their first-round win. They forced three turnovers and sacked Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed three times. That defensive front now faces an Ohio State offensive line down a starter.

Ohio State counters with the nation’s top-ranked scoring offense. The Buckeyes average 40.2 points per game behind 1,000-yard rusher Quinshon Judkins and the Smith-Tate receiving duo. Their offense has been nearly unstoppable when the offensive line provides protection.

Miami’s offense managed just 10 points against Texas A&M despite running back Mark Fletcher rushing for 172 yards. The Hurricanes will need quarterback Carson Beck to make more plays through the air against an Ohio State defense that ranks sixth nationally in scoring.

The final availability report will be released 90 minutes before Wednesday’s 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The game airs on ESPN.