A battle between the Ole Miss offense and fierce Miami pass rush will highlight Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl, the first College Football Playoff semifinal.
8 A battle between the Ole Miss offense and fierce Miami pass rush will highlight Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl, the first College Football Playoff semifinal.
The primetime face-off will be one of several storylines emerging from a menu of marquee matchups. The No. 10 Hurricanes (12-2) will take on the No. 6 Rebels (13-1) at 7:30 p.m. EST Thursday in Glendale, Ariz. The game will air on ESPN.
«I think they know who they are and they’ve got a philosophy», Rebels coach Pete Golding told reporters, when asked about the Hurricanes’ pass rush.
«What stood out to me is the energy, effort and toughness, snap in and snap out», Golding said.
Miami’s rabid rush is led by 6-foot-3 defensive ends Rueben Bain Jr., and Akheem Mesidor.
Bain, projected to be one of the first players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, totaled 8.5 sacks this season, with 5.5 over his last three games, including the Hurricanes’ previous two playoff victories.
Mesidor, a projected Day 2 or 3 NFL Draft pick, logged 10.5 sacks this season for the Hurricanes, which led the ACC and tied for 12th in the nation.
But Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss could be uniquely qualified to overcome the persistent pursuit in the first Miami-Ole Miss meeting since 1951.
«He’s a magician», Mesidor said of Chambliss. «He has a great arm. He can do it all. He’s a dangerous player that we’re going to have to contain.»
Chambliss, who transferred from Ferris State last off-season, took over as Rebels starter in the third game of the season and proceeded to lead the SEC with 3,660 passing yards, while throwing for 21 scores and just three interceptions.
He also ran for 520 yards and eight scores through his first 14 appearances this season and will likely need that elusiveness to avoid Bain and the Hurricanes.
«One of his best attributes is the ability to extend plays», Golding said of Chambliss.
