ESPN College GameDay crew has unanimous pick for Fiesta Bowl

16 hours ago 2

ESPN College GameDay crew has unanimous pick for Fiesta Bowl originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The ESPN College GameDay crew delivered a unanimous prediction ahead of Thursday night’s Fiesta Bowl, siding with Miami to advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

During the pregame show, analysts Nick Saban, Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee all picked the Miami Hurricanes to defeat the Ole Miss Rebels in the 2026 Fiesta Bowl, citing Miami’s defensive dominance and postseason momentum.

This matchup will feature two of the most underrated teams in this year's playoff.

Miami (12-2) has put together one of the most impressive playoff runs in the expanded CFP, knocking off Texas A&M on the road before eliminating Ohio State in the quarterfinals. The Hurricanes enter the semifinal ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 13.1 points per game, and have surrendered only seven total touchdowns over their past six contests. Miami also has recorded 12 sacks during the playoff, already the second-most in CFP history.

Ole Miss (13-1) has thrived amid chaos following Lane Kiffin’s departure, avenging its lone loss by upsetting Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Interim coach Pete Golding emphasized continuity and preparation, noting the Rebels’ culture remained intact throughout the postseason push.

Despite Ole Miss’ explosive offense and recent success against ACC opponents, the GameDay panel leaned toward Miami’s ability to control the game defensively and capitalize on pressure situations.

Thursday’s matchup marks the first meeting between the programs since 1951, with a national title berth on the line.