Miami's reward for knocking off Ohio State is a College Football Playoff semifinal date with Ole Miss, with a trip to the national title game on the line.
When/where is Miami vs. Ole Miss
- Matchup: No. 10 Miami (12-2, 6-2 ACC) vs. No. 6 Ole Miss (13-1, 7-1 SEC)
- Date: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
- Kick: 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT / 5:30 p.m. local time in Arizona)
- Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
- TV: ESPN
- Radio (Miami): 560 WQAM, 990 AM ESPN Deportes, WVUM
- Streaming: ESPN app/ESPN platforms, plus live-TV streaming services that carry ESPN and Fubo TV
Rankings for Miami and Ole Miss
Miami is the No. 10 seed, beating Texas A&M 10-3 on the road before the 24-14 win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal. Ole Miss is the No. 6 seed and advanced by beating Tulane 41-10 and Georgia 39-34.
Odds for Miami vs. Ole Miss
Lines move all week, so check your preferred sportsbook for the most up-to-date number.
- Spread: Miami -3 to -3.5
- Total (over/under): around 51.5 to 52.5
- Moneyline: Miami around -160 to -175, Ole Miss around +135 to +145
Weather forecast for Miami vs. Ole Miss
State Farm Stadium has a retractable roof, so weather shouldn't be a factor if it's closed. Still, the Glendale forecast calls for mild conditions, with temps hovering in the upper 50s around kickoff and a high in the mid-60s earlier in the day.
Miami and Ole Miss so far this season
- Miami is 12-2, and their calling card is still the defense. The Hurricanes forced two turnovers against Ohio State, including a 72-yard pick-six by Keionte Scott, and held the Buckeyes to 14 points in the quarterfinal.
- Ole Miss is 13-1 as Trinidad Chambliss has piloted the Rebels through coaching chaos since Lane Kiffin left for LSU. Ole Miss outlasted Georgia 39-34 on a last-minute, game-winning field goal.
Miami vs. Ole Miss series history
These programs have only played three times. Ole Miss leads the all-time series 2-1, but Miami won the most recent meeting, a 20-7 decision back in 1951.
Key storylines and matchup notes
Miami's ability to control games with its front and force mistakes is going to be very important versus Ole Miss' explosive offense built around Chambliss. The Rebels showed in the Sugar Bowl they can still make winning plays under pressure, even with Pete Golding navigating the postseason after taking over when Kiffin left.
Chambliss has thrown only three interceptions all season, so Miami will have to find a way to make him turn the ball over.
Miami averages 3.4 sacks per game (No. 3 nationally) but Ole Miss has largely kept Chambliss upright and didn't allow a sack in the Sugar Bowl win over Georgia.
Ole Miss has been elite in the kicking game, sitting at 90% on field goals, while Miami is at 76.19%.
Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy has been the workhorse for the Rebels (1,464 rushing yards), and Miami RB Mark Fletcher Jr. is the engine for the Hurricanes (947 rushing yards).