The Hurricanes now know who they will face off with in next week’s College Football Playoff semifinals.
Miami will face No. 6 Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 after the Rebels beat Georgia 39-34 in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday night.
The Hurricanes are 1-2 all-time against Ole Miss, but the two teams have not played since UM beat the Rebels in 1951.
Miami, which is the No. 10 seed, earned its first trip to the semifinals by beating No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday.
Ole Miss is 13-1 this season. The Rebels picked up key wins over Tulane (twice), Oklahoma and LSU before beating the Bulldogs on Thursday. Ole Miss’ one loss was against Georgia in the regular season, but it avenged that loss in the Sugar Bowl to advance in the playoffs.
The Rebels had a rocky transition from the regular season to the postseason. Former coach Lane Kiffin had a long, public courting with LSU and Florida before leaving to become the Tigers’ coach when Ole Miss refused to allow him to coach in the playoffs. The Rebels named former defensive coordinator Pete Golding the team’s new head coach.
Ole Miss’ key players include quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, running back Kewan Lacy, wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling and defensive end Princewill Umanmielen. Lacy was a first-team All-SEC pick. Chambliss was a second-team selection, as was tight end Dae’Quan Wright.
