Canes head home in pursuit of title: ‘Not finished’

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Teams are told to never look ahead. But nobody could blame the Miami football team for peeking toward the future before the season even started.

The Hurricanes talked about it, perhaps not openly, but certainly privately. Open the season at home against Notre Dame. End the season at home in the national championship game.

What was once a dream is now reality after a thrilling 31-27 win over Ole Miss on Thursday night in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl behind an inspired effort from quarterback Carson Beck and a coach who has made it his mission to restore a proud Miami legacy.

While Mario Cristobal maintained his trademark intensity postgame, there is no denying the improbability of the run Miami has made to get to this point. After starting at No. 18 in the first CFP ranking on Nov. 3 following an overtime loss to SMU, Miami ended up the last team into the 12-team CFP field and has now reeled off three playoff wins to become the first team to play for a national championship in its home stadium since the BCS/CFP era began in 1998.

«When I saw everybody running on the field, it felt like a dream, like I was waiting on somebody to wake me up or something,» said linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, a Miami native who began his college career when Cristobal took over the program in 2022. «I’m a Miami guy, so playing in front of my peers, from where I’m from? It’s going to mean everything.»

The Hurricanes are no strangers to winning national titles on their home turf — three of their five national titles came at the Orange Bowl, their venerable former home field. That includes one in 1991 with Cristobal starting at offensive tackle. For more than two decades, Miami has wandered through the proverbial college football wilderness. It took a coach with Miami DNA to finally bring the Hurricanes to the precipice of a sixth national title.

It was not easy, though, because nothing about this season has been easy. Miami led for most of Thursday’s game, dominating in virtually every category, from time of possession to plays to rushing yards. But a few drives stalled out in the third quarter because of penalties, or other miscues, allowing Ole Miss back into the game.

What unfolded was a wild fourth quarter that featured four lead changes in the final seven minutes. With Miami legends Michael Irvin, Ray Lewis, Gino Torretta, Edgerrin James and others watching from the sideline, the Hurricanes scored on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Beck to dynamic freshman Malachi Toney with 5:04 remaining to retake a 24-19 lead.

But Trinidad Chambliss led Ole Miss right back down the field, aided in part by a pass interference penalty the officials called on Miami on a third-down incompletion — a flashback to the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, when a disputed pass interference cost Miami the national title. Chambliss threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dae’Quan Wright with 3:13 remaining to pull the Rebels back ahead.

Miami had not trailed that late in the fourth quarter since a loss to Louisville at home in October, a game in which Beck threw four interceptions. Beck used that game as a turning point to his season, and in that moment against the Rebels, with the game on the line, he calmly led a 15-play, 75-yard drive — ending with a 3-yard touchdown run.

«It almost seems like the tougher it gets, the better we play,» Cristobal said. «And it’s a testament to them, to their resilience and their will.»

Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson called what Beck has done «an epic story.» It was one year ago that Beck agreed to transfer to Miami, with an elbow injury that kept him out of practice until fall camp began.

«He deserved that moment,» Dawson said. «It was up to him to rise up and take it, and he did. It probably silenced a lot of critics.»

With Miami in the lead, Lewis looked toward the crowd and raised his arms, pumping up the raucous Miami fans. When it was all over and the final seconds ticked off, the alumni celebrated with the players — present and past, all with shared purpose. A brotherhood forged through difficult moments, like the one Miami persevered through Thursday night.

«It has been a long time coming. Once Coach Cristobal got here, we brought back the old Miami ways,» James said. «To get into the playoffs and then end up in the championship in Miami — there’s nothing better than that. It’s laid out for us.»

Since the loss to SMU, Miami has reeled off seven straight wins. But Miami has been on the road for five straight. Following its final home game of the regular season against NC State on Nov. 15, safety Keionte Scott reiterated what had been discussed in the preseason: «We’re not finished with Hard Rock.»

«We always knew we were special, and we knew if they let us in [the playoff], that a lot of teams were going to be in trouble,» Bissainthe said.

Offensive lineman Anez Cooper, another player who began his career at Miami when Cristobal was hired, said he cried as the final seconds ticked off the clock: «I’m happy we made it back home.»