Sports
Miami beats Ole Miss behind Carson Beck’s game-winning touchdown to reach CFP National Championship Game
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The Miami Hurricanes are heading to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, coming away with a narrow victory over Ole Miss, 31-27, in an all-time postseason contest.
The Hurricanes will now await the winner of the other semifinal between the Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks to see who they will play on Jan. 19. But Miami will do so on their home turf, with the National Championship Game being played at Hard Rock Stadium – the site of their home games.
The game began slowly for both teams, with only Miami getting on the scoreboard in the first quarter with a field goal on their 13-play opening drive. But the fireworks came out from there for the Rebels thanks to the speed of running back Kewan Lacy.
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Charmar Brown of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes celebrates a run in the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos)
On just the second play of the second quarter, Lacy was off to the race, finding a seam and busting out a 73-yard touchdown run to go up 7-3 after the extra point.
But this game was back and forth for quite some time, including the ensuing Hurricanes drive as quarterback Carson Beck led the way on a 15-play touchdown series with a CharMar Brown rushing score from four yards out.
The game was deadlocked at 10 apiece when Beck decided to air it out to Keelan Marion, and it was worth the risk. Marion made the grab for a 52-yard touchdown to help Miami go up 17-13 at halftime.
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The third quarter was an odd one for both squads, as their opening drives resulted in a missed field goal apiece. Then, after Beck threw an interception, the Rebels were able to cut the lead to 17-16 in favor of the Hurricanes heading into the fourth quarter for the ages.
There was no absence of electric plays when it mattered most in the final 15 minutes, as Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss got his team downfield enough to take a 19-17 lead with a field goal.
But the speed of Malachi Toney changed the scoreboard for Miami in the best way possible, as he took a screen 36 yards to the house, capping a four-play, 75-yard answer drive for the Hurricanes right after Ole Miss took the lead.
Trinidad Chambliss of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
With a 24-19 lead and five minutes left to play in the game, Chambliss and the Rebels’ offense had quite enough time to retake the lead. He did just that, finding trusty tight end Dae’Quan Wright for 24 yards to send the Rebels faithful ballistic.
Ole Miss wanted to go for two in hopes of making it a three-point lead, and Chambliss came through again, finding a wide open Caleb Odom for the key score.
It was up to Beck and the Miami offense to keep the game alive with at least tying the game at 27 apiece. On a crucial third-and-10 just inside field goal range, Beck was confident with his pass to Marion to get well within range. Another pass to Marion made it first-and-goal, and it was clear Miami wasn’t trying to force overtime. They wanted to win it all.
How fitting was it that Beck, scanning the field, found a seam to his left and just sprinted for the colored paint to score the game-winner with 18 seconds left.
But things got fascinating at the end, with Ole Miss going 40 yards in just a few seconds to set up a Hail Mary for the win. Chambliss had the space to loft a pass to the end zone, and though it hit off the hand of a teammate, it landed incomplete for the Miami victory.
Carson Beck of the Miami Hurricanes passes the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels in the first quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
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In the box score, Beck was 23-of-37 for 268 yards with his two passing touchdowns and an interception. Marion was a key player in the victory with seven catches for 114 yards, while Mark Fletcher Jr. set the tone in the ground game with 133 yards rushing on 22 carries. Toney also tallied 81 receiving yards for Miami.
For Ole Miss, Chambliss also went 23-of-37 for 277 yards with his touchdown to Wright, who finished with 64 yards on three grabs. De’Zhaun Stribling was five for 77 through the air, while Lacy rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries.
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New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart set social media buzzing with speculation about the team’s next head coach after fans attempted to lip-read the rookie on the Ole Miss sideline during Thursday night’s Fiesta Bowl.
There are currently eight teams in the NFL on the hunt for a new head coach, including the Giants, who fired Brian Daboll midseason following another missed playoffs. Several notable names have since been thrown into the pool of available coaches, and Dart appeared to have given fans a clue as to who the Big Blue has been eyeing.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart stands on the sideline during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game between Miami (Florida) and Mississippi in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Dart was on the sidelines for his alma mater Ole Miss during the team’s 31-27 loss to Miami in the Fiesta Bowl when the broadcast picked up the 22-year-old having a conversation.
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Although his comments were inaudible, social media users attempted to read Dart’s lips, prompting speculation that he said “Harbaugh or Stefanski,” a reference to former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Although it remains unclear what Dart was truly saying, both coaches are widely considered among the most sought-after free agents currently in the NFL.
Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens walks the field prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
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The Ravens’ decision to fire Harbaugh after 18 seasons — a tenure that included multiple division titles, several AFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl victory — rattled the league and drew interest from numerous teams, including some that already had head coaches in place.
While the Giants have yet to interview Harbaugh, it seems inevitable they will.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski walks on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
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The Giants have already conducted interviews with Stefanski, Vance Joseph, Raheem Morris, and Antonio Pierce.
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A Manchester United fan group has branded the club “a laughing stock” while announcing fresh plans to protest against the hierarchy.
The 1958 group have previously organised demonstrations against those in charge at Old Trafford, particularly majority owners the Glazer family.
They have accused United’s leadership — including minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe — of “turning the club into a circus” and say they intend to protest ahead of the Premier League game against Fulham on Feb. 1.
Anger directed towards British billionaire Ratcliffe has been growing since the 73-year-old assumed control in February 2024.
An anti-Ratcliffe banner was displayed by United supporters in the away end at Turf Moor during the 2-2 draw with Burnley on Wednesday — the first game since the sacking of head coach Ruben Amorim.
“After lurching from one disaster to another, Ratcliffe comes across as an incompetent clown turning the club into a circus,” said the 1958 group in a statement.
“Instead of best in class, we’re a laughing stock.
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“It has been an extraordinary and deeply troubling few days at Manchester United.
“On the pitch, we are watching mediocre performances from an average team drifting without identity, direction, or ambition. Off it, the chaos is even worse.”
United are continuing their search for an interim manager to take over from Amorim with former players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy all under consideration.
Current caretaker Darren Fletcher, who was in charge at Burnley, will lead the team again when Brighton visit Old Trafford on Sunday in the third round of the FA Cup.
The second game of the three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been abandoned due to relentless rain on Friday at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
The weather caused repeated interruptions, preventing the toss from taking place and leaving no possibility for the match to proceed. Both teams will now turn their focus to the final encounter of the series.
The green shirts currently lead the series 1-0 after winning the opener at the same venue on Wednesday. In that match, the visitors successfully chased a modest target of 129, winning by six wickets with 20 balls to spare.
The third and final match of the series is scheduled to take place at the same venue on Sunday.
Pakistan got off to a strong start as openers Farhan and Saim Ayub put together a 59-run partnership until Ayub was dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana on the penultimate delivery of the batting powerplay.
Ayub scored 24 off 18 balls, including three fours and a six.
Farhan then added 25 runs for the second wicket with captain Salman Ali Agha before both batters fell in successive overs, leaving Pakistan at 101/3.
Farhan finished as the top-scorer with a quickfire 51 off 36 deliveries, featuring four fours and two sixes, while Agha contributed 16 off 11 balls, with two fours.
Pakistan lost another wicket when Fakhar Zaman was stumped off Dhananjaya de Silva in the 14th over after scoring five off 10 balls.
With 23 runs still needed, Usman Khan and Shadab Khan steadied the chase, putting together a match-winning partnership and guiding Pakistan to victory in the 17th over. Shadab remained unbeaten on 18 off 12 balls, while Usman finished 7 not out.
For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Theekshana and de Silva each claimed a wicket.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Agha’s decision to field first proved effective as his bowlers skittled the home side for 128 in 19.2 overs. Sri Lanka’s innings started poorly, losing both openers—Kamil Mishara (0) and Pathum Nissanka—inside the powerplay with just 15 runs on the board.
Kusal Mendis (14) and Dhananjaya de Silva (10) attempted to stabilise the innings, putting on 22 runs for the third wicket before falling in quick succession, leaving Sri Lanka at 38/4 in 6.5 overs.
Janith Liyanage then anchored the middle order, scoring 40 off 31 balls, including two fours and a six, before being dismissed by Abrar Ahmed in the 18th over.
Left-arm pacer Salman Mirza added further damage, dismissing captain Dasun Shanaka (12) and tailender Chameera (0) in the penultimate over.
Mohammad Wasim Jr wrapped up the innings by catching Maheesh Theekshana off his bowling on the second ball of the final over.
Abrar Ahmed and Salman Mirza led Pakistan’s bowling attack with three wickets each, while Shadab Khan and Mohammad Wasim Jr claimed two wickets apiece.
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