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President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said, “A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner,” and this sentiment perfectly captures the journey of the Ole Miss football team to the CFP semifinals. Through trials and adversity, they have persevered, transforming into a revitalized Rebel squad eager to bring a national championship back to Oxford. However, first, they must contend with a formidable Miami Hurricanes team in the Fiesta Bowl in just over 24 hours.
TJ Dottery has been an essential anchor for the Ole Miss defense since joining the program in 2023 after his freshman year at Clemson. He led the Rebels with 68 tackles during the regular season, along with one forced fumble and two pass breakups. One of his standout performances came during the Egg Bowl, where he recorded a team-high nine tackles.
Now, Dottery is focused on continuing their momentum as they prepare to unleash an unexpected storm upon Miami. He addressed the media ahead of their showdown in Arizona, emphasizing that the Rebels remain focused on keeping “the main thing the main thing,” as they stand just one victory away from a national championship appearance.
While strategy and tactics are vital components of football, it’s also important to recognize how camaraderie and faith have helped this team navigate turbulent waters. Dottery shared how head coach Pete Golding has fostered this environment: “Man, one thing that has stood out to me the most that I love the most is he has made us have church sessions on Sunday when we can’t make it to church when we have early practices. Being able to have that God in us and have the presence of God is huge and I tip my hat to him and feel that has been the biggest thing.”
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Armed with resilience and unity, Ole Miss is ready for battle. Dottery expressed confidence in his teammates: “No pressure going in. I feel like alot players we have are big-time players and in these moments they step up in those moments. No Pressure, continue to just be a leader, show that confidence that is the true confidence I have and allow that to rub off on all my other teammates.”
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Reflecting on their journey through adversity, Dottery remarked, “It’s Been amazing I wouldn’t want to do it with another group of guys truly. I feel like coming into this season everybody already had that chip on their shoulder and was hungry. The more adversity that has come only made them hungrier and put more chips on their shoulders.”
While Dottery acknowledges his role—and that of the defense—in their success thus far, he also credits Trindad Chambliss for elevating the offense’s performance: “My confidence in him is through the roof even before the last game, I have always had that confidence in him. He is a humble person and a great leader and I wouldn’t want anybody else leading that offense.”
Dottery knows Miami poses its own challenges as they come into this matchup with something to prove. He offered insights into what makes their offense potent:
On Miami’s Offense:
“Definitely a dominant offense, which continually every week gains confidence in the run game.”
On Their Offensive Line:
“That offensive line is physically dominant and continues to create creases and holes for their runningbacks.”
On Their Playmakers:
“Their running backs run hard and downhill behind the pass and I feel like they’re going to try to run the ball and continue to do that and get their ball to their playmakers.
One player that Dottery emphasizes as crucial for the Rebels’ defense to contain is Malachi Toney. “They’ll find every possible way to get him involved—whether it’s in the wildcat formation, lined up in the slot, or positioned in the backfield. It’s an explosive offense,” he remarked.
Regardless of any obstacles they may encounter, the Rebels are committed to staying focused on what truly matters: securing victory in the Fiesta Bowl. The game is set to kick off at 7:30 PM ET from Arizona and will be broadcast live on ESPN.