Carson Becks late heroics propel Miami to thrilling win over Ole Miss and berth in CFP title game
GLENDALE, Ariz.— Miami’s return to relevance was a long, winding road filled with more downs than ups.Even when the Hurricanes rejoined the national conversation, they were doubted, told they didn’t belong.Through it all, they kept chugging along — straight into the national championship game.Carson Beck scrambled for a 3-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left, and Miami will head back home for a shot at its first national title since 2001 after beating Mississippi 31-27 in an exhilarating College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night.“We never flinched,” said Beck, who threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
“In the face of adversity, when we had to respond, we responded.”The 10th-ranked Hurricanes (13-2) didn’t play in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game and were a somewhat controversial CFP pick — at least outside of South Florida — yet proved they belong.Miami held Texas A&M and reigning national champion Ohio State to a combined 17 points to reach the CFP semifinals.Then the Hurricanes shut down the high-scoring Rebels (13-2) for three quarters in the desert before pulling it out in a wild fourth.Malachi Toney, hero of Miami’s opening CFP win over Texas A&M, turned a screen pass into a 36-yard touchdown that put the Hurricanes up 24-19.Trinidad Chambliss, a year removed from winning a Division II title at Ferris State, led the Rebels down the field and found Dae’Quan Wright for a 24-yard touchdown with 3:13 left.Then it was Beck’s turn.He won a national title as a backup at Georgia before two productive seasons as the Bulldogs’ starter.
Beck kept the Hurricanes calm amid the storm, leading them down the field for the winning score — and a shot at a national title on their home field at Hard Rock Stadium.Now 37-5 as a starter, Beck gets one more chance at glory against against top-ranked Indiana or No.5 Oregon on Jan.
19 in the CFP championship game.“He’s hungry, he�...