The Miami Hurricanes are led by Carson Beck, who is playing for his third national title. Here's how that critical experience might play a factor in the semifinals.
The College Football Playoff semifinals kick off on Thursday as the No. 5 Ole Miss Rebels take on the No. 11 Miami Hurricanes in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. While many were anticipating a battle between Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck and his former team in the Georgia Bulldogs, the Rebels stood stout under new coach Pete Golding to pull off the victory. So, Beck will look to lead Miami to what would be his third National Championship. His decision to withdraw from the NFL draft after undergoing UCL surgery has really paid off for him and the program.
Beck helped lead his squad through adversity after beginning the season 5-0 when they lost to two unranked ACC opponents. The subsequent four-game winning streak showed off what star power Beck has when he’s fully healthy. He only completed 14 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Texas A&M Aggies in the first round, and wasn’t overly electric in the Cotton Bowl, but did what he needed to help his team win, including rushing on a third down play for a critical conversion in the fourth quarter. The pressure is tenfold for the semifinals round, but Beck is poised to handle the spotlight with his experience.
Here is the full story from Miami Roundtable writer Anthony Aguirre on Beck fueling their surprising playoff run.
As they prepare to face Ole Miss, they’ll do so with a signal caller who has considerable experience in high leverage playoff games. The Hurricanes will need a strong night from him against a formidable Rebels squad who is playing with not much to lose and a lot to prove.