The Miami Hurricanes and Ole Miss Rebels entered the 2025-26 season with zero combined appearances in the College Football Playoff. Now, they’re both on the doorstep of the national championship game.
No. 6-seeded Ole Miss (13-1) will take on No. 10 Miami (12-2) Thursday in the Fiesta Bowl in the semifinals of the CFP. The winner will advance to the national title game to face either the unbeaten No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers or the No. 5 Oregon Ducks.
Indiana and Oregon are squaring off in the semifinal Peach Bowl on Friday.
The Rebels have reached the national semifinals just weeks after seeing their head coach leave for another SEC school. Lane Kiffin departed Ole Miss for LSU days before the Rebels officially earned their first-ever CFP berth. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was then elevated to the head coaching role, and the Rebels haven’t looked back since.
Ole Miss crushed the No. 11 Tulane Green Wave 41-10 in the first round before outlasting the SEC champion No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs 39-34 in a Sugar Bowl thriller. The Rebels squandered a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to the Bulldogs, but quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and wideout De’Zhaun Stribling connected for a clutch 40-yard completion inside the final minute to set up a game-winning field goal. Chambliss led an Ole Miss offense that put up 473 yards of offense against Georgia, as he threw for 362 yards and two scores.
Chambliss and Co. next face a Miami defense that’s powered two playoff upsets by forcing five combined turnovers and allowing 17 total points. The Hurricanes first defeated the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies 10-3 on the road before stunning the defending champion No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl. Miami sacked Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin five times and picked him off twice, including a 72-yard pick-six from defensive back Keionte Scott.
The Hurricanes haven’t played a home game since Nov. 15. But they are just a win away from having home-field advantage in the biggest game of the college football season — Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, is hosting this year’s national title game.
So, can Miami’s fourth-ranked scoring defense contain an Ole Miss offense that’s second in yards and 10th in scoring? With a national championship game berth on the line, here’s how to watch the Fiesta Bowl:
When is the Miami vs. Ole Miss Fiesta Bowl?
Miami and Ole Miss will kick off the CFP semifinals on Thursday, Jan. 8.
Where is the Miami vs. Ole Miss Fiesta Bowl being played?
State Farm Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, in Glendale, Arizona, is hosting the Fiesta Bowl.
What time does the Miami vs. Ole Miss Fiesta Bowl start?
Miami-Ole Miss is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT.
What TV channel is the Miami vs. Ole Miss Fiesta Bowl on?
The Fiesta Bowl will air on ESPN.
Where to stream the Miami vs. Ole Miss Fiesta Bowl live online
It will also be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
How many football national championships have the Miami Hurricanes won?
The Hurricanes own five national championships, most recently claiming a BCS championship in 2001. Miami was also an outright national champion in 1983, 1987 and 1989, while also earning a title share with Washington in 1991.
How many football national championships have the Ole Miss Rebels won?
The Rebels’ first and only national championship came all the way back in 1960, when it won a share of the title with Minnesota.