Miami Defeats Ole Miss, Staking their Claim in National Championship Game
The Miami Hurricanes continue to do the impossible and will be the lowest seed to appear in the National Championship game under the new playoff format.
The Hurricanes will look to win their first National Championship game in 25 years when one of the greatest teams of all time (2001 Canes) defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
This years Miami Hurricanes team won’t go down as one of the greatest teams ever, but has proven resilient, behind their hard nosed defense, and their poised offense led by Carson Beck who had his best game of the playoffs.
The Canes jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before giving up a 70+ yard touchdown run, after that the Hurricanes got comfortable, taking a 17-13 lead into the half.
Both teams exchanged miss field goals to start the second half, with both kickers missing 51-yard field goals.
After Ole Miss missed, the Canes drove all the way down the field, converted a fourth and short, and after two drive killing false starts, Beck dropped back to pass on third down near the red zone and it was batted, leading to an Ole Miss interception, the games first turnover.
And that’s where Miami’s identity continued to hold strong. Miami held the Rebels to only three points as Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro made his third kick of the game, a 54 yarder on the right side of a doink this time. (Miami dropped an interception on the drive).
The Canes took a 17-16 lead into the fourth quarter with the defense playing hero holding Ole Miss to 0-7 on third down, and no offense beyond the explosive run from Kewan Lacy.
To open the fourth, the Canes had another drive stall out due to penalty and proceeded to land a punt inside the 10. But Miami allowed its first two third down conversions on this drive, one on the ground with Ole Miss backed up, and another on a great pass by Trinidad Chambliss who got rocked as he made the completion over the middle. Miami then got 15 yards added on for a targeting call on Xavier Lucas.
Miami continued to hurt themselves, with a late hit on the ensuing set of downs by David Blay, thus setting the Rebels up with a first and goal.
Miami’s defense stood tall again, setting up yet another field goal for Carneiro who drilled the field goal to cash in on the 13 play, penalty aided drive.
And now, Miami needed a big drive and they delivered, after a pass interference on the drives first play, a screen, and another big Mark Fletcher run, the Canes gave the ball to their most explosive player, freshman Malachi Toney who took a screen pass 36 yards to the house, putting the Canes up 24-19, a lead they would give up, yet again.
Video via ESPN and Pat McAfee on X: “MALACHI TONEY TO THE CRIB #PMSCFP https://t.co/3yU7AJH2k0” / X
Once again, penalties extended a Rebels drive, and then Chambliss took over, a 19-yard scramble, and 24 yard touchdown pass to Dae’Quan Wrigt to put the Rebels up one, a lead that became three after a successful 2-point conversion.
So now the Canes fate was in the hands of the quarterback with the third-highest NIL valuation in college football, with a package estimated at $3.1 million.
The 2:00 minute warning came on 3rd and 8 with the Canes on their own 39, and the Canes drew a face mask penalty on the biggest third down of the game (on back shoulder throw). Beck then went back to work, another third down –another big play– this time to CJ Daniels.
Then Beck finished his legacy drive as a Miami Hurricane a huge a 17-yard pass to Keelan Marion on a third and long. another completion for 11 on the next set of downs, and then the dagger, a three yard rushing touchdown to send the Miami Hurricanes to the National Championship, an unimaginable scenario just a month ago.
How about that for $3.1 million dollars.
The Canes defense let the Rebels drive down the field, setting up a Hail Mary to finish the insane fourth quarter, four lead changes, and a trip to the National Title on the line, and the Canes defense prevailed.
31-27 Canes
Cristobal’s playcalling and decision making almost cost the Canes this game, as they went away from Mark Fletcher Jr. –who was averaging 6 yards per carry– and the penalties, almost haunted them.
Nonetheless
The Canes will now go home to Hard Rock Stadium where they will compete for the National Title (January 19th, 7:30PM EST) against the winner of the Peach Bowl between Oregon and Indiana.
Cover Image via (4) Miami Hurricanes – Search / X
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