What Ole Miss football is saying about Miami offense, Carson Beck for CFP Fiesta Bowl
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Despite being in different conferences, Ole Miss football does have some familiarity with Miami quarterback Carson Beck.
Beck was the Georgia quarterback for two seasons when he faced Ole Miss in 2023 and 2024.
The Rebels (13-1) will meet Beck again, this time in the Fiesta Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 8 (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN) in Glendale, Arizona. The winner will advance to the national championship game Jan. 19 against either Indiana or Oregon.
“He’s a kid that’s seen a lot and has done a lot,” Ole Miss co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Bryan Brown said Jan. 5 of Beck, who transferred from Georgia to Miami (12-2) this season as sixth-year senior. “He’s seen every look in the book, so hopefully we can disguise some things, and he’ll throw us a ball here or two.”
The Rebels have had mixed results against Beck. In 2023, they were torched by Georgia in a 52-17. Beck threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns. Ole Miss beat Georgia 28-10 in 2024, and Beck had 186 passing yards, no touchdowns and an interception while getting sacked five times.
At Miami, Beck has thrown for 3,313 yards with 27 passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
“I think that’s the difference, in my opinion, is his team, his offense that he had then versus now,” Brown said.
Malachi Toney is a dynamic freshman All-ACC first-team wide receiver for Miami who has 1,008 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Running back Mark Fletcher is fourth in the ACC with 947 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
Four of the Hurricanes‘ five offensive linemen made an All-ACC team.
“They’re very physical up front,” Ole Miss safety Wydett Williams Jr. said. “We just got to make sure we have good eyes in our keys and just be ready for all types of motion.”
Even though Brown said Beck has different options, he said the Miami offense is similar schematically to Georgia. The Rebels beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 to get to the CFP semifinals.
“I would say a little bit of Georgia because Georgia hangs their head on running the football with play action pass and things of that nature,” Brown said. “They try to get their playmakers involved.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss football defense on Miami, Carson Beck in CFP Fiesta Bowl
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