College Football Playoff semifinals preview and predictions
Breaking down the College Football Playoff semifinals with expert analysis and predictions.
The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl is the place to be for Miami and Ole Miss fans, including famous alumni.
The College Football Playoff semifinal at State Farm Stadium in Glendale between No. 10 seed Miami and No. 6 seed Ole Miss will determine who will go to the College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Neither school has a shortage of famous alumni, including several NFL stars, MLB stars, actors and WWE superstars.
Here’s who is at the Fiesta Bowl.
Eli Manning
Manning played at Mississippi from 2000-03, finishing third in Heisman voting in his senior season. His No. 10 jersey was retired at Ole Miss in the 2021 season, joining his father Archie Manning’s No. 18 jersey.
Despite missing the CFP quarterfinal in New Orleans, Manning confirmed on his YouTube channel that he will be attending the semifinal.
“Have some good memories and some good feelings in Arizona at that stadium,” Manning said. “I won a Super Bowl there, and I’m looking forward to go root on my Rebs.”
Manning is referring to Super Bowl 42 in 2008, where his New York Giants spoiled the New England Patriots’ undefeated season with a 17-14 upset. Manning earned MVP honors for engineering the game-winning drive.
Michael Irvin
Irvin has been a constant hype man on the sidelines for his Hurricanes, and livestreamed his trip to Arizona for the semifinal on his YouTube channel.
Irvin, who played from 1985-87, was on Miami’s national championship team in 1987 before declaring for the NFL draft and being selected 11th overall by the Cowboys.
The NFL Hall of Famer and Miami’s head coach, Mario Cristobal, go back nearly 40 years, when Cristobal was being recruited as a player to the Hurricanes, and Irvin was one of the hosts.
No matter what happens, Irvin will certainly be shown throughout the game for his big reactions.
Ray Lewis and Calais Campbell
The NFL Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl champion came onto the ESPN pregame broadcast with fellow Miami alum, Calais Campbell. Campbell just finished his 18th season and 10th with the Arizona Cardinals.
Lewis and Edgerrin James served as the honorary captains for Miami.
Cam Ward
The 2025 No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft and last season’s Miami quarterback came back to support his team after his season with the Tennessee Titans wrapped.
Ward has good memories at State Farm Stadium, beating the Cardinals, 22-21, in Week 5.
Nikki Bella
The WWE Hall of Famer is this year’s grand marshal and was at Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe on Jan. 3, 2026.
Bella and her identical twin sister, Brie, spent most of their youth in Scottsdale playing soccer, including at Chaparral High, before finding fame in professional wrestling and reality television.
Zac Gallen
The MLB free agent pitcher who finished his seventh season with the Arizona Diamondbacks told The Arizona Republic his prediction for the game: Mississippi 34, Miami 24.
Reggie Wayne, Edgerrin James and Andre Johnson
Former Hurricanes players are coming in strong to support their school’s bid for the first championship since 2001.
Wayne, a former Super Bowl champion with the Indianapolis Colts, came onto the field with Hall of Famers James and Johnson.
Peter, Kirk Herbstreit’s dog
The ESPN analyst brought along his famous four-legged friend, Peter, to the Fiesta Bowl to help for the broadcast.
Reach the reporter at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.
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