TAMPA, Fla. – To think Miami was out of the playoff picture when the penultimate College Football Playoff ranking was released. Five weeks later, the Hurricanes are a win away from playing for the national championship on their home turf.
That is what will happen should they defeat Ole Miss in next Thursday evening’s CFP semifinal and Fiesta Bowl matchup. The national championship game is at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on January 19.
“Nobody believed in us and we wanted to come in and show that we are the best team in the country,” edge rushed Reuben Bain, Jr. told ESPN following the Hurricanes’ 24-14 quarterfinal win against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
It’s time to believe. Bain and his fellow defenders have limited Miami’s two playoff opponents, Texas A&M and the Buckeyes, to 17 points while forcing five turnovers, including two interceptions of both Ohio State’s Heisman finalist Julian Sayin and the Aggies’ Marcel Reed. Cory Hetherman’s defense sacked Sayin five times and held Ohio State to 45 yards on the ground.
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The defense came up with highlight-reel plays in the quarterfinal as well. Keionte Scott’s 72-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Hurricanes a 14-0 lead in the second quarter, less than two minutes after Carson Beck connected with Mark Fletcher, Jr. for a nine-yard TD to open the scoring. The Buckeyes never recovered and the ‘Canes were soon thereafter making reservations for Tempe.
Fiesta Bowl bound
Miami will make its first Fiesta Bowl appearance since 2002 when the ’Canes lost to the Buckeyes with the national championship on the line. (There were no controversial calls against the Buckeyes on New Year’s Eve, unlike what happened to Larry Coker’s squad 23 years ago.)
Ole Miss, which became a favorite of many fans throughout the country following the Lane Kiffin-produced soap opera, has been riding a considerable wave of momentum under new head coach Pete Golding and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Jr.
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Weis, who will join Kiffin at LSU, is overseeing an offense led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. The Division II transfer (Ferris State) made some eye-opening throws while piling up 362 yards and a pair of scores in the Rebels’ 37-34 win over Georgia in Thursday evening’s Sugar Bowl semifinal. Chambliss and running Kewan Lacy (23 TDs) could be a handful for the Miami defense, which continues to meet every challenge, and resoundingly so.
As for the Miami offense, Beck, who came this close to facing his former UGA team, completed 72 percent of his passes in the first two playoff games. He has not able to get much downfield, averaging only 7.3 yards per completion. However, there is one huge stat: no turnovers.
The early line has Miami favored by a field goal. The semifinal will kick off at 7:30 ET and will be aired on ESPN. The other semifinal will have Oregon and Indiana meeting next Friday in Atlanta (Peach Bowl) at 7:30 ET.
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