In a heart-stopping finish at the Fiesta Bowl, the Miami Hurricanes booked their place in the College Football Playoff National Championship game with a dramatic 31-27 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels on Thursday night.
Last-Gasp Heroics Seal Victory
The game was decided in the final moments by quarterback Carson Beck. With just 18 seconds remaining on the clock, Beck scrambled for a three-yard touchdown, capping a decisive drive to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The score sent the tenth-ranked Hurricanes (13-2) into a frenzy and set up a shot at their first national title since 2001.
The climax was all the more remarkable given the Rebels' late rally. Ole Miss had taken a 27-24 lead with only 3:13 left after quarterback Trinidad Chambliss connected with Dae'Quan Wright on a 24-yard touchdown pass. However, Beck, a national champion during his time as a backup at Georgia, displayed immense composure to guide his team downfield for the winning score.
A Season of Resilience for Both Sides
The sixth-seeded Rebels (13-2) were playing their first playoff game under interim head coach Pete Golding, who was promoted from defensive coordinator after Lane Kiffin departed for LSU just before the postseason. Far from derailing their campaign, Kiffin's exit appeared to galvanise Ole Miss, propelling them to the best season in school history and within touching distance of the title game.
Under Golding, the Rebels had convincingly beaten Tulane and then stunned mighty Georgia in the quarter-finals. They kept pace with a formidable Miami defence early on, taking a 19-17 lead in the fourth quarter via a 21-yard field goal from Lucas Carneiro.
Miami's response was swift. Malachi Toney, the hero of their opening CFP win over Texas A&M, turned a screen pass into a 36-yard touchdown to put the Hurricanes back in front at 24-19, setting the stage for the frantic finale.
Defensive Battle and Key Moments
The Hurricanes' defence, transformed this season under coordinator Corey Hetherman, started dominantly, holding Ole Miss to minus-one yard early on. However, the Rebels' explosive offence broke through in the second quarter when star rusher Kewan Lacy burst for a 73-yard touchdown run—the longest given up by Miami since 2018.
Miami's offence ground out scores through a four-yard touchdown run by CharMar Brown and a field goal. Just before halftime, they unlocked the deep game, with Beck finding Keelan Marion for a 52-yard touchdown pass after a coverage bust.
The victory means Miami will now contest the national championship game on their home field at Hard Rock Stadium on 19 January. Beck, who improved his record as a starter to an impressive 37-5, will lead the charge as the Hurricanes aim to recapture the glory of their 2001 triumph.
