The Miami vs. Ole Miss Fiesta Bowl will come down to a key matchup few are talking about in the College Football Playoff

The Fiesta Bowl will come down to the impacts of these key players for Ole Miss and Miami

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Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes linebacker Mohamed Toure (1) and defensive back Jakobe Thomas (8) celebrates a defensive stop during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

We’re down to the final four teams in the College Football Playoff, with one final shot to reach the National Championship later this week.

As we’ve witnessed so far, the teams that have produced improbable runs have leaned on their stars but also received massive contributions from unheralded impact players. With the Peach Bowl kicking off this Thursday, who will be the underrated players for Miami and Ole Miss that step up to propel their teams to victory?

Ryan Roberts and I put our heads together to discuss which players need to step up the most to help their teams win. That does not include the obvious choices like Trinidad Chambliss or Kewan Lacy for Ole Miss and Rueben Bain or Carson Beck for Miami. Here were the results.

Key players for the Ole Miss Rebels

Ryan: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss

If Ole Miss is going to beat Miami, they are going to have to score some points. Stribling is a physical presence on both the outside and in the slot. While Keionte Scott has been tremendous for the team, he can be spotty at times in coverage.

The Rebels love their slot fades, so looking for Stribling to get some 1-on-1 opportunities at times. He has become a bit of a safety blanket for quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. Winning individual matchups on offense will be the way that head coach Pete Golding and the Rebels come away with the upset.

Joe: Harrison Wallace III, WR Ole Miss

While it may be redundant to pick two wide receivers for this game, both Stribling and Wallace need to step up. They each went for over 100 yards against Georgia and had several massive catches in clutch moments that led to the upset. Going up against the hottest defense in the playoff field, they’ll both need to produce.

Miami’s secondary has been playing at a very high level and has improved since its rough stretch in the middle of the year. While Jeremiah Smith exploded in the Cotton Bowl, Carnell Tate was held in check. If both receivers can get free, it will put Miami on its heels.

Most importantly, the Miami pass rush has been nearly unblockable through two games. Texas A&M and Ohio State both have better offensive lines than Ole Miss. Chambliss won’t have much time to throw, so finding his guys quickly is paramount.

Key players for the Miami Hurricanes

Ryan: Ahmad Moten Sr., DT, Miami

When the Ole Miss offense is balanced, they are a very dangerous group. While Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor have gotten a lot of the fanfare, Moten has been a very important player in the middle of the Hurricane defense. If Miami can slow down Lacy and Chambliss on the ground, Miami could have a big day, making this team one-dimensional. Moten will have a significant role in limiting the chunk plays on the ground.

Joe: Mohamed Toure and Wesley Bissainthe, LBs, Miami

Miami’s front seven has played at a ridiculously high level. However, they’ll face their biggest challenge yet: finding a way to bottle up Chambliss. His ability to extend plays is what kept Ole Miss alive throughout the Sugar Bowl.

Mesidor and Bain will surely be able to pressure Chambliss, but wrapping him up is an entirely different story. To keep him in check, they’ll need to effectively spy him and remain fundamentally sound in contain.

Bissainthe and Toure have been underappreciated during this two-game run, as Bain and Mesidor have received most of the praise. Without their ability to make plays at the LOS, Miami’s defense wouldn’t be as effective against the run as it has been. If Toure and Bissainthe play well and limit Chambliss’s improvisation, they can win this game.