Carson Beck Takes Miami to CFP Title Game: Fiesta Bowl Takeaways
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
You’re not going to see a better fourth quarter than what we got in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.
Miami and Ole Miss went back and forth – more on that in a moment – as Carson Beck led the Hurricanes to a 31-27 win and a spot in the CFN National Championship.
Here’s what we learned, and what to take away from one of the best CFP games ever.
What We Learned as Miami beat Ole Miss to go to the National Championship
No, Ole Miss wasn’t coming up with a stop on Miami’s final drive
The Ole Miss defense wasn’t good enough, and the team still almost pulled it off.
The Rebels couldn’t tackle a lick, they couldn’t come up with a meaningful third down stop, got steamrolled over on two first downs, and …
The defense did everything it could, but it wasn’t good enough.
The inability to get off the field was a killer. It was the problem in the loss to Georgia – the Rebel D was gassed – and after being on the field for over 40 minutes, it couldn’t get to Carson Beck, and it turned into a 15-play march for the ages. Again, even with the defensive issues …
Yeah, that looked like pass interference, but …
Ole Miss almost did it.
Trinidad Chambliss threw the ball three times, completed two of them, spiked the other, and he miraculously got the Rebels into range for a possible game-winning play in the end zone.
If you’re an Ole Miss fan, that was pass interference on the final throw. If you’re a Miami fan, especially if you’re of a certain age when it comes to the Fiesta Bowl, your official stance is “boo freaking hoo.”
Look, both players were grabbing at each other. Officials, never, ever, ever throw the flag for a PI on a Hail Mary/last-second deep-shot play. (That’s wrong, by the way – it should be called.)
Basically, whatever your thought is in the play, you’re probably right, but …
Carson Beck had his moment
Forgotten in a hurry was that Carson Beck was considered a possible No. 1 overall draft pick prospect going into last year with Georgia.
Things didn’t go right, the offense didn’t move well enough, and it didn’t help that the Dawgs suddenly found their spark in the SEC Championship win over Texas after Beck got hurt just before the end of the first half.
Miami seemed like the right fit.
Elite talent for a program with elite parts, looking to get back to an elite level. And yes, I’m sticking with my original call that, despite losing the No. 1 pick in the draft, Cam Ward, the Hurricanes upgraded at the position.
But there were misfires along the way, including a horrible day against Louisville, and a loss to SMU, but in Glendale, the real Carson Beck turned it loose.
He completed 23-of-37 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns with an interception, took off for a few key first downs, and, of course, he found the seas part open, and he ran for the instant-iconic touchdown to get the Hurricanes to the national title.
Carson Beck really is that good.
Ole Miss and Miami each had everything (almost) go wrong
Everyone will remember this as a thriller, and it was, but …
Wow, did both teams screw up.
Ole Miss really couldn’t tackle. Miami ran it 57 times, and it probably could’ve and should’ve powered away to over 60. There weren’t any huge gashes, but when it was time to rumble, the Canes did.
The Rebel offense was on the field for fewer than 19 minutes, and why? The offense – even though the line did a brilliant job against the Miami pass rushers – couldn’t keep the chains moving.
Ole Miss got the one massive touchdown run from Kewan Lacy, but that accounted for 73 of the 121 rushing yards.
And yeah, Chambliss went Chambliss, and he threw for 277 yards and a score, but he ran for just seven yards, and …
Miami should’ve had at least four interceptions, and even that’s generous.
The Canes couldn’t generate a pass rush – there was just one sack – but there was just enough pressure to make Chambliss hurry, and he managed to get away with it.
On the flip side, Beck was terrific, Mark Fletcher hammered for 133 rushing yards, and the offense had the ball for close to 42 minutes. And it still took an epic drive and a controversial stop to put it away.
Ole Miss found a way to almost get this done, even if it settled for too many field goal attempts. Miami did find a way to get it done, even with a C+ performance, but it doesn’t matter because …
Miami is playing for the College Football Playoff National Championship
The 2001 Miami Hurricanes were among the most talented teams to ever play college football.
For those of a certain age who remember that time, they missed a slew of the best teams that year, but blasted Nebraska 37-14 in an ugly Rose Bowl, and …
The Hurricanes should’ve had to play Oregon, not the Huskers. Now, 24 years later, that might happen.
Famously, the 2022 Miami team – also super-talented, but struggled late against the good team – lost the national title to Ohio State.
And now The U is back in the championship mix, and it’ll get to play at home.
The talent is there to beat Indiana or Oregon. The team will be the underdog, the atmosphere will be insane, and with one more win, one of the sport’s greatest superpowers over the last four-plus decades – with a little time off – will complete something special.
But even if it doesn’t, Miami won at Texas A&M, beat Ohio State, and held on against Ole Miss. After all of the controversy to get into the tournament, this season has been a breakthrough moment under Mario Cristobal no matter what.
Related: Indiana vs Oregon Prediction: CFP Semifinal at the Peach Bowl
This story was originally published by College Football News on Jan 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos