> At a Glance
> – No. 10 Miami (12-2) faces No. 6 Ole Miss (13-1) in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
> – Winner advances to the national championship at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens
> – Both programs entered 2025-26 with zero combined CFP appearances
> – Why it matters: A first-time champion could emerge with both teams eyeing historic title runs
Miami and Ole Miss-each making their first College Football Playoff appearance-collide in Glendale with a national championship berth on the line.
How They Got Here
Ole Miss ousted No. 3 Georgia 39-34 in the Sugar Bowl after crushing No. 11 Tulane 41-10. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss threw for 362 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia, while wideout De’Zhaun Stribling hauled in a clutch 40-yard grab to set up the winning kick.
Miami, meanwhile, stunned defending champ Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl following a 10-3 road win at Texas A&M. The Hurricanes’ defense sacked Heisman finalist Julian Sayin five times and returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown by Keionte Scott.
By the Numbers
| Team | Seed | Record | Playoff W | Points Allowed | Turnovers Forced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 10 | 12-2 | 2 | 17 | 5 |
| Ole Miss | 6 | 13-1 | 2 | – | – |
Coaching Carousel
Days before Ole Miss clinched its first CFP berth, Lane Kiffin left for LSU. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding stepped up as interim head coach and has guided the Rebels to back-to-back postseason upsets.
What’s Next
The Fiesta Bowl winner faces either unbeaten No. 1 Indiana or No. 5 Oregon, who play Friday in the Peach Bowl. Miami could secure home-field advantage in the title game, having last played at Hard Rock on Nov. 15.
Key Takeaways
- First-time CFP foes square off with everything on the line
- Miami’s fourth-ranked scoring defense must corral an Ole Miss attack second in total yards
- Historic championship droughts could end: Miami owns five titles, most recently 2001; Ole Miss claims one shared crown from 1960
A new national champion could be crowned in South Florida on Jan. 20.
