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| Miami Hurricanes Edge Ole Miss revolutionists 31- 27 in grand Fiesta Bowl Thriller Beck's Heroics Punch Ticket to 2026 National Championship |
The Miami Hurricanes survived a heart- stopping 31- 27 palm over the Ole Miss revolutionists in the 2026 VRBO Fiesta Bowl semifinal at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on January 8, 2026. Carson Beck's clutch 3- yard touchdown run with just 18 seconds left sealed the palm, transferring the No. 10 Hurricanes( 13- 2) to the College Football Playoff National Championship while crushing the No. 6 revolutionists'( 13- 2) dream season. This nail- biter showcased everything suckers love about council football explosive plays, controversial calls, and pure drama under the lights.
Instant Classic at State Farm Stadium
From the opening onset, the Fiesta Bowl deliverednon-stop fireworks. Miami's defense came out blasting, holding Ole Miss to a piddly disadvantage- 1 yard in the first quarter — a testament to their ferocious frontal seven led by fellow Chevis Jackson. The Hurricanes jumped ahead early with CharMar Brown's 4- yard touchdown plunge, but Ole Miss roared back behind their dynamic backfield. Kewan Lacy, the nation's No. 3 crawler, broke free for a 73- yard touchdown gallop — the longest Miami had surrendered since 2018 — kindling the revolutionary faithful.
Ole Miss kick Lucas Carneiro kept his platoon in it, nailing a 58- yard field thing at halftime to trim Miami's lead to 17- 13. The alternate half exploded with instigation swings Malachi Toney's 36- yard screen- pass touchdown gave Miami breathing room at 24- 19, only for Trinidad Chambliss to answer with a point 24- yard strike to Dae'Quan Wright, putting the revolutionists up 27- 24 with 313 to play. Beck, the Georgia transfer cool as ice, orchestrated a 75- yard game- winning drive, circumscribing it with his legs for the go- ahead score. Ole Miss' final hail mary from the 35 fell incomplete, transferring Miami into Tophet.
The atmosphere at State Farm Stadium — home of the Fiesta Bowl since 1978 — was electric, with Miami's traveling orange and green colliding against Ole Miss' signaling revolutionary flags. Hotty Toddy chants echoed beforehand, but Miami's" U" pride drowned them out by night's end. Broadcast on ESPN, the game drew massive conditions, peaking at 18.7 million observers as Beck's run transferred social media into overdrive.
Star Performances Beck Shines, Lacy Lights It Up
Carson Beck surfaced as the undisputed idol, silencing disbelievers who questioned his move from Georgia. The former Bulldogs backup — familiar with crown pressure — tossed for 268 yards, two touchdowns, and one pick, also added the dagger with his bases." We have got untreated business," Beck said postgame, eyeing his first title as a starter. His poise on the final drive, converting third- and-long with precise throws to Keelan Marion( 52- yard TD heist), defined Miami's adaptability.
Ole Miss refused to fade. Chambliss, the D- II transfer phenom, dazed with clutch throws, including the go- ahead TD. Lacy's 73- yard burst stressed Ole Miss' ground attack, amassing 142 yards on 18 carries despite Miami's stout run D. Defensively, the revolutionists' secondary wearied Beck into sacks, but could not stop Miami's screen game. Then is a deeper stats dive
Ole Miss trainer Lane Kiffin, ever the showman, lamented" boneheaded penalties" but lauded his revolutionists' questionable trip. From unranked to playoff semis, powered by Chambliss and Lacy, Ole Miss overachieved. Kiffin, whose ties to Eli Manning( Ole Miss alum) added lore, faces questions about his QB room next. revolutionary suckers'" Hotty Toddy" spirit shone, but Miami's depth prevailed.
Road to Glory Miami's rejuvenescence vs. Ole Miss' Cinderella Story
Miami's path Regular season dominance( 11- 1), playoff blowouts over A&M( 42- 17) and OSU( 38- 21). Beck, Mark Fletcher Jr., and a annihilation- creating D converted disbelievers into religionists. Last title? 2001. Cristobal builds on that heritage, with Hard Rock hosting the big one — a homecoming dream.
Ole Miss shocked with a 12- 1 regular season, edging Georgia and surviving SEC chaos. Lacy( 1,400 yds) and Chambliss( 3,200 pass yds) fueled" Lane Train 2.0." No ultramodern public titles(pre-AP claims away), but this run cements their applicability. State Farm Stadium, Fiesta's home since'02 reels, hosted its 55th edition impeccably.
Fiesta Bowl Venue and Legacy
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| Miami Hurricanes Edge Ole Miss revolutionists Heroics Punch Ticket to 2026 National Championship |
Championship Stakes Beck's Redemption Arc
Beck, 22, transferred seeking stardompost-UGA backups( 2021- 24 titles). Has he won one? Not as starter — yet. Vs. Indiana/ Oregon, he will chase history. Miami boasts five titles( 1983,' 87,' 89,' 91, 2001); Ole Miss zero in bean period. Cristobal eyes No. 6; Kiffin reloads.
Player limelights Miami's Fletcher Jr.( protean RB), Jakobe Thomas( DB picks); Ole Miss' Ahmad Moten( edge), Corey Hetherman( LB). Stats leaders Beck 3,800 yds/ 32 TDs season; Lacy 1,482 yds/ 18 TDs.
Addict responses and Highlights
Twitter exploded: "Beck is HIM!" trended; Rebel Nation mourned but proud. Full game on ESPN app; YouTube's 4K highlights (Miami's site, CBS clips) rack millions. Predictions flipped—Miami underdogs no more.
Miami schedules next: Title tilt Jan 19 (ABC, 7 PM ET, Hard Rock). Tickets via Ticketmaster; expect scalper frenzy. Ole Miss offseason: Portal watch for Chambliss successors.
Broader CFP Picture
12-team CFP shines: Orange Bowl (Indiana-Oregon pending), Cotton/Peach semis set stage. National Championship at Hard Rock (Miami's turf) is poetic—first rotating site since '21. Trump-era NIL boom fueled transfers like Beck.
This 31-27 epic joins Fiesta lore (Boise-Nebraska '07 vibes). Miami's D (No. 2 nationally, 12.1 pts/game) + Beck's arm = title favorites. Ole Miss exits heroes.