While Miami put together a dominant eight-minute drive to score the first points, QB Carson Beck connected with RB Mark Fletcher Jr. on a wheel route for a 9-yard TD. Riding that momentum, Miami secured a 24–14 win against OSU to advance to the semifinal, with Fletcher rushing for 90 yards. But the standout RB’s stunning performance for the Hurricanes came with a heartfelt story behind it.

Miami RB’s father, Mark Fletcher Sr., passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on October 24, 2024. At first, playing for his father felt heavy, and the pressure followed him everywhere.

“I’d get so sad. I’d cry before games,” admitted Fletcher.

But then came a reset. Since then, Mark Jr. has turned pain into purpose. When adversity hits the Hurricanes, Fletcher is the one speaking up. The same lesson his father taught him now echoes through the huddle.

Just like that, Mark Fletcher Jr. is becoming one of Miami’s leading rushers. The junior from nearby Fort Lauderdale sets the tone every Saturday, and this season, he made ten rushing TDs. Now, he could help propel the Hurricanes to the Fiesta Bowl, as his performance continues to speak for itself.

In the first-round CFP win over Texas A&M, he recorded 17 carries for 175 yards. That statement night was powered by a ritual that continues to motivate Mark Jr. to play for his late father.

As reported during the telecast of the CFP first-round game, Fletcher still texts his father’s phone number before every game.

That ritual might have helped Fletcher deliver in Miami’s home game against Florida State last season, just days after losing his father. He suited up and scored a touchdown. Then came the hardest week. Teammates gathered to honor “Big Mark” at his funeral. A few days after that, Miami faced Duke; Fletcher Jr. found the end zone again, this time with a celebration to honor his father.

Even his return for his senior year carries a deeper meaning, tied to honoring his late father’s memory. With 158 carries for 857 yards in the 2025 season, despite missing two games due to injury, Fletcher can go for the NFL draft. But even with day-two or day-three draft projections, he decided to return to the Hurricanes, carrying forward his father’s legacy.

While Mark Jr. plays to keep his father’s memory alive, “Big Mark” shared a deep connection with the Hurricanes.

To Miami players and coaches, he was more than a parent. He was a father figure to teammates who never had one. And his influence was steady. Unseen by the crowds but felt deeply in the locker room and on the field. He frequently attended practices and games. Big Mark was a friend to his son. Losing him was a priceless loss, and overcoming it has been incredibly hard.

But the Miami running back was not alone, as a strong family bond has fueled every step of his journey through this difficult time. His mother, Linda Fletcher, is always there. She shows up every time, watching, supporting, and believing.

However, Ohio State’s loss to Mark Fletcher Jr. and Miami hit differently, as he had once decommitted from the Buckeyes to play for Mario Cristobal’s Miami.

Miami QB once refused to play for the Buckeyes

Mark Fletcher was nearly a Buckeye. He was a four-star prospect and the No. 100 overall recruit in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports. Although he once committed to OSU. But things didn’t go as planned.

Although South Florida has long been fertile ground for the Buckeyes, and they’ve landed talent there before, like sophomore WR Jeremiah Smith. But this time, Mark Fletcher’s path led elsewhere.

“I felt that I would be most successful if I just stayed home and played for the Hurricanes,” said Fletcher Jr. “Everything just worked out for me.”

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Now, his team’s win against the nation’s second-ranked defense, a program that once recruited him heavily, could feel embarrassing for the Buckeyes. But this standout RB chose the Hurricanes for one more season.

“I love this team. I love this organization. And I love this culture. I just want to spend more time with my brothers while I can,” said Fletcher when announcing his senior season decision.

While he chose the program that lifted him after his father’s death, that kind of loyalty is rare in today’s CFB era.