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GLENDALE, Ariz. — After a long gap in history, the Ole Miss Rebels and Miami Hurricanes will meet in the modern era for the first time, this time on a postseason stage at the Fiesta Bowl with a berth in the national championship game looming.
This will be just the fourth time these two programs have shared the gridiron and the first time in 75 years. The Rebels are 2-1 in the all-time series, and the Hurricanes won the 1951 matchup 20-7. Miami is 0-4 all-time in the Fiesta Bowl, with its last appearance coming in the 2003 national championship game, a loss to Ohio State. Ole Miss is making its Fiesta Bowl debut.
Yes, it seems like every game is dubbed “the biggest game in Ole Miss history.” But that’s because the next one becomes the biggest when a program reaches new heights. Pete Golding and the Rebels are trying to do something abnormal in Oxford, and it’s not just on the field. So win or lose, spot the ball and let’s play.
With that being said, here is The Rebel Walk staff giving their best shots at predicting 6-seeded Ole Miss vs. 10-seeded Miami:
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 38, Miami 32
X-Factor player: Princewill Umanmielen
The key to winning is disrupting Carson Beck who is a vet in college football and has been in the bright lights. Applying pressure and forcing him to move is where he creates mistakes and I think Princewill Umanmielen will be the driving force in doing so.
Bold Prediction: Ole Miss get 4+ TFL
Miami likes to get the ball out quick including screen plays and running the ball. It will be crucial for Ole Miss to get into the backfield.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 31, Miami 21
X-factor Player: Suntarine Perkins
I think it’s very important for Ole Miss to attack Carson Beck hard and early. Perkins’ speed and athleticism will be key coming off the edge for Ole Miss, but Pete Golding will need to do it in different ways. You cannot expect Perkins to go one-on-one the entire game.The Rebs should mix up some blitzes, have him circle around other players and cut inside sometimes to confuse the Hurricanes offense. If you allow Beck to sit back and throw all day, he will hurt you. Ole Miss must put pressure on the Miami quarterback to force them to be one dimensional.
Bold prediction: Kewan Lacy scores three touchdowns
Much talk has surrounded the physical, smart, and quick Miami defense. This Ole Miss offense is thriving, and at the tail end, is superstar Kewan Lacy. The offense has relied on him heavily this year, and he was very effective inside the red zone against Georgia. I think he will be catalyst in this slot again for the Rebels
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 34, Miami 17
X-Factor Player: Trinidad Chambliss
I said from the start that only one team in the CFP had a “playoff savvy” quarterback, and that’s Trinidad. Texas Tech’s QB falls by the wayside, Ohio State’s Sayin looks out of sync all day, and so on. Playoff experience is everything in this tournament, and Stockton, the only other QB who had at least a playoff loss under his belt, is no longer a contender. Chambliss remains undefeated.
Bold Prediction: This one’s as good as done by halftime
I predicted a game-winning field goal would beat Georgia, but such theatrics won’t be necessary against the ‘Canes. Miami moves at a much slower pace than the Rebel defense is accustomed to — keeping the defenders fresher — while the Ole Miss offense is in high gear throughout. Miami should wear down quickly, and if they do manage to keep it close, Ole Miss has now won 8 of 9 in crunch-time. Miami, conversely, played only four close 4th quarters during the regular season, and lost two of them.
Prediction: Ole Miss 34, Miami 30
Ole Miss has all the tools to win this Fiesta Bowl, and they’ll need every one of them. Miami has a strong defense and plenty of speed, but the Rebels have proven all season that they can handle big moments, and this is a stage they’ve earned.
X-Factor: Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy
Trinidad Chambliss is the heartbeat of the offense. He’s been fearless all year, making throws under pressure and using his legs when the pocket collapses. Chambliss has shown he can take over games late, and Miami will need to bring their best to slow him down. His favorite targets, Harrison Wallace III and De’Zhaun Stribling, have the size, hands, and route-running to punish even the toughest defenses. Wallace stretches the field, Stribling finds the soft spots, and together they give Ole Miss a balanced, dangerous passing attack.
On the ground, Kewan Lacy provides the clock‑controlling presence the Rebels rely on. When Miami loads the box or tries to pressure Chambliss, Lacy finds the holes and keeps drives alive. His ability to grind out yards keeps Miami’s defense on its heels and sets up key third-down situations.
Bold Prediction: Expect a game that swings late
Defensively, Pete Golding’s unit has shown it can step up in big games. They’ll need to contain Miami’s dynamic athletes, force a few mistakes, and get crucial stops. Look for players like Suntarine Perkins to make impact plays that swing momentum back to Ole Miss.
Miami will make it tense, maybe even threaten to steal it in the fourth quarter, but Ole Miss’s balance, depth, and poise in the clutch give them the edge. A big third-down conversion, a long pass to Wallace, and a key Lacy run could decide the game in the Rebels’ favor.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 38, Miami 28
X-Factor player: “Trinidad, Trinidad, throw another dime….’
It’s hard to pick just one x-factor player for the Rebels, as at this level, so many players are key. However, that being said, no one who watched the win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl can deny that as Trinidad goes, so go the Rebels. The Ferris State transfer’s maturity was on full display in the Caesar’s Superdome, as were his skills.
Miami has an incredible pass rush with two defensive linemen projected to be selected in the top 21 of the upcoming NFL Draft. The Hurricanes feature the best defensive end tandem in the country in Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, and that duo has been impactful during this College Football Playoff run, combining for 7.5 sacks and 33 pressures. If Trinidad can continue to maintain his incredible accuracy while being so elusive on the run, the Rebels will nullify that pass rush. Honestly, after watching that key three-series of plays in the Sugar Bowl, where Chambliss’ scrambling ability was put on full display, I wouldn’t bet against him.
Bold Prediction: Ole Miss scores 38 points against Miami
The Miami defense is holding teams to an average of 13.1 points per game. That’s insane. They held Ohio State to 14. They held A&M to 3. Simply put, that’s remarkable. But while everyone lauds the Miami defense, I don’t believe they have faced an offense like Ole Miss.’
Score prediction: Ole Miss 27, Miami 24
X-Factor player: The entire offensive line
Well, the moment has arrived… again. Ole Miss will be squaring off against Miami for a chance to play in the national championship game. Yes, it’s real, and no, we’re not dreaming. The Ole Miss Rebels are really, truly one win away from playing for a national championship. However, getting that win will be anything but easy against a Miami team that will bring the nation’s best defensive line to Arizona, leading the FBS with 46 total sacks and has made life miserable for opposing QB’s all year. The Ole Miss offensive line, however, has shown signs of improvement from how it played to start the year, and star QB Trinidad Chambliss has demonstrated versatility, poise, and mobility when under pressure, both reasons why the Rebels have given up the fewest number of sacks of any SEC team this year.
The time for both the offensive line and the Rebels’ stout QB to peak has come, and if Ole Miss can provide Chambliss with adequate protection and enough time to avoid pressure, the Hurricanes’ arguable biggest advantage of the matchup will be effectively neutralized, which would pave the way for an Ole Miss victory. That, however, is no small “if,” as opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks have rarely had answers for a ferocious and unforgiving Hurricanes’ defensive front all year.
Bold Prediction: Ole Miss scores more points against Miami than any other team has this season
Ole Miss’ offense scoring 27 points might be a bit of a head scratcher to be considered a bold prediction, but this is a Miami defense that has not allowed more than 26 points in any game this season (that number drops to 24 when you include only non-overtime games) and gives up an average of only 13.1 points per game, a mark good for fourth-best in the FBS. Chambliss and co. will be tested like they’ve never been all year, and there has never been a better time for them to peak as well.
It is worth noting that, statistically, Ole Miss will be bringing the best offensive numbers to Arizona of any team that the Hurricanes have faced, averaging 496.2 yards per game (second-best in the FBS) and 37.6 points per game (tenth-best in the FBS). If any team can test and challenge this Hurricanes’ defense, it will be Peter Golding’s offense, and they will certainly need to if they want to play for a national championship.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 3o, Miami 21
X-Factor player: Diego Pounds and Jayden Williams
To have success against this fierce Miami defense, the Rebel offensive line will need to control the trenches. However, it is more easier said than done when it comes to blocking Reuben Bain Jr. and Akeem Mesidor, and that is the difficult task Ole Miss tackles will be given.
In 14 starts this season, left tackle Diego Pounds is yet to let his quarterback hit the ground. When he transferred from North Carolina to Ole Miss last season, Pounds was highly-touted and expected to be one of the best linemen in the SEC. After battling injuries and struggling to find a starting role early in the 2024 season, the hype around Pounds died down.
Fast forward to now, Pounds is one of the highest graded left tackles in the country and a true safety blanket for Chambliss’ backside. His counter-part on the right end of the line, Jayden Williams, took a similar to route to his success. After a great freshman year, Williams battled injury and could not stay on the field; now he and Pounds make up one of the best tackle duos in the country.
Bold Prediction: Both quarterbacks are sacked multiple times
Both Chambliss and Beck have been sacked just 13 times this season. That is the least of any starter in the SEC and second least behind Haynes King in the ACC. Although the Hurricanes have one of the biggest offensive lines in the country, and the Rebels have one of the most improved groups, I expect both defensive lines to wreck shop early.
Ole Miss is coming off a two sack, nine tackles for loss performance against the Bulldogs and Miami put up five sacks and seven tackles for loss against the Buckeyes. Look for both defensive units to continue their dominance in likely a back-and-forth affair.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 27, Miami 21
Ole Miss Wins! I think all momentum is in the Rebels’ corner, however they cannot under estimate this Miami team. I still have Ole Miss advancing to the National Championship game.
X-Factor player: Trinidad Chambliss
Trinidad Chambliss has been the guy and he will have to continue that against the Hurricanes’ defense as they have the toughest defensive line left in the playoffs. Chambliss will have to be superman similar to his last performance against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Bold Prediction: Ole Miss defense picks apart Miami’s offense
Carson Beck has big time playoff experience however he is has had issues with turnovers. He has cleaned his game up in the later part of the season this year, but I feel enough pressure can force Beck into his old ways causing the Rebels’ defense to capitalize and make big plays. I also think this can be a strong game for the D-line.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 27, Miami 24
X-Factor player: Dae’Quan Wright
The Fiesta Bowl, where we all predicted Ole Miss would be by the end of the year, or not. But Ole Miss has an unbelievable opportunity and is going to need Kewan Lacy to have a phenomenal game on the ground. My X-factor is Dae’Quan Wright who had a quiet Sugar Bowl. He will need to exploit the middle of the field as much as possible against a zone heavy Miami defense.
Bold Prediction: The Rebel defense records a turnover and wins this game 27-24
The CFP Fiesta Bowl matchup between Ole Miss and Miami kicks off Thursday, Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. Stay tuned in with The Rebel Walk for all your game coverage.
Kam is an Ole Miss alumnus with a degree in Journalism. Even though he's from Delhi, Louisiana, that didn't stop Kam from growing up a diehard Ole Miss fan. He's a sports guru who watches and follows all sports at all times. He lettered four years in football and baseball in high school and is an avid Saints, Pelicans, and Astros fan. He currently resides in Gulf Shores, Alabama where he works full-time as a sports editor.
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