The Miami Hurricanes (13-2) beat the Ole Miss Rebels (13-2) 31-27 to lift the Fiesta Bowl curse and put the ‘Canes into the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Don’t hug me yet, I might swear in your face like Mario Cristobal did to Kevin (who should know better after the 2003 Fiesta Bowl) Beard.

The main theme of the Canyonero Keys to Victory was to own the damn road. The three individual keys were:

1- Contain Chambliss. QB Trinidad Chambliss made some Chambliss plays but he threw four near interceptions, averaged under eight yards per attempt, and rushed for only seven yards on only one sack allowed. Contained.

2- Take what’s given. There were a few questionable calls from OC Shannon Dawson, but he mostly took what was given. Miami threw for 268 yards and rushed for 191 yards including four sacks. Miami 2-for-2 on 4th downs just pounding the rock down the Rebels throats.

3- Win the sidelines. Mario Cristobal lost his cool and control and began to react. The team followed suit and started to commit stupid penalties as they melted down along with their head coach. Then, Mario looked calm and collected again and… wait for it… the team calmed with him. The ‘Canes almost lost the sidelines but pulled the nose up just in time for a 4th quarter win.

On money downs, the Hurricanes converted 13-of-21 attempts. The Rebels were held by the Corey Hetherman defense to a lowly 2-of-10 on 3rd down with no 4th down tries.

The ‘Canes had 74 yards in penalty flags including a late targeting and another personal foul late in the game. The Rebels were flagged for only 34 yards in penalties.

The Hurricanes lost the turnover battle on Carson Beck’s interceptions- the lone turnover of the game. The Rebels QB threw four near INT’s but close only counts in dancin’.

The Rebels hit on 4-of-5 FG attempts including one doink miss and one doink that went in. Carter Davis finished 1-of-2 on FG attempts with nothing major happening in the return game for either team.

Carson Beck finished with two TD passes and one interception on 7.2 yards per pass attempt. Beck was sacked four times while adding the go-ahead score on the ground.

Mark Fletcher averaged 6.0 yards per carry as the bell cow while Marty Brown rushed for only 3.9 yards per carry but scored a huge TD after slipping down on the previous play. Ole Miss logged five TFL’s with four sacks on the ‘Canes O-Line.

Beck connected with eight different receivers with four hitting double-digit yards per catch numbers. Malachi Toney averaged 16.2 yards per catch and a TD, along with a handful of great blocks again.

Above- Brockermeyer lets the DT cross his face. The Ole Miss DE is setting the edge, forcing Toney to stay inside for a TFL.

Above- The Toney targeting is what it is. I dunno what targeting is anymore. I’m not debating that. But Toney holding onto the ball was an amazing catch. He’s 1-of-1 right now as a player.

Above- A lil help from my friends. These are the type of plays that aren’t remembered but that change the course of a season. An OL turned FB helping bench press his buddy across the goal line. WILD.

Above- Beck has done a great job most of the season on keeping his eyes down field even when having to move in the pocket. Here he does a little half roll while watching the safety. The safety bites down on the TE and he bombs that post to Marion over everyone’s head.

Above- False pull #1 pulls the defense a little, but not quite like we’ll see in #2. Still works for a nice pick up for Toney.

Above- Just a 2c moment that you don’t need a textbook block, especially when you’re 350#, just get in the damn way and make some contact.

Above- This was a detail I wanted Miami to focus on re Chambliss being 5-10 but they really didn’t. When you can’t sack the mobile QB’s get your hands up. Ole Miss did sack Beck, and got their hands up for a PBU turned INT.

Above- This Ole Miss DB should have Toney dead for a TFL and gives up a 1st down. Toney just makes plays. He’s both quick and fast. He’s both nimble and physical. Reminds me of Steve Smith.

Above- This false pull makes the Rebels LB do the cha-cha slide. Yanks another LB down and away from the screen.

Above- The Great Wall of Mirabal setting up the Toney screen for a TD. EEEYOOOOU.

Above- One thing you can’t deny is the effort. Miami might’ve had stupid penalties and dropped INT’s, a targeting… but man they were trying. CJ Daniels effort here was championship caliber.

Above- Mauigoa saves the day with an insanely aware play. I have no idea how he knew to run back there but damn if he didn’t spring that Beck TD run.

Miami held Chambliss to 7.5 yards per passing attempt with one total touchdown but he committed zero turnovers. They also only sacked the mobile QB one time.

Kewan Lacy rushed for over 100 yards on 9.4 yards per carry but 73 of those yards came on one touchdown run. Logan Diggs and Chambliss were held to 2.5 and 1.4 yards per carry, respectively. Miami logged only one TFL vs. the Rebels.

Chambliss found nine different Rebels receiving targets with four hitting double-digit yards per catch numbers. Dae’Quan Wright led the Rebs with 21.3 yards per grab and a touchdown catch. Miami picked up six PBU’s versus Ole Miss.

Above- What a fantastic swim move on the RB there. It’s an INC pass and hurry, not a sack, but set the tone that Miami was going to pop the pads all night long.

Above- Bain should know better. Come to balance, vice tackle with your teammate and WRAP UP. Every week the opponents are a little better. Oregon or Indiana will be a little better than Ole Miss.

Above- The Lacy TD run. We can see that hole open a mile wide. Now it’s time to rotate and roll down as safeties.

Above- Fitzgerald needs to track the hip closest to him. You have teammates in the C, B, and A gaps. So no need to enter the hole at the LOS and over-commit. Poyser has to work downhill. He needs to track the hip to his side and scallup down before scraping to come to balance and finish the play.

Above- Miami has to intercept these easy picks in the natty. Four dropped INT’s?! Get back on the vision training and work on your eyes.

Above- This is also not an INT some how. Tipped by one player and caught by 24 before another dropped INT. Notice where his eyes are… not on the football.

Above- This is listed on defense because of what happens next. The head guy shouldn’t need a player to pull him off the refs. Mario melts down and the team follows suit.

Above- David Blay may have more penalties than TFL’s and sacks combined. At this point in the season you need the depth but it seems so insane that he keeps doing this in key spots.

Above- Keionte Scott has that “BAD THINGS MAN, BAD THINGS” vibe going for him. Lacy drops this because he ‘hears the footsteps.’

Above- I believe a 10 point flip for Ole Miss happens around Mario having meltdowns. Once he calmed down, the team did, too.

They did it, the Miami Hurricanes are moving on the the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. Cristobal has made a team in his image: physical, emotionally driven, prone to hitting panic mode, but also reaching down and giving ‘em a tug enough to pull a close one out.

The ‘Canes will face either the Oregon Ducks or Indiana Hoosiers in the title game, and both teams are really damn good. Enjoy the game on Friday night because on January 19th it’s going to be intense!