Miami Secures Spot in National Championship

Miami, currently ranked No. 10, will compete for the national championship, but head coach Mario Cristobal made it known that he wanted his players to hold off on any celebrations before it was all over.

In a dramatic finish, Miami took the lead with just 18 seconds left on the clock when Carson Beck found a clear opening on the left side of the field, scoring the decisive touchdown.

As Miami led 27-24, an assistant coach approached Cristobal and hugged him from behind, an expression of joy evident on his face, but Cristobal quickly reminded everyone to keep their focus.

Perhaps it was a mix of excitement and caution—they hadn’t won yet, after all. Cristobal stepped back, possibly anxious about an early celebration, especially considering how unpredictable the game had become.

The final minutes were intense; the teams scored 25 points in that short span alone, with multiple lead changes. Ole Miss briefly took the advantage with a field goal, only for Miami to respond with a 36-yard touchdown from Malachi Toney. Yet moments later, the Rebels scored again, reclaiming the lead at 27-24.

But Beck didn’t back down. He expertly maneuvered down the field, spotted his chance, and sprinted toward the goal line to secure victory, just as the clock ticked down. This led to the assistant coach’s hug, which Cristobal seemed reluctant to embrace.

In a nail-biting twist, Ole Miss attempted a last-minute Hail Mary, advancing down the field rapidly. They managed to get a pass into the end zone, but it slipped through a teammate’s hands, ensuring a Miami win.

After the game, one wonders if Cristobal and the assistant coach finally shared that celebratory embrace while the rest of the Hurricanes reveled in their hard-fought victory.

Moving forward, Miami is set to face the winner of the upcoming match between No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon on January 19 in the national title game at their home stadium, Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida.