
Kickoffs and tipoffs





With the win over Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Ole Miss advances to the semifinals in Glendale, Arizona, at State Farm Stadium in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against Miami. (I had to remind myself the Fiesta Bowl is no longer in Tempe.) Arizona is on Mountain Time, meaning it’ll be a 5:30 pm kickoff there/6:30 pm kickoff here. The winner of Thursday’s contest will face the winner of Oregon-Indiana in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta. The Ducks and Hoosiers play one night after the Rebels and Hurricanes.
As for the quarterfinals win, here’s the coach and quarterback in the locker room after the game.

Star indicates the College Football Playoff game will take place in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl.
Diamond indicates the game will take place in Charlotte at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.



Winner of the first round game between Tulane and Ole Miss will play Georgia on New Year’s Day.

A familiar face will reportedly return to Starkville.

Entering Tuesday, there was speculation the College Football Playoff committee could move Ole Miss down in the rankings because of Lane Kiffin’s departure. The committee did just the opposite, moving the Rebels up one spot to sixth. The final rankings to solidify the playoff bracket will be released Sunday. It is almost a lock for Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to host a first round playoff game.
Also, the university on Tuesday announced new head football coach Pete Golding would hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon, giving reporters their first opportunity to talk to him. Then came word late Tuesday he had changed his mind.
That focus on the team was mentioned by the coach when he addressed the crowd at the Ole Miss basketball game Tuesday night.