Wanna party on a Thursday night in January? Watch the 2026 Fiesta Bowl.
As the college football season winds down, games are happening less and less. But they mean more and more as we get closer to crowning a national champion.
Case in point: The Fiesta Bowl is also the semifinal round of the College Football Playoff. The two teams playing? Miami and Ole Miss.
I made this guide for fans dying to see who gets into the national championship game. Read on for information on how to watch the Fiesta Bowl, team previews, and more.
What time is the Fiesta Bowl?
The Fiesta Bowl will be on Thursday, January 8. It’ll air on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.
In 2026, the Fiesta Bowl doubles as the College Football Playoff semifinals, making this game all the more important for both squads.
How to watch the Fiesta Bowl for free
Are you interested in watching the Fiesta Bowl for free on TV? The game airs exclusively on ESPN, so you’ll need a cable or streaming subscription with ESPN to catch the Fiesta Bowl. You can use the ESPN app to watch the Fiesta Bowl for free with a qualifying subscription.
Do you prefer to stream the Fiesta Bowl? We recommend Fubo because the live TV streaming service has a seven-day free trial, and you can install the service on devices like web browsers, streaming sticks, and smart TVs. Check out our Fubo Free Trial guide to learn more.
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Fiesta Bowl 2026 preview: Miami vs. Ole Miss
The matchup between the Hurricanes and Rebels should be an exciting and intriguing one. Both teams are on lengthy winning streaks and have strengths that could give their opponents problems.
If you believe in point spreads as predictors, the Fiesta Bowl should be very, very close. I broke down each team more closely below.
Miami vs. Ole Miss, by the numbers
| Stat | Miami | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards per game | 253.6 (37th) | 315.9 (3rd) |
| Rushing yards per game | 152.0 (77th) | 180.3 (37th) |
| Points scored per game | 31.6 (30th) | 37.6 (10th) |
| Passing defense | 201.1 (40th) | 194.0 (31st) |
| Rushing defense | 84.0 (5th) | 146.1 (65th) |
| Points allowed per game | 13.1 (4th) | 20.4 (29th) |
Miami, a potential Cinderella story
The Hurricanes have continued to turn heads en route to this semifinal matchup. They’ve won six straight games, which is impressive when you consider the most recent two.
Miami grinded out a low-scoring victory over Texas A&M, then beat the Ohio State Buckeyes—the best defense in the country. In the expanded College Football Playoff, the Hurricanes are the 10th seed. Their story is exactly why people have been clamoring for an expanded field.
Quarterback Carson Beck leads the offense with 27 touchdown passes and more than 3,300 yards. Malachi Toney is Beck’s top target, as he’s amassed more than 1,000 receiving yards and eight TDs. CJ Daniels has seven touchdowns to his name.
Miami’s top rusher is Mark Fletcher Jr., who has 10 touchdowns and 947 yards on 177 carries.
But where the Hurricanes really shine is their defense. They’re top 10 in the country at defending third downs, and third in sacks per game.
Ole Miss keeps on truckin’
Ole Miss is on something of a magical run of its own. Its only loss came against Georgia in mid-October, and the team has rattled off seven straight wins since.
But the biggest storyline of the Rebels season is the shocking departure of coach Lane Kiffin and how the team hasn’t missed a beat. Now, under new coach Pete Golding, the run continues.
Ole Miss is basically playing with house money. The program has never before competed in the College Football Playoff. So no matter how far they go, the Rebels are already in successful-season territory.
The team is third in the country in passing yards, led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. He’s thrown 21 touchdown passes and tallied more than 3,600 yards. Five receivers have more than 500 yards.
Leading the run game for the Rebels is Kewan Lacy, who’s approaching 1,500 rushing yards and has 23 TDs.
The Sugar Bowl: Cinematic Recap#SugarBowl x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/nG8F8kWm1Q
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) January 4, 2026
How to watch the Fiesta Bowl FAQ
When is the Fiesta Bowl?
The 2026 Fiesta Bowl is on Thursday, January 8. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Who’s playing in the Fiesta Bowl?
The Miami Hurricanes will play the Ole Miss Rebels in this year’s Fiesta Bowl, which is part of the College Football Playoff.
What channel is the Fiesta Bowl on?
The Fiesta Bowl will air exclusively on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Where is the Fiesta Bowl?
The Fiesta Bowl is in Glendale, Ariz. The Arizona Cardinal’s State Farm Stadium will host the game.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com writers, Eric Chiu and Alex Vejar, researched the Fiesta Bowl broadcast details with several official sources. They analyzed the seasons of the teams participating in the game. Using that information, they used their expertise to recommend the most robust TV services a fan would need to watch the Fiesta Bowl.
