NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The Miami Hurricanes are headed to the College Football Playoff national championship game, earning a close victory over Ole Miss, 31-27, in an all-time playoff contest.
The Hurricanes will now wait for the winner of the other semifinal between the Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks to see who they will face on January 19. But Miami will do it on their home turf, 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 getting on the scoreboard in the first quarter with a field goal in their 13-game opener. But the fireworks started from there for the Rebels thanks to the speed of running back Kewan Lacy.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Charmar Brown of the Miami Hurricanes (FL) celebrates a run in the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinal at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Steve Limentani/ISIPhotos)
On the second play of the second quarter, Lacy went on the run, finding a seam and scoring a 73-yard touchdown to go up 7-3 after the extra point.
But that game lasted a while, including the Hurricanes’ ensuing drive as quarterback Carson Beck led the way in a 15-play touchdown drive with a CharMar Brown rushing score from four yards out.
The game was deadlocked at 10 apiece when Beck decided to spread it to Keelan Marion, and it was worth the risk. Marion had a 52-yard touchdown run to help Miami go up 17-13 at halftime.
CFP: WHAT DO CIGNETTI, LANNING, CRISTOBAL AND GOLDING HAVE IN COMMON? NICK SABAN
The third quarter was strange for both teams, as their first drives ended in a missed field goal each. Then, after Beck threw an interception, the Rebels were able to cut the lead to 17-16 in favor of the Hurricanes heading into the fourth quarter for good.
There was no lack of electric plays when it mattered most in the final 15 minutes, as Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss got his team down the field enough to take a 19-17 lead with a field goal.
But Malachi Toney’s speed changed the Miami scoreboard in the best way possible, as he broke through a screen 36 yards to the house, capping a four-play, 75-yard response for the Hurricanes right after Ole Miss took the lead.
Trinidad Chambliss of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinal game at 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 to play, Chambliss and the Rebels’ offense had enough time to regain the lead. He did just that, finding trusty tight end Dae’Quan Wright for 24 yards to send a faithful ballistic to the Rebels.
Ole Miss wanted to go for two points in hopes of taking a three-point lead, and Chambliss came back again, finding 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 apiece. On a crucial third-and-10 just inside field goal range, Beck was confident with his pass to Marion to get well within range. Another pass to Marion scored the first goal, and it was clear Miami wasn’t trying to force overtime. They wanted to win everything.
How fitting that Beck, scanning the field, found a seam to his left and simply sprinted toward the colored paint to score the game-winning goal with 18 seconds remaining.
But things got fascinating in the end, with Ole Miss going 40 yards in just a few seconds to set up a Hail Mary for the win. Chambliss had the space to throw a pass toward the end zone, and although it was hit by a teammate’s hand, it landed 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 semifinal game at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
In box scoring, Beck was 23 of 37 for 268 yards with his two passing touchdowns and one interception. Marion was a key player in the victory with seven catches for 114 yards, while Mark Fletcher Jr. set the tone in the ground game with 133 rushing yards on 22 carries. Toney also had 81 receiving yards for Miami.
For Ole Miss, Chambliss also went 23 of 37 for 277 yards with his touchdown to Wright, who finished with 64 yards on three grabs. De’Zhaun Stribling was five for 77 through the air, while Lacy totaled 103 yards on 11 carries.
