GLENDALE, Ariz. (Interstat) — In a dramatic clash that defied pregame projections, the Miami Hurricanes edged the Ole Miss Rebels 31-27 on Thursday night at State Farm Stadium, sealing the victory with a last-minute touchdown drive in a game that saw multiple lead changes in the final quarter.

A crowd of 67,928 saw the Hurricanes, the visiting team, improve to 13-2, while the Rebels, despite a valiant second-half surge, fell to an identical 13-2. The result overturned the expectations of most prognosticators, as Ole Miss entered as a 3-point favorite and was given an 81.9 percent probability to win by one advanced metric system.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final minutes. After Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss connected with tight end Dae’Quan Wright on a 24-yard touchdown pass and then found Caleb Odom for a successful two-point conversion, the Rebels took their first lead of the night at 27-24 with only 3 minutes, 13 seconds remaining.

Miami quarterback Carson Beck, who finished 23 of 37 for 268 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, then engineered the decisive 75-yard drive. Facing intense pressure from an Ole Miss defense that sacked him five times, Beck methodically moved the Hurricanes downfield. The drive nearly stalled, but a crucial defensive face mask penalty on Ole Miss on a third-down incompletion gave Miami new life.

Beck completed passes to Keelan Marion, who had a game-high 114 receiving yards, and CJ Daniels to move into Ole Miss territory. With 18 seconds left, Beck took matters into his own hands, scrambling left for a 3-yard touchdown run to put Miami back ahead 31-27.

Ole Miss had one final chance, starting at its own 25-yard line with 13 seconds left. Chambliss, who passed for 277 yards and a touchdown, hit Cayden Lee for a 23-yard gain to near midfield, but his final heave toward the end zone as time expired fell incomplete.

The game began as a defensive struggle. Miami opened the scoring with a 38-yard field goal from Cash Davis on its first possession, capping a 16-play, 59-yard drive that consumed nearly nine minutes. The Rebels’ offense, meanwhile, was stifled early, managing just one first down in the first quarter.

The momentum shifted violently early in the second quarter. On the first play of the period, Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy broke through the line and raced 73 yards for a touchdown, electrifying the Rebel contingent and cutting the deficit to 3-7. Lacy finished with 103 rushing yards on just 11 carries.

Miami responded with a punishing 15-play, 75-yard march, culminating in a 4-yard touchdown run by CharMar Brown to extend its lead to 10-7. After the teams traded field goals, Beck struck quickly just before halftime, hitting Marion on a 52-yard touchdown pass down the middle to give the Hurricanes a 17-10 advantage. Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro then drilled a 58-yard field goal as the first-half clock expired to make it 17-13 at the break.

The third quarter was a defensive battle, with the only scoring coming on a 54-yard Carneiro field goal that brought Ole Miss within a point at 17-16. The Rebels’ defense, led by linebacker TJ Dottery’s 11 tackles and a sack, and end Kam Franklin’s seven tackles, began to take over, forcing punts and a key interception by defensive back Kapena Gushiken.

Ole Miss carried that momentum into the fourth quarter. A sustained 15-play, 70-yard drive that took over five minutes off the clock ended with another Carneiro field goal, this time from 21 yards, giving the Rebels their first lead at 19-17 with 7 minutes remaining.

Beck and the Hurricanes answered immediately. Facing third-and-10, Beck found Malachi Toney on a short pass that the receiver turned into a 36-yard touchdown, weaving through the Ole Miss secondary to put Miami back on top 24-19 with 5:04 left.

That set the stage for the Rebels’ go-ahead drive, keyed by Chambliss’s passing and a 19-yard scramble, and ultimately Beck’s championship response.

Miami’s offense was balanced, fueled significantly by the ground game. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. rushed for 133 yards on 22 carries, consistently moving the chains and helping Miami control the clock for long stretches. Brown added 54 rushing yards and a score, along with a receiving touchdown.

For Ole Miss, Chambliss spread the ball to nine different receivers, with De’Zhaun Stribling making five catches for 77 yards and Lee adding five for 67. The Rebels’ defense, while yielding the final drive, was largely stellar, recording five sacks and nine tackles for loss.

The total points scored, 58, went over the closing over/under line of 52.5. The victory marks a significant milestone for Miami, which closed its season with consecutive wins over highly-ranked opponents, having defeated Ohio State 24-14 in its previous outing. Ole Miss saw a nine-game winning streak snapped in heartbreaking fashion.