If any Ole Miss fan happened to be told ahead of time that the Rebels’ 2025-26 season would end in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff — given the team went through a head coaching change during the campaign — they would have taken that deal, even if the final result was a heartbreaking loss.
As was the case all year, No. 6 Ole Miss bent, but this time, the team broke late in the fourth quarter of a 31-27 Fiesta Bowl loss against No. 10 Miami. However, the shortcoming on the scoreboard did not come without a valiant effort. Trailing 24-19 with a little over three minutes left to play, Trinidad Chambliss found tight end Dae’Quan Wright in the end zone for a touchdown before hitting Caleb Odom on a successful two-point try to put the Rebels up 27-24.
The score put pressure on veteran Miami quarterback Carson Beck, who thrived when under the gun. The sixth-year field general faced late-down situations four times and responded with a successful play to move the chains before taking a three-yard keeper into the end zone on a go-ahead touchdown that ended up winning the game for the Hurricanes.
Ole Miss, with 18 seconds to work with, moved the ball 40 yards downfield and had a legitimate shot at the end zone. Chambliss tried to connect with trusted wideout De’Zhaun Stribling but to no avail. The high-stakes play for both teams occurred with contact being made on Stribling throughout his route, but no flag was thrown, and Ole Miss fans protested. Head coach Pete Golding, on the other hand, did not blame the officials for the loss.
“Those situations are tough to call. Yeah, there was contact, but it happens a lot. That’s not why we lost the game. We just had a lot of opportunities late, but I think it shows you the resiliency of the team. They didn’t care,” Golding said. “They’re going to go out there and give it all they got. It looks like you ran out of time, but we didn’t execute well enough, didn’t prepare well enough, and we didn’t coach good enough.”
The Rebels were forced to a pair of three-and-outs to open the game. Miami struck first blood with a 38-yard field goal by Carter Davis. Ole Miss countered with a much-needed spark in the form of a 73-yard rushing touchdown by Kewan Lacy. While momentous at the time, Lacy tweaked his hamstring on the long run and was not given a significant number of carries for the remainder of the matchup.
The game of cat-and-mouse continued with CharMar Brown scoring a four-yard rushing touchdown to put Miami back up, Ole Miss placekicker Lucas Carneiro nailing a 42-yarder to tie the game, Beck connecting with Keelan Russell on a 52-yard bomb to give the Hurricanes the lead once more, and Carneiro connecting on a career-high 58-yarder to keep the Rebels within striking distance. Miami led 17-13 at halftime after possessing the ball for nearly 23 of the 30 allotted minutes.
Ole Miss, after having been manhandled in the trenches on both sides of the ball, found fortune when Davis missed a 42-yard field goal early in the third quarter. But instead of capitalizing on the miscue, a rare miss by Carneiro, one where the ball bounced off the uprights, kept the score the same.
The gut punch didn’t take effect long as a promising Miami drive ended with Beck throwing an interception to Kapena Gushiken in Ole Miss territory. A deflection by Rebel defensive end Kam Franklin made the pick possible. Carneiro had his name called again on the next Ole Miss offensive possession, and hit the uprights again, but had a favorable bounce to cut his team’s deficit to 17-16.
A chaotic final frame then played out. An uncommon three-and-out by Miami gifted Ole Miss an opportunity to jump back ahead on the scoreboard, and the Rebels did just that. After driving all the way down to the Hurricanes’ four-yard line, Ole Miss was forced to settle for a field goal. Carneiro was good from 21 yards out, and Ole Miss went ahead 19-17.
A five-play follow-up drive by Miami concluded with sensational freshman receiver Malachi Toney scoring a 36-yard touchdown. Then, as referenced earlier, the Rebels punched back, landing a near-knockout blow. Yet, Miami simply had more in the tank, along with just enough time and a masterful performance by an effective offensive line and veteran quarterback.
Chambliss completed 23 of 37 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown, while Lacy totaled 103 rushing yards and a score. Stribling was the Rebels’ leading receiver, accounting for 77 yards on five catches. Defensively, Ole Miss suffered a major hit in the first quarter when starting linebacker Andrew Jones exited the field with an injury. He later returned to the sidelines on crutches. TJ Dottery led the Rebels with 11 tackles and a sack.
For Miami, Beck tossed for 268 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and a pick. The Hurricanes’ leading rusher was Mike Fletcher Jr., who gashed the Rebels all night, accounting for 133 yards. Keelan Marion was the team’s second-leading receiver with 114 yards and a score. Mario Cristobal’s defense was anchored by Mohamed Toure, who tallied four tackles and the lone sack by the Hurricanes.
The stark contrast between the two teams was third-down efficiency, where Miami shone and Ole Miss left a lot to be desired. The Hurricanes were a solid 11 for 19 on third-down tries, while the Rebels were 2 for 10. The pace of the game also played to Miami’s advantage, as the physically-dominant Hurricanes had multiple offensive drives of more than a dozen plays, keeping the ball away from a Rebel group that can score quickly.
While a loss was not what Ole Miss was expecting, especially with the mindset that the team was aiming to win a national title, a stunning support system served as a consolation of sorts. As was the case during last week’s Sugar Bowl, Rebel fans were in the majority at State Farm Stadium all the way out in Glendale, Ariz. The fans were loud all night and remained proud of their team, even after having their hearts broken.
“It’s truly special to see how dedicated Ole Miss fans are and how special the Oxford community is. They’re in it together. We’re all in it together,” Chambliss said. “We wouldn’t be here without them as well. Their support and everything they’ve done for Rebel Nation. Our team just values that. I mean, Oxford is just special. I can’t say that enough. I’m just truly grateful, and I’ve just got to give thanks to God.”
Next up
The Rebels will now pivot to the fall, trying to round out what is turning into a solid transfer portal class and getting commitments from current players that they’re staying. Chambliss, if his waiver for another year is approved, and Lacy headline the returning cast. Ole Miss will open up the 2026-27 season in Nashville against Louisville on Sept. 5.
“When they give you all the things that you need, and then you go recruit good players, you’ve got to perform well. Hopefully, these opportunities will continue,” Golding said of giving Ole Miss fans chances to see the Rebels in the College Football Playoff in the future.
Miami will play in its first national championship since 2001 against the winner of Indiana and Oregon.
SuperTalk Mississippi News’ Fiesta Bowl coverage is supported by Barnes Crossing Auto Group, Pileum, Good Hope Land & Timber, Mississippi Hospital Association, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Yuengling.