Miami Hurricanes Advance to National Championship
The Miami Hurricanes have reached the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, edging out Ole Miss with a 31-27 victory, which many are calling one of the greatest playoff games ever.
Now, Miami awaits the outcome of the other semifinal between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Oregon Ducks to see who they’ll face on January 19th. The championship will have a home-field advantage for the Hurricanes, as Hard Rock Stadium will host the event.
The game got off to a slow start, with Miami being the only team to score in the first quarter—only a field goal following a lengthy opening drive. But then Ole Miss lit things up, thanks to the explosive running of Kewan Lacy.
Just two plays into the second quarter, Lacy burst through the defense for a remarkable 73-yard touchdown, putting Ole Miss up 7-3 after the extra point.
However, the game continued to oscillate with both teams trading blows. Miami’s quarterback Carson Beck led a lengthy touchdown drive, culminating in a four-yard rushing touchdown by Chalmer Brown. The score evened at 10-10 when Beck connected with Kieran Marion for a 52-yard touchdown, propelling Miami to a 17-13 lead at halftime.
The third quarter unfolded oddly, marked by missed field goals on both sides. Beck’s interception opened the door for Ole Miss to narrow the gap to 17-16, leaving Miami to face the fourth quarter for the first time in a while with a tight score.
As the game wound down, Ole Miss took a 19-17 lead after a drive that featured Trinidad Chambliss successfully leading his team into field goal range. But Miami’s Malachi Toney quickly turned the tide. After Ole Miss took the lead, Toney dashed for a 36-yard touchdown on a screen pass, putting Miami back in control with a decisive answer drive.
With just five minutes left in the game, Chambliss and the Rebels had ample opportunity to reclaim the lead. He found tight end Dequan Wright for a crucial 24-yard gain, setting up a go-ahead score after hitting a wide-open Caleb Odom for a two-point conversion.
Now it was up to Beck and Miami’s offense to keep the game tied. They needed to score at least 27 points, and in a pivotal third-and-10 situation, Beck delivered to Marion, progressing them toward a win. It felt apparent Miami wasn’t content with just tying; they aimed for victory.
In a dramatic turn, Beck spotted a gap on his left, sprinted, and scored the winning touchdown with just 18 seconds to spare.
Still, the ending wasn’t without tension. Ole Miss had time for a final push, launching a Hail Mary that reached the end zone. Chambliss almost connected with a teammate, but the pass slipped through hands for an incomplete, sealing Miami’s win.
In terms of stats, Beck completed 23 of 37 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns, alongside one interception. Marion played a pivotal role with seven catches totaling 114 yards, while Mark Fletcher Jr. led the rushing with 133 yards on 22 attempts. Toney added 81 receiving yards to Miami’s tally.
For Ole Miss, Chambliss also went 23-for-37, delivering 277 yards and a touchdown to Wright. DeZone Stribling finished with 77 receiving yards, while Lacy rushed for 103 yards.
