Hurricanes Top Ole Miss In CFP Semifinal

     The 10th seeded University of Miami Hurricanes defeated the sixth seeded Ole Miss University Rebels 31-27 in the CFP Semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona on Thursday night. The Hurricanes advanced to the CFP National Championship game to be held on their home field at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on January 19. 

     The Canes will attempt to capture their sixth football national championship in school history in 10 days. They have not played for the national championship title since the 2002 season in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. 

     Miami(13-2) inched out to a 3-0 advantage at 6:22 of the first quarter. Carter Davis was able to boot a 38-yard field goal. 

     Ole Miss(13-2) took a 7-0 lead just 10 seconds into the second quarter. Kewan Macy raced down the field on a 73-yard touchdown run to finish off a two-play, 80-yard drive. 

     The Hurricanes regained the lead 10-7 with 7:09 left in the second quarter. CharMar Brown bounced through the right side of the line from four yards away. 

     The Rebels were able to tie it up 10-10 with 4:38 to go in the quarter. Lucas Carneiro kicked a 42-yard field goal. 

     The Canes moved ahead 17-10 with 2:18 left in the second. Carson Beck connected a 52-yard touchdown pass to Keelan Marion behind the secondary in the middle of the field.

     It became 17-13 for The U with 11 seconds remaining in the first half. Carneiro converted again with a long 58-yard field goal. 

     In the third quarter, Ole Miss cut the deficit to 17-16 with 22 seconds left. Carneiro booted a 54-yard field goal off the left upright. The Rebels reclaimed the lead 19-17 at the 7:00 mark of the fourth quarter on a Carneiro 21-yard field goal. 

     Miami made it 24-19 with 5:04 remaining in the fourth. Beck tossed a swing pass to Malachi Toney on the left hash marks. He shifted to the middle and scored on a 36-yard touchdown pass to complete a four-play, 75-yard possession. 

     The Rebels marched down the field to take a 27-24 lead with 3:13 to go in the final quarter. Trinidad Chambliss connected a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dae'Quan Wright on the right sideline. Chambliss then rifled a pass to Caleb Odom on the right side of the end zone for a two-point conversion. 

     The Hurricanes made it 31-27 with 18 seconds left in the fourth. Beck scrambled out of the pocket and sprinted to the left side from three yards out to finish off a 15-play, 75-yard drive.