Highlander Scott is Cotton Bowl MVP

By Ramon Scott
Updated: January 1, 2026

Keiontae Scott returns an interception for a TD in the Cotton Bowl

2025 EAST COUNTY ALUMNI

EastCountySports.com

DALLAS — Keiontae Scott’s interception return for a touchdown wasn’t just a highlight play in Miami’s 24–14 Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State — it was the culmination of a journey defined by perseverance, versatility, and big-stage performance.

The former Helix Highlanders standout, now a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist and is quickly becoming one of the country’s most dynamic college defensive backs, earned MVP honors, helping the Hurricanes seize control early and set the tone for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal.

“I was full of emotions,” Scott said after the game. “I think I took a little moment to peek at the sideline and look at everybody and let them know what’s going on. That was a pretty cool moment. And then, you know, just having fun. At the end of the day, that’s what this team relies on — going out there, playing free, and having fun.”

The play itself was textbook game-changing.

After Miami opened scoring, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin — the Heisman Trophy finalist from Carlsbad High — hit a wide-open Jeremiah Smith for a 59-yard completion, putting the Buckeyes in the red zone.

One play later, Rueben Bain Jr. sacked Sayin for a six-yard loss — and on the very next snap, Scott jumped Brandon Inniss’ route and returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown, giving Miami a 14–0 lead. “Shot my shot,” Scott said, “and the ball went in my hands.”

The Pick-Six is now the fourth-longest in Cotton Bowl history and marked Scott’s second interception of the season — both returned for touchdowns. He became the first Miami player to return multiple interceptions for touchdowns in a season since Sean Taylor in 2003, joining a historic list that includes Ed Reed, Maurice Sikes, Dexter Seigler, and Bennie Blades.

UNBELIEVABLE play by Keionte Scott #PMSCFP https://t.co/lS4Mcb5deb pic.twitter.com/khv09dc6XZ

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 1, 2026

Scott’s ability to make game-changing plays is a product of his versatility and instincts.

At Miami, he rotates between nickelback, outside corner, and safety, excelling in man coverage, run support, blitzing, and returning kicks. He brings NFL-level potential, combining speed, agility, and hand-to-hand technique with an uncanny ability to read the quarterback. His PFF grades in 2025 rank him among Miami’s top defenders, and his playmaking has earned him Second-Team All-ACC honors.

“That goes back to just trusting my brothers behind me,” Scott said. “Trusting my brothers to be able to play fast. And that goes to Coach Heatherman, too — allowing us to play fast and at a high level. Knowing everyone’s swarming behind me, I could just take a shot, and that’s what it was.”

Miami’s defense responded perfectly to Ohio State’s early explosive pass, stiffening on the very next snap, forcing a short sack, and watching Scott turn it into points.

The Hurricanes’ defense totaled five sacks, eight tackles for loss, and two interceptions, repeatedly putting the Buckeyes behind schedule and limiting big plays despite Ohio State’s second-half rally. Miami also leaned on its running game, rushing for 155 yards and controlling the clock, ultimately executing a methodical, game-closing touchdown drive.

Scott’s journey to this stage has been remarkable. He starred at Helix High School, excelling in football and track, earning MVP honors at the Makasi Bowl after scoring three touchdowns. He began his college career at Snow College in Utah, where he was a two-time JUCO All-American and conference co-defensive player of the year. Scott then transferred to Auburn, where he became a starter and return specialist, posting 54 tackles in 2022 and 44 in 2023 before injuries limited him to 18 tackles in 2024.

After initially entering the transfer portal for Houston, Scott reunited with his former coach at Miami in 2025, stepping into the starting nickelback role and quickly establishing himself as a defensive leader. He also became one of the few Hurricanes in modern history to record multiple interceptions returned for touchdowns in a single season.

“Just getting here was something I could tell — when I first got here, the program was very serious about what they were trying to get done. You could tell everybody in the room had their eyes on one goal. I’ve trusted the plan, trusted the vision, and we just continue to keep going one game at a time,” Scott said.

Scott’s MVP performance is another reminder of the Helix pipeline producing players who perform on college football’s biggest stages. He surely can follow in the footsteps of another great college defensive back from Helix – Jalen Davis, who turned his college success at Utah State into an NFL career, one he has resurrected with the Cincinnati Bengals this season.

From Democracy Prep in Las Vegas to the La Mesa campus, then junior college to Auburn, and now Miami, Scott’s story is defined by perseverance, adaptability, and trust in his teammates.

And for Scott himself, the Cotton Bowl Pick-Six was more than a play — it was a statement:

“At the end of the day, this team relies on going out there, playing free, and having fun. That’s the mindset. That’s what we’re all about. And to do it on a stage like this, it’s special.”

Miami now heads to Arizona for the College Football Playoff semifinals.