OXFORD – To say Ole Miss has familiarity with the man lining up under center for Miami on Thursday would be an understatement.
Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck started each of the previous two seasons at Georgia. He played Ole Miss in both 2023 and 2024: Beck completed 18 of 25 passes for 306 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the Bulldogs’ 52-17 victory in 2023 and completed 20 of 31 passes for 186 yards and an interception in a 28-10 Ole Miss win last season. He was sacked five times and fumbled twice in the latter game. Beck transferred to Miami in the offseason and is completing 74.4% of his passes for 3,313 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
No. 6 Ole Miss (13-1) faces No. 10 Miami (12-2) in the College Football Playoffs semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
“I think you always study the past of people to try to get tendencies of things on them,” Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding said. “No different than when you’re playing a different offense or a different defense. You’re looking over the history of what’s created problems for them and what’s been issues and what they’ve done really well and what they have not done well.
“ … There’s some familiarity to play with him, but he’s very experienced. He’s been very successful everywhere he’s been. He’s always had that team competing at a championship level and being in the playoffs.”
The Rebels are coming off a 39-34 victory over No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl where they trailed by nine at halftime and took a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter before Georgia tied the game with less than a minute to play. Ole Miss junior Lucas Carneiro proceeded to hit the game-winning 47-yard field goal. The Rebels held the Bulldogs to 343 yards; Georgia had 510 yards of offense in a win when the teams met in Athens earlier in the season.
Miami defeated No. 2 Ohio State 24-14 in the Cotton Bowl. Beck threw for 138 yards and a touchdown against the Buckeyes. Ohio State outgained the Hurricanes 332-291. Beck has thrown for 300 yards or more in two games this season and has four games where he threw for less than 200 yards. Miami’s 31.6 points per game ranks 30th nationally.
“We expect nothing different. A guy that has a ton of experience, that’s calm, has got really good composure, has a good understanding of the system at this point, that’s really well coached by (offensive coordinator) Shannon (Dawson),” Golding said. “So, we know we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Miami’s offensive line, headlined by All-American tackle Francis Mauigoa, has allowed just 15 sacks this season. The Hurricanes’ 1.07 sacks allowed per game is ninth nationally. According to Pro Football Focus, Beck has been kept clean on 84.2% of his drop-backs this year. For reference, Ole Miss senior Trinidad Chambliss has been kept clean on 78.8% of his drop-backs.
“They have a great offense. They have a great offensive line,” sophomore defensive tackle Will Echoles said. “Carson Beck was as Georgia last year. They have an explosive freshman (receiver Malachi Toney). He’s really good. It’s going to be a tough battle again. We need to tighten our chin straps and get ready to stop the run.”
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