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The Miami Hurricanes are headed to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, coming off a narrow 31-27 win over Ole Miss in the all-time postseason contest.
The Hurricanes will now await the winner of the other semifinal between the Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks to see who they will play on January 19. But Miami will do so on home soil, with the National Championship Game being played at Hard Rock Stadium – the site of their home games.
The game started slowly for both teams, with only Miami gaining the lead on the scoreboard with a field goal on its 13-play opening drive in the first quarter. But there were fireworks from there for the Rebels thanks to the speed of running back Kevan Lacey.
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Charmer Brown of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes celebrates a run in the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinals at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos)
On the very second play of the second quarter, Lacey broke out on a run, found a seam and broke a 73-yard touchdown run to go up 7–3 after the extra point.
But the game remained back-and-forth for much of the season, including the ensuing Hurricanes drive as quarterback Carson Beck led a 15-play touchdown series with Charmar Brown’s rushing score from four yards out.
The game was deadlocked at 10-10 when Beck decided to pass it to Keelan Marion, and it was worth the risk. Marion caught for a 52-yard touchdown that helped Miami go up 17–13 at halftime.
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The third quarter was awkward for both teams, as their opening drives resulted in each team’s missed field goal. Then, after Beck threw an interception, the Rebels were able to cut the lead to 17–16 in favor of the Hurricanes going into the fourth quarter for the ages.
There was no shortage of electric play when it mattered most in the final 15 minutes, as Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss drove just enough downfield to give his team a field goal to take a 19–17 lead.
But Malachi Toney’s speed changed the scoreboard for the best for Miami, as right after Ole Miss took the lead he took a screen 36 yards to the house, capping a four-play, 75-yard north drive for the Hurricanes.
Trinidad Chambliss of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown in the second quarter against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinals in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
With a 24–19 lead and five minutes left in the game, Chambliss and the Rebels’ offense had enough time to retake the lead. He did just that, finding dependable tight end De’Quan Wright for 24 yards to send the Rebels going ballistic.
Ole Miss wanted to go for two in hopes of building a three-point lead, and Chambliss came through again, and found a wide open Caleb Odom for the key score.
It was up to Beck and the Miami offense to keep the game alive by at least tying the game at 27–27. On a crucial third-and-10, just inside field goal range, Beck was confident with his pass to Marion that he would get well within range. Another pass to Marion made it first and goal, and it was clear Miami was not trying to force overtime. They wanted to win it all.
How fitting that Beck, scanning the field, found a seam to his left and raced to the paint to score the game-winner with 18 seconds remaining.
But things got interesting near the end, with Ole Miss driving 40 yards in just a few seconds to set up a Hail Mary for the win. Chambliss had room to throw a pass in the end zone, and although it hit a teammate’s hand, it fell incomplete for Miami’s victory.
Carson Beck of the Miami Hurricanes passes the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels in the first quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinals in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Chris Codutto/Getty Images)
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In the box score, Beck was 23 of 37 for 268 yards with his two passing touchdowns and one interception. Marion was a key player in the win with seven catches for 114 yards, while Mark Fletcher Jr. set the tone in the ground game with 133 yards rushing on 22 carries. Toney also gained 81 receiving yards for Miami.
For Ole Miss, Chambliss also went 23 of 37 for 277 yards with a touchdown from Wright, who finished with 64 yards on three grabs. D’Jhaun Stribling went 5 for 77 through the air, while Lacey rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries.
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