Just writing that headline is enough to make you get goosebumps, folks.
No. 6 Ole Miss (13-1) are coming off an emotional comeback win over No. 3 Georgia (12-2) in the Sugar Bowl with a winning field goal in the final seconds. Now, the road Rebels head to the desert for a semifinal game against No. 10 Miami (12-2) in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl.
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The Hurricanes are listed as a field goal favorite by oddsmakers such as our good friends at FanDuel Sportsbook. However, this game is pretty damn close to a coin flip, according to ESPN analytics giving Miami a 55.6 percent chance of winning.
Just like the Cup did before the quarterfinal there are three keys to Ole Miss getting this win and heading to Miami for a chance at a national title. Yes, do these three things on Thursday, and Pete Golding and Co. will be on the winning end over the Hurricanes.
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Control the Chaos – Miami’s defense THRIVES on turnovers and creating havoc in the backfield. While Trinidad Chambliss has scrambling ability most recently seen torching Georgia’s defense, the offensive line of Ole Miss will face possibly its greatest challenge against the Hurricane front seven. This is a team that compiled 46 sacks and 25 turnovers in 14 games including five sacks and two interceptions against Ohio State and seven sacks and two picks against Texas A&M in the playoffs. The Hurricanes have a lethal combination of speed and aggressive playcalling to contend with and adjust to in game.
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Get the Lead – Step two builds off of step one, because Miami’s talented defense can truly pin its ears back and go full throttle when it is ahead in games. Ole Miss almost always receives the opening kickoff, so the initial drive down the field seems to loom very important. The Rebels need to score early and put the pressure on QB Carson Beck to perform at a high level, but also it could prevent the Hurricanes from selling out with its blitz packages as the game goes on. From where I sit, this is an opponent very difficult to come from behind against.
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Lockdown Corners – Beck has 10 interceptions for the season, but six of those picks came in its two losses against Louisville (four) and SMU (two). This is a quarterback who has played in some very big games, so this moment isn’t going to be intimidating for him. He is also going to come into this game with a little chip on his shoulder with Ole Miss. The last time he played against the Rebels was in 2024 while at Georgia where he went 20/31 passing for 186 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in a 28-10 loss. Pete Golding should have a read on some of Beck’s tendencies, and if they are exploited and the defense gets an interception or two, it will be rocket fuel for the Rebels offense as the Cup has talked about ad nauseum.
The CFP Semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl is set for Thursday, Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. CT with the winner facing the winner of Oregon and Indiana in the National Championship on Jan. 19. Spot the damn ball.
