Miami came home to win the national title

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Carson Beck rushed for a 3-yard touchdown with 18 seconds remaining, and Miami will return home for a shot at its first national championship since 2001 after defeating Mississippi, 31-27, in an exhilarating College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night.

The 10th-ranked Hurricanes (13-2) had their vaunted defense dismantled by the sixth-ranked Rebels (13-2) in a wild fourth quarter, falling into a 27-24 hole after Trinidad Chambliss threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dae’Quan Wright with 3:13 remaining.

Beck, who won the national title as a reserve at Georgia, kept the Hurricanes calm amidst the storm, leading them down the field for the winning score — and a chance at a national title on their home turf at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19. Beck is 37-5 as a starter, including two seasons at Georgia.

The sixth-seeded Rebels lost their coach before the playoffs, but they didn’t settle down.

If anything, Lane Kiffin’s decision to transfer to LSU seemed to harden Ole Miss’ resolve, propelling the Rebels to the best season in school history — and into their first national championship game.

Ole Miss kept Miami within reach when the offense got going and took a 19-17 lead on Lucas Carneiro’s fourth field goal, from 21 yards out.

Malachi Toney, the hero of Miami’s CFP-opening win over Texas A&M, turned a screen pass into a 36-yard touchdown that put Miami up 24-19.

Chambliss’ TD pass to Wright put the Rebels back in front, but the improbable run ended when the defense couldn’t contain the Hurricanes.

But it’s really amazing.

With Pete Golding calling the shots after being promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach, and most of the assistants on defense, the Rebels beat Tulane to open the playoffs and beat mighty Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals.

They face a different kind of storm in Hurricane.

Miami has revived memories of its 2001 national championship team behind a defense that went from porous to nearly impenetrable in its first season under coordinator Corey Hetherman.

The Hurricanes laid siege early in the Fiesta Bowl, holding Ole Miss to minus-1 yard.

One play galvanized the Rebels and their rowdy fans.

Kewan Lacy, the nation’s third-leading rusher, broke through a hole over the middle for a 73-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter — the longest run allowed by Miami’s defense since 2018.

The Hurricanes seemed content to attack the Rebels in small numbers offensively, setting up CharMar Brown’s 4-yard touchdown run and a field goal.

Miami unlocked a deep game just before halftime, taking advantage of broken coverage for a 52-yard touchdown pass from Beck to Keelan Marion.