Ole Miss may have been five points away from making it to the College Football Playoff National Championship. However, plenty of Mississippi will still be on display when Miami and Indiana kick off on Monday night.
From the minutes leading into the game and throughout the contest, here are the Magnolia State ties to be on the lookout for inside Hard Rock Stadium.
Meridian native singing the national anthem
Jamal Roberts continues to experience quite the run. After the Meridian native won “American Idol” season 23 last May, he has released a chart-topping hit, been nominated for a Grammy, and has hit the road not only as a solo artist but also alongside Brandy & Monica for the R&B duo’s fall tour.
Now, he’s been tasked with singing the national anthem before college football’s biggest game.
Roberts’ anthem will be arranged by award-winning musician, composer, and arranger Adam Blackstone. The ceremony will begin five to 10 minutes before kickoff with the presentation of the nation’s colors by members of every branch of the military. As part of the anthem, a giant American flag will be unfurled, a video will be shared from inside the stadium showing feeds of U.S. troops overseas, and a flyover will be conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami.
Miami OC coached at Millsaps, Southern Miss
Shannon Dawson has used the 2025-26 season to further etch his name as one of the top offensive coordinators in college football. But before he began engineering nationally ranked offenses and mentoring NFL-caliber quarterbacks at Miami, he spent time in Mississippi as an assistant at Millsaps and then at Southern Miss.
Dawson was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Millsaps, a Division III school in Jackson, in 2007 and 2008. During those seasons, he worked under former Alabama head coach Mike DuBose and helped the team to two conference titles. He mentored quarterback Juan Joseph, considered one of the best players in Millsaps’ history and the only Major to ever win the Conerly Trophy, the award for best college football player in Mississippi, no matter the level.
After stops at Stephen F. Austin, West Virginia, and Kentucky, Dawson landed in Hattiesburg as Southern Miss’ offensive coordinator. In his first season, he mentored signal-caller Nick Mullens, who is now in his eighth NFL season. During Dawson’s stint at USM, the team notched six or more wins in every season and made appearances in the New Orleans and Independence bowls.
Dawson was at Houston before joining Mario Cristobal’s staff at Miami in 2023. In 2024, the Hurricanes’ offense shattered several school records and finished the season ranked No. 1 in scoring offense nationally. Quarterback Cam Ward was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the top slot of the 2025 NFL Draft. This season, Miami’s offense hovers between No. 20 and 40 in most offensive categories but is fifth nationally in first downs.
Players from Mississippi
Miami has one player who calls Mississippi home: offensive lineman Markell Bell. Bell is from Cleveland and went to Holmes Community College before signing with the Hurricanes. The senior is in his second year as the starting left tackle and has played every game this season, anchoring the line from what’s arguably the most important position on the field. He’s also done a stellar job giving Carson Beck blindside protection, not allowing a single sack all year.
Indiana also has an offensive lineman from Mississippi: Southaven native Kahlil Benson. Benson played in multiple games for the Hoosiers in 2022 and 2023 before transferring to Colorado for the 2024 season. He returned to Indiana for his final year, and as a redshirt senior, he has started in all but one game at right tackle. He’s been an integral piece to a Hoosier offense that’s one of the best scoring units in the nation.
More info on the national championship
The College Football Playoff National Championship between Miami (13-2) and Indiana (15-0) is Monday, Jan. 19, at 6:30 p.m. CT. It will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Indiana is seeking its first-ever national title, while Miami is looking to win its first since 2001.
BetMGM currently has Indiana as an 8.5-point favorite.