Limiting Mississippi running back Kewan Lacy's yards after contact on Thursday night in the Fiesta Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal will be critical. Lacy is ninth nationally, averaging 104.57 rushing yards per game, posts 4.96 yards per carry and is first among Power Four RBs with 23 rushing touchdowns.
In the Pro Football Focus Fiesta Bowl preview, Max Chadwick mentioned Lacy is third in FBS with 88 forced miss tackles and fifth with 986 yards after contact. Lacy has produced those numbers despite Mississippi being 85th nationally with a 57.4 PFF run blocking grade.
The Rebels produce 1.6 yards before contact which is 74th nationally. The Miami defensive line had a 93.3 PFF grade and 89.3 run defensive grade to rank second nationally in both categories behind Texas Tech who was eliminated by Oregon in the Orange Bowl CFP quarterfinals.
Per Chadwick, Miami is tied for 13th nationally allowing 1.1 yards before contact. Miami is fifth nationally in 2025 allowing 84.0 rushing YPG, sixth permitting 2.8 YPC and tied for seventh with opponents rushing for seven TDs.
"(Mississippi RB Kewan) Lacy will likely need to shed many tackles around the line of scrimmage in order to be successful on the ground in this game."Max Chadwick, Pro Football Focus
Miami has been exceptional stopping the run in its two CFP wins. Texas A&M had 35 carries for 89 yards in a 10-3 Miami win. Ohio State had 24 carries for 45 yards and one TD against Miami. Lacy is averaging 92.5 rushing YPG, averages 5.0 YPC and has three TDs in the first two Mississippi CFP Games.
Miami offensive coordinator Corey Hetherman would likely take those numbers from Lacy. Stopping the Mississippi offense is not as simple as stopping Lacy. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is second on Mississippi with 520 rushing yards and averages 261.42 passing YPG with 21 TDs and three interceptions.
Lacy has added 28 receptions for 173 yards as a receiver. Mississippi is third nationally as a team, averaging 315.9 passing YPG. Mississippi will provide Miami its biggest challenge defensively as the most prolific offense the Hurricanes have played in 2025.