Ole Miss fans chanting Hotty Toddy at Jackson Airport before the Fiesta Bowl
Fans traveling to Ole Miss’s matchup against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl begin chanting the Hotty Toddy before boarding their flight on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026.
- Ole Miss fans are traveling to Arizona for the College Football Playoff semifinal against Miami.
- The No. 6 Rebels will face No. 10 Miami on Jan. 8 at State Farm Stadium.
- Southwest Airlines added three nonstop flights from Jackson, Mississippi to Phoenix to accommodate fans.
- The winner of the semifinals will advance to the national championship game on January 19.
Ole Miss fans flocked to airports across the Southeast on January 6 and 7 to head to Arizona for the Rebels’ semifinal game against Miami in the College Football Playoff.
The No. 6 Rebels (13-1) will face No. 10 Miami (12-2) in the CFP semifinals on Jan. 8 (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. If they win, they will play either Indiana or Oregon in the national championship on January 19 in Miami.
Southwest Airlines offered three nonstop flights from Jackson-Medgar Willie Evers International Airport to the Phoenix area to serve fans traveling to the Fiesta Bowl. The additional service provides a direct travel option for supporters traveling to the big game.
Traveling to the College Football Playoff
Ole Miss fans are taking advantage.
On January 7, fans packed the Southwest Airlines terminal at Gate 19 at Jackson’s Medgar Evers International Airport.
More than 100 people were getting ready to board an early morning flight in Jackson, and there were social media reports of similar scenes in Nashville and Atlanta.
“We can’t wait to get there,” said Jim Stevens of Brandon as he waits for his flight Jan. 7 with his son, Jeremy. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s great to see so many Ole Miss fans here going to Arizona. Now, if we can win the game.”
Ross Reilly is a writer for the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter @GreenOkra1.
