No. 10 Miami tops No. 6 Ole Miss; will face winner of No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon in CFP title game

The GIST: Settle into your best RBF — the College Football Playoff (CFP) national title game is halfway set following last night’s heart-stopping semifinal, and one more squad will punch their ticket to the January 19th championship tonight. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

💙🌀 No. 10 Miami edges out No. 6 Ole Miss in instant classic: It was a battle to the literal final second, but the Hurricanes pulled off a wild 31–27 win thanks to the fourth-quarter heroics of quarterback (QB) Carson Beck and the Canes’ pass defense, which broke up a would-be game-winner from Rebels superstar QB Trinidad Chambliss. Truly down to the wire.

• The L was extra heartbreaking for an Ole Miss squad that lost its head coach (HC), Lane Kiffin, to rival LSU just weeks ago. But it’s especially impressive that Miami is heading to the ’ship after barely squeaking into the playoffs.

❤️🦆 No. 1 Indiana seeks to repeat October win over No. 5 Oregon: Fans started to really take the Hoosiers seriously as natty contenders following their mid-season 30–20 victory on the Ducks’ home field. Indiana’s been a juggernaut ever since, topping reigning national champ Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship and routing No. 9 Alabama in their New Year’s Day CFP quarter-final.

• That said, beating Oregon twice is no small task. Even Indiana HC Curt Cignetti’s famous composure was tested in that October matchup, and the Ducks are riding their own hot streak, eviscerating No. 12 James Madison and No. 4 Texas Tech in the first two rounds.

• Expect this one to be a high-octane QB duel: Oregon’s Dante Moore leads an aggressive offense that runs up the score every chance they get, while Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy for a reason. Friday night lights, loading.