(Photo: The Sporting News)
College Football Playoff- Semifinals
(10) Miami Hurricanes at (6) Ole Miss Rebels
Miami (12-2):
One of my favorite things in football is when a team imposes its will on an opponent, and that’s exactly what Miami has done so far in the playoffs. They made it an ugly game in College Station and dominated the Texas A&M Aggies—one of the best offensive-minded teams in the country throughout the year—holding them to just three points and doing a great job of keeping Marcel Reed contained. Last week in the Cotton Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes is what really grabbed my attention. The Indiana Hoosiers unveiled the blueprint on how to make life difficult for the defending national champions, and Miami sprinkled in its own flavor to that game plan and sent the champs home for the season. The plan was simple: hand the ball off and establish Mark Fletcher, control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football, and let the defense handle the rest. Most importantly, they needed Carson Beck to be a game manager—keep them in good situations, make a throw when the opportunity presented itself, and take care of the football—and he did exactly that. If there’s one thing people have always known about Miami Hurricanes football, it’s that they’re flashy, athletic, and built to outlast teams in a shootout. That’s fine and all, but the group I’ve seen over the first two rounds of the College Football Playoff has a mean streak to them. They play with some punch. This is a physical team on both sides of the ball, and while they may have lost their identity a bit during the season, they’ve found their swagger when it matters most. Tonight, they’ll look to punch their ticket to the Natty.
Ole Miss (13-1):
So, I have a serious question: do you all think Lane Kiffin is kicking himself? I ask because the Rebels have been rolling since he left for Baton Rouge and seem to be responding to Pete Golding just fine. I had the chance to preview their first matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs during the regular season, and what a game that was. It was my first opportunity to really watch Trinidad Chambliss operate within this offense. As a team, Ole Miss did everything right for three quarters, but I’ve always said when you play a team like Georgia, you have to keep them down and close the door while you can—and they didn’t do that in October. Last Thursday in the Sugar Bowl against their conference rivals, they finally got the job done and slammed that door shut. I’ve said it all year and I’ll say it again: when you coast along, it eventually catches up to you, and that’s exactly what happened. Since Lane left, the Rebels have shown they’re just fine without him. What I see now is a football team that’s having fun and enjoying playing for Pete—and for one another. At times it looked grim, like they were on their way home for the season, but they woke up in the fourth quarter and scored 20 points, completely flipping the game. This is a team that starts fast, and when they play from ahead, they keep their foot on the gas pedal. Tonight, they’ll host a streaking Hurricanes team.
Miami X-Factor: Akheem Mesidor
You’ve all heard me rave about Reuben Bain Jr. and the impact he has on this defense, but let’s talk about the guy lining up on the other side of him. This is the best pass-rushing tandem I’ve seen in the country this season. Both players are learning from Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, Miami’s defensive line coach, and his fingerprints are all over their development. Akheem is powerful at the point of attack and has a strong first-step burst and punch to get where he wants to go. I refer to him as a “drive killer”—he can rush the passer, force fumbles, and consistently disrupt offenses. Ole Miss will need to keep eyes on both Reuben and Akheem tonight.
Ole Miss X-Factor: Harrison Wallace III
This is one of the veterans on this football team, and it’s always critical to have a player who’s been there and played in big games like this. Harrison played in the College Football Playoff semifinals last year with Penn State, and now he’s back—this time wearing Ole Miss colors. Miami’s secondary can be a bit aggressive at times, and Harrison’s combination of route running and body control makes him the receiver most capable of winning one-on-one matchups. He’s the guy Trinidad Chambliss will look for on the biggest downs and in the red zone.
Final Thoughts:
The first ticket to the National Championship will be punched tonight. We’ve got an ACC vs. SEC battle on deck. Miami has gotten this far behind a stingy defense and a physical brand of football, while Ole Miss can light up the scoreboard with its explosive offense. This is a classic clash of styles—one team wants to turn it into a track meet, while the other wants to ugly the game up and turn it into a street fight. The premier matchup tonight is Miami’s pass rush versus Trinidad Chambliss. The Hurricanes have thrived on Bain and Mesidor getting home, while Trinidad thrives on escapability. If Miami can generate pressure without giving up the home-run ball downfield, they’ll be in good shape. The pass rush must get home early, and the Canes must limit explosive plays from an Ole Miss offense that lives on chunk gains. Miami also needs to establish Mark Fletcher and run the ball effectively on early downs. From Ole Miss’ perspective, neutralizing the pass rush with RPOs, slants, and screen passes is key. Create explosive plays—the thing that’s worked all season. Miami loves tight, methodical games, so Ole Miss must hit its deep shots, capitalize on YAC opportunities, and extend plays with scrambles. Above all, force Miami to chase points and throw the football. January 19th is on the horizon, and one of these two teams will be playing for everything.
