Carson Beck made the decisive play underneath the bright lights of the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday to get Miami to the College Football Playoff title game.
The Hurricanes trailed the Ole Miss Rebels 27-24 with 24 seconds left in the do-or-die contest at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Beck showed his veteran poise with 2nd-and-goal from the three-yard line.
Beck scanned every option and realized the best one was to take it in himself, scrambling for a go-ahead touchdown to give Miami a 31-27 lead.
CARSON BECK TAKES THE LEAD. TOUCHDOWNpic.twitter.com/WzGHftkJ8l
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 9, 2026
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss made things interesting with a couple of quick throws to get to Miami territory with seconds remaining. But his final pass sailed past the scrum of players waiting in the end zone, giving the Hurricanes a 31-27 victory.
The rushing touchdown was Beck’s first on the ground since Miami’s third game of the season against South Florida. That’s what you call saving your legs for exactly the right moment. Beck’s touchdown with 18 seconds left was also the second-latest go-ahead touchdown in CFP history.
Carson Beck scored the second-latest go-ahead touchdown in regulation in College Football Playoff history with 18 seconds remaining 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rAux9hnuG3
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) January 9, 2026
Beck went 23/37 in the contest for 268 yards with a pair of touchdowns and an interception. He had -6 yards on 12 carries, but all that mattered was his game-sealing TD in the closing seconds.
