The road to the College Football Playoff National Championship is heating up tonight with the first semifinal match: the 2026 Fiesta Bowl featuring No. 10 Miami against No. 6 Ole Miss.
The Hurricanes are eyeing their first college football title since 2001. They recently pulled off a significant surprise in the Cotton Bowl, toppling the defending champions, Ohio State Buckeyes, which is considered one of the biggest upsets in CFP history.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss is looking to break an even longer drought. The last NCAA-recognized title for the Rebels dates back to 1960. Just last week, in the Sugar Bowl, they managed to overcome a 6.5 point deficit with a stunning second half. They scored 27 points and clinched victory with a field goal a mere six seconds before the end, defeating the Georgia Bulldogs by a score of 39-34.
What you need to know for the 2026 Fiesta Bowl:
- Who: No. 10 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels
- When: January 8th at 7:30 PM ET
- Where: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
- Channel: ESPN
- Streaming: DIRECTV (Free trial available)
If you’re curious about how to catch the Fiesta Bowl without cable, there are options available.
Miami vs Ole Miss Fiesta Bowl start time:
The kickoff for Miami versus Ole Miss is set for tonight, January 8th, at 7:30 PM ET.
How to watch Fiesta Bowl for free:
If you’re without cable, you can consider a live TV streaming service to watch the semifinal between Miami and Ole Miss at no cost.
DIRECTV comes highly suggested as it offers a free 5-day trial that includes ESPN, which is essential for the College Football Playoff viewing. After the trial, you can continue with over 90 channels starting at $49.99 monthly.
If a long-term commitment isn’t your thing, there’s also a one-day pass available through Sling, which costs $4.99 and provides 24-hour access to everything included in their Sling Orange package, including ESPN. There are also short-term weekend and week passes you could consider.
College Football Playoff 2025-26 Key Schedule
- Semi-final (January 8th to 9th)
- Fiesta Bowl (January 8, 7:30 PM) – Ole Miss vs. Miami
- Peach Bowl (January 9, 7:30 PM) – Oregon vs. Indiana
- National Championship Tournament (January 19th at 7:30 PM)
