Miami defense stats today: Hurricanes' dominant unit frustrates Ole Miss' high-powered offense

Miami defense stats today: Hurricanes' dominant unit frustrates Ole Miss' high-powered offense originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Ole Miss’ offense ran wild against Georgia twice this season, including in the Rebels’ Sugar Bowl upset of the Bulldogs, but Miami aimed to provide much stiffer resistance in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal.

With a national championship game bid on the line, that’s exactly what happened.

The Hurricanes held Trinidad Chambliss and the Ole Miss offense in check in the first half, with the exception of one big play, giving their own offense opportunities and taking a halftime lead as a result.

Here’s a look at how Miami’s defense controlled the first half of the Fiesta Bowl.

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Miami defense stats vs. Ole Miss

Stats through first half.

• Points allowed: 13
• Total yards: 145
• First downs: 6
• Third down stoppages: 5/5 (100%)
• Sacks: 1 

Ole Miss scored 13 points in the first half, which coach Pete Golding has to be fine with considering his team's sluggishness on the offensive end.

The Rebels went 0-for-5 on third down before halftime, and a 73-yard touchdown from Kewan Lacy accounted for more than half of their first-half total yardage. While the touchdown was a backbreaker for Miami's defense, the unit didn't let Trinidad Chambliss beat it, as the QB sensation finished the half only 10-of-14 for 71 yards.

Miami finished the half with double the number of Ole Miss' first downs, and the Hurricanes dominated time of possession.

Trinidad Chambliss stats vs Miami

Stats through first half.

• Comp. rate: 71.4% (10/14)
• Pass yards: 74
• Pass TD: 0
• INT: 0
• Rush att.: 3
• Rush yards: -11
• Rush TD: 0

Chambliss was held in check early on in the Fiesta Bowl, throwing for only 71 yards without a touchdown pass. He was sacked once and rendered ineffective on the ground.

While Chambliss didn't commit a turnover, he was nearly intercepted on a pass late in the second quarter that bounced right off the hands of a defender.

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Miami defensive rankings

Here is where Miami's defense ranked among all FBS teams, on a per game basis unless stated otherwise:

• Points: 4th
• Total yards: 10th
• Pass yards: 40th
• Rush yards: 5th
• Yards per play: 10th
• Total turnovers: 9th 
• Sacks: 3rd

The Hurricanes' defense entered the Fiesta Bowl ranked top-10 nationally in points, yards, yards per play, turnovers and sacks. While Miami's pass defense ranked much lower than its run defense, the Hurricanes' ability to pressure Chambliss prevented Ole Miss' passing game from doing much of anything early in Thursday's game.

Who are Miami's key defensive players?

• EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
• EDGE Akheem Mesidor 
• DB Keionte Scott
• LB Mohamed Toure 
• S Jakobe Thomas

Miami boasts a fierce pass-rush, as Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr. have combined for 19 sacks on the season. Bain projects as a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

In the secondary, safety Jakobe Thomas has five interceptions while do-it-all DB Keionte Scott has 13 tackles for loss to go along with two interceptions.