Steps Ole Miss must take in the Fiesta Bowl to advance to the CFP National Championship Game

Big Showdown in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl

The Ole Miss Rebels are set to clash with the Miami Hurricanes Thursday night in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, a game that holds significant weight for both teams’ histories. It’s been a rollercoaster for each side lately, to say the least.

Ole Miss faced a whirlwind when head coach Lane Kiffin unexpectedly left, all while dealing with assistant coaches shifting between the Rebels and LSU Tigers.

Despite the chaos, they managed to block out the distractions and snagged consecutive wins in the College Football Playoff. Their recent victory, a nail-biter against the Georgia Bulldogs, ended 39-34 with a last-second field goal.

Conversely, Miami’s entry into this year’s College Football Playoff was somewhat controversial, with many doubting their qualifications. They made a late entrance after the conference championships but capitalized on their opportunity. After overcoming Texas A&M in a gritty matchup on a blustery day in College Station, they pulled off a major upset, defeating the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes 24-14, dominating the line throughout the game.

When it comes to style, these two teams are worlds apart. Ole Miss boasts a top-tier offense, regularly scoring 35 points or more—hitting an average of 36.8 points and ranking second in total yardage at 488.8 yards per game. Their game is fast-paced and loaded with explosive plays.

On Miami’s side, they exhibit a solid success rate on both offense and defense but prefer a slower, more methodical approach, which has them among the top 10 in seconds taken per snap this season. They thrive on controlling the trenches, believing that if they can manage that, the rest will follow.

Yet, Ole Miss has a knack for getting teams into shootouts, as evidenced by their performances against Georgia and Oklahoma, where they averaged 36 points in those encounters.

Will we see a high-scoring battle? It really hinges on one major face-off: Ole Miss’ offensive line squaring off against Miami’s defensive line. The Hurricanes have been formidable upfront—in their victory over Texas A&M, they sacked the quarterback seven times and recorded nine tackles for loss. Just last weekend, they pressured the Ohio State quarterback multiple times in the first half, leading to a zero on the scoreboard for the Buckeyes at halftime.

If Ole Miss breaks through with their experienced line, they might find some rhythm in their running game, and player Trinidad Chambliss could also make a significant impact in the passing game. However, it remains uncertain just how substantial that impact could be based on this matchup.

Miami has shown they can score, having racked up 151 points in their last four games despite a disappointing season finish. They excel when they can dictate the game’s tempo and stifle their opponent’s offense.

For Ole Miss, a victory is most likely to come through high-scoring exchanges. If Miami permits them to assert control at the line of scrimmage, the Hurricanes might struggle to defend against the run and could potentially find themselves falling behind early, a scenario they’ve had trouble with this season.