Ole Miss holds off Oklahoma: No. 8 Rebels rally to pick up key SEC victory, stay on track in CFP race

The unpredictability of this sport never ceases to amaze. When Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer made an early move up the Heisman odds sheet during a Week 2 win over Michigan, the name Trinidad Chambliss was totally unknown to most fans. Now, it's Chambliss — not Mateer — who must be viewed as a legitimate Heisman contender The Division II transfer is 5-1 as a starter since taking over the starting job in Week 3 and just guided the Rebels to their best road win of coach Lane Kiffin's tenure. He's thrown for more than 300 yards in four of his six starts and continues to terrorize opponents as a runner. 

Chambliss delivered another wave of clutch plays against Oklahoma. A week after getting shut down in the fourth quarter of a loss at Georgia, he led a go-ahead touchdown drive to begin the fourth quarter highlighted by a 40-yard strike to Winston Watkins. Chambliss also scrambled for a first down on third-and-8 to keep the drive alive before finishing the series with a touchdown strike to Trace Bruckler. Later in the fourth, Chambliss completed a 43-yard strike to Watkins that set up a critical field goal.

Oklahoma entered leading the nation in total defense, allowing just 213 yards per game. The Sooners ranked No. 2 in scoring defense and No. 3 in third-down defense. But the Rebels offense is significantly better than any the Sooners faced during their first seven games, and OU was exposed. The Rebels dominated time of possession by more than 10 minutes and allowed just one sack. The Sooners still produced 14 tackles for loss but never forced a turnover. Things will only get tougher from here. OU's next two games are on the road against Tennessee and Alabama, which are two of the SEC's strongest offensive outfits.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin has emerged as a hot name in Florida's coaching search. The former FAU coach and son of longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has a multitude of ties to the state and has yet to refute his candidacy. However, leaving Ole Miss would become far more complicated if the Rebels make the College Football Playoff. After beating Oklahoma, the Rebels are nearing lock status for the CFP. With just one loss and a highly manageable closing stretch ahead, the Rebels are in great shape to be included in the 12-team field.

Would Kiffin leave a program he's built from the ground up just as it's reaching a historic zenith? Given Kiffin's winding journey through the coaching ranks, you never know. But it would undoubtedly be tougher. The early signing period is the first week of December, meaning Florida would ideally have a coach in place before then. First-round CFP games aren't until later in the month. College football's coaching carousel is called "silly season" for a reason, but Florida fans yearning to see Kiffin leading their program were likely wincing as Ole Miss put the finishing touches on the win over Oklahoma.

4:09 4Q: Ole Miss 34, Oklahoma 26

Trindidad Chambliss hit Winston Watkins for a 43-yard gain on a perfectly thrown ball down the right sideline to set the Rebels up at Oklahoma's 17-yard line. The Sooners stood up from there to force Ole Miss' fourth field goal of the day. Lucas Carneiro converted from 37 yards out to make it an 8-point game. If John Mateer wants back into the Heisman Trophy conversation, here's a moment that can help. He's got a chance to lead a game-tying touchdown drive in a top-15 SEC battle.

Isaiah Sategna has produced multiple explosive plays as a receiver in this game. But the Oklahoma star made a critical miscue on special teams in the fourth quarter. He was in the midst of a nice punt return and nearing midfield when the football popped out. Ole Miss fell on it, zapping the momentum from an Oklahoma team that had just forced a critical three-and-out. Now the Sooners' D must return to the field trailing by five points with just seven minutes remaining. Can OU come up with another big stop?

10:00 4Q: Ole Miss 31, Oklahoma 26

A week ago, the Ole Miss offense folded in the fourth quarter of a high-stakes road battle at Georgia. This time, the Rebels are off to a much better start in the fourth quarter. Trinidad Chambliss just led a 75 yard touchdown drive, capped by a TD pass to Trace Bruckler, to put Ole Miss back ahead. The 2-point conversion attempt failed. That was a huge answer for Ole Miss. Included was a risky 4th-and-1 pass play that worked out. 

End 3Q: Oklahoma 26, Ole Miss 25

Oklahoma just took its first lead of the game with 1:04 remaining in the third quarter as Xavier Robinson plunged in for a 9-yard score on a third-and-7 play. That's two rushing touchdowns in the quarter for Robinson, and the Sooners have roared back from a 25-13 deficit. OU went for two to make it a 3-point game but failed to convert. Nonetheless, this game has been flipped on its head. That was Oklahoma's most complete drive of the game. The biggest play was a 16-yard John Mateer scramble to set the Sooners up in the red zone.

Late 3Q: Ole Miss 25, Oklahoma 20

Explosive offensive plays are keeping Oklahoma afloat. Xavier Robinson just torched Ole Miss for a 65-yard touchdown run on the opening play of the drive. The Sooners had done nothing in the run game before that play, which provided a desperately needed jolt for OU. That was the longest rush of the season for Oklahoma, which is back in business now late in the third quarter. On a down-to-down basis, things have been a struggle for Ole Miss. But a couple of home runs from Isaiah Sategna and that one from Robinson have the Sooners in striking distance.

Lane Kiffin has faced a number of tough calls today on fourth downs and in red-zone situations. He hasn't nailed them all, to put it nicely. This time, he chose to play it safe, and settle for a third field goal. Ole Miss benefitted from a roughing the passer penalty on a third-and-10 play midway through the drive. Oklahoma would've gotten off the field without that, but it gave new life to the Rebels, who now lead 25-13 with 5:57 left in the third quarter.

Early 3Q: Ole Miss 22, Oklahoma 13

Lane Kiffin went way too deep into his bag on fourth-and-1 from his own 25 yard-line with Kewan Lacy in the wildcat. It was a bad snap and Lacy lost about 10 yards going to recover it. First off, he didn't need to go for it there with the way the Ole Miss defense is playing. Secondly, Trinidad Chambliss is playing well. Why take the football out of his hands? The defense bailed him out by forcing a field goal, but that was the second time Kiffin has outsmarted himself. In the first half, the blunder was turning to backup QB Austin Simmons in the red zone. He threw a couple of incompletions, forcing the Rebels to settle for a field goal.

Oklahoma appeared to establish its run game in a week at South Carolina last week, as Tory Blaylock went over 100 yards rushing. However, the Sooners have struggled on the ground against Ole Miss, generating just 16 yards rushing in the first half. Ole Miss was on point in all three phases in the first half. Their biggest worry is defending Isaiah Sategna III, who torched the Rebels for a couple of huge plays in the first half. Outside of Sategna's speed, nothing OU presented offensively in the first half was a problem for Ole Miss.

HALF: Ole Miss 22, Oklahoma 10

A week after giving up a score on every possession until Georgia took a knee to close out the game, the Ole Miss defense is responding in a big way. The Rebels' D closed the first half with a safety, a fourth-down stand and then a three-and-out. It has been a 180 for coordinator Pete Golding's unit. On the flip side, Oklahoma's defense is looking shakier than it has all year.

0:46 2Q: Ole Miss 22, Oklahoma 10

Kewan Lacy is up to 63 yards rushing and two TDs on 14 carries, as the Rebels are making are shredding this ballyhooed Oklahoma defense. But this latest touchdown drive was set up by the defense, which sacked John Mateer on a fourth-and-2 play near midfield. Ole Miss is playing complimentary football today, and the results have been strong thus far.

Mid 2Q: Ole Miss 15, Oklahoma 10

Lane Kiffin got cute again and went to backup quarterback Austin Simmons in the red zone. But he misfired on a couple of masses to the end zone, forcing Ole Miss to settle for a field goal after the safety. Kiffin was visibly frustrated by the failed sequence. It's an interesting dynamic with Simmons, who began the season as the starter before losing his job when Trinidad Chambliss played lights out amid Simmons' ankle injury. Kiffin is clearly trying to keep Simmons engaged, but it backfired there.

Early 2Q: Ole Miss 12, Oklahoma 10

John Mateer hit Isaiah Sategna for a 76-yard to touchdown to tie it up, but now the defenses have come up with consecutive stands. First, Rebels coach Lane Kiffin punted on fourth-and-5 from his own 43-yard line. That decision was quickly rewarded, as a great punt led to an Ole Miss safety. Given Kiffin's reputation as a riverboat gambler, you know he was tempted to go for it. But good special teams and defense go a long way, and Ole Miss got some of both.

Ole Miss forced a quick three-and-out from Oklahoma, and the Rebel got the football back up 10-3. However, the wet conditions made an impact when Trinidad Chambliss slipped while trying to field a low snap. He fell on the football for a loss, forcing the Rebels into a punt.

The Ole Miss offense is off to another strong start, as Kewan Lacy just finished off a quick touchdown drive with a 28-yard TD run. The Rebels scored TDs on their first five possessions at UGA last week before running aground in a rough fourth quarter. It was fair to wonder how that close but deflating loss might linger for a second straight top-15 SEC road game. So far, there is no hangover. The Sooners' vaunted defense is on its heels. 

Both teams hit on explosive passing plays on their opening drives before stalling out and settling for field goals. John Mateer dropped a 39-yard pass in the bucket for Isaiah Sategna, who made a great grab to establish the Sooners in Ole Miss territory. But a holding penalty slowed things down from there, and Tate Sandell hit a 42-yarder to even the score.

Early 1Q: Ole Miss 3, Oklahoma 0

A promising Ole Miss drive stalled out inside the Oklahoma 30-yard line, but Lucas Carneiro drilled a 45-yard field goal to get open the scoring. The big play on that series was a 25-yard Trinidad Chambliss strike to Cayden Lee down the middle. Lee took a hit from Robert Spears-Jennings but reeled in the pass anyway to establish the Rebels near midfield. Of note: the weather is pretty gross: 60 degrees but quite rainy.

Ole Miss was knocked from the hall of unbeatens with Week 8's loss to No. 5 Georgia. Now the Rebels look to rebound with a very tough test. Ole Miss has lost its last nine road games against AP-ranked power conference opponents. The Rebels also haven't lost back-to-back games since 2022. They're 5-0 after a loss over the last three seasons. While a loss here wouldn't tank their season, it would eliminate any margin for error down the stretch. 

Oklahoma, on the other hand, is 9-1 in its last 10 home games against AP-ranked opponents. The Sooners need all the wins they can get at this point, especially if they're playing inside the friendly confines of Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Saturday starts a gauntlet of five-straight ranked opponents for the Sooners. Two of those games are on the road against a pair of top-20 opponents in No. 17 Tennessee and No. 4 Alabama. With a loss against then-unranked Texas already on its ledger, the Sooners have to be near-perfect over the last month and change. That means not fumbling home-field advantage. 

College Football Playoff race: Oklahoma vs. Ole Miss, Texas A&M vs. LSU take center stage in Week 9

Will Backus

Oklahoma is hosting Ole Miss for the first time ever on Saturday, as the No. 13 Sooners welcome the No. 8 Rebels to Memorial Stadium for a critical battle between one-loss SEC teams. After taking a 43-35 loss at Georgia last week, this marks the end of a brutally tough two-game road swing for Ole Miss.

For Oklahoma, it's only the beginning of a five-game stretch against top-20 SEC foes to close the season. If the Sooners are going to reach the College Football Playoff, they'll have to survive the forthcoming gauntlet, and that begins with limiting the Ole Miss offense.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin's unit scored touchdowns on its first five possessions of last week's loss to the Bulldogs before quarterback Trinidad Chambliss finally went cold in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma leads the SEC in total defense and has produced more sacks (28) than any other Power Four team. 

It makes for a compelling matchup between Kiffin and counterpart Brent Venables, OU's defensive-minded coach. Four of the Sooners' seven opponents have scored seven points or fewer. The Rebels are averaging 37.4. What will give?

Oklahoma finally seemed to get some traction on the ground during last week's win at South Carolina. Running back Tory Blaylock earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors for totaling 101 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. It was a welcome sight for the Sooners, who hadn't previously averaged four yards per carry in a game against against a Power Four opponent. The Ole Miss run defense has been vulnerable this season with all but one opponent averaging 4.5 yards or more per attempt. The door is open for Blaylock to stack consecutive strong performances.

Ole Miss and Oklahoma are set to play annually from 2026-29. Among the criteria in determining the three annual opponents for each SEC team were traditional rivalries, competitive fairness and geography. Ole Miss and Oklahoma are not particularly close to each other, and they had not played in the 21st century until last season. Nevertheless, the Rebels and Sooners will become quite familiar with each other in the years ahead. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin noted after the announcement that the pairing "doesn't make any sense at all."

With quarterback John Mateer closer to 100% healthy now than he was for a loss to Texas two weeks ago, Oklahoma is becoming a complete team again. The Sooners have the best defense Ole Miss has faced this season, and a healthy Mateer makes them a well-rounded group. The Washington State transfer has enough playmaking ability and the weapons around him to expose the weaknesses in the Rebels' defense after Georgia found plenty of them last week. Defensively, the Sooners are elite and the rare unit capable of slowing Ole Miss down. Look for Oklahoma to pull away for a big win in front of its home crowd. Pick: Oklahoma -5.5

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin likened quarterback Trinidad Chambliss' performance in last week's loss at Georgia to a pitcher throwing "almost no-hit ball" for six or seven innings. The Rebels hit a wall in the fourth quarter, however. But if you take a step back, the Rebels' loss to Georgia was less about the offense struggling late and more about the fact that the defense didn't produce a single stop. Georgia scored on every possession until it was time to take a knee and run out the clock. If the Rebels are going to beat Oklahoma, their defense will need to be significantly better.