Ole Miss outlasts Louisville: Trinidad Chambliss, Rebels win wild shootout with walk-off field goal

Deuce Alexander finished as Ole Miss' third-leading receiver last season behind the departed Harrison Wallace III and De'Zhaun Stribling. If Sunday was any indication, he'll be the star this season. The 6-foot speedster flashed track-star speed on a pair of 62-yard touchdown receptions in the third quarter. After each of his five receptions, the Ole Miss fans chanted "Deeeeuce." Expect that to be a common refrain at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in the weeks ahead.

Alexander's splashy touchdowns came as critical answers to Louisville's scores as the offensive intensity heated up on both sides. His first touchdown came as he capitalized on a mismatch. With 240-pound Louisville linebacker Stanquan Clark attempting to trail Alexander over the middle of the field, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss hit him in stride. From there, he outran a handful of Cardinals and crossed the goal-line with a sprinter's head dip.

Later in the quarter, Chambliss looked off a potentially problematic safety and then lofted a perfectly thrown ball down the right sideline to Alexander, who had no trouble finishing it off to put the Rebels up 24-14.

The Ole Miss victory capped a historic Week 1 for the SEC. All 16 teams won — with an average margin of 37.6 points — marking the first time since 1997 that every team in the SEC has started the season 1-0. It marked the first time since the Pac-12 did it in 2023 that every team in a conference has been unbeaten through Week 1.

The highlights were Auburn's win over Baylor, LSU's win over Clemson and Ole Miss' win over Louisville. The other 13 SEC teams played either Group of Six or FCS opponents. Auburn and Ole Miss were the only SEC teams to win by fewer than 17 points.

With Texas hosting Ohio State and Oklahoma traveling to Michigan in Week 2, this coming Saturday will reveal more about the SEC's true strength. Five other SEC teams will also be in action against Power Four opponents from other leagues in Week 2.

The Ole Miss defensive front seven looked as good as advertised, at least for a while. The Rebels produced three sacks and eight tackles for loss and were far more disruptive in the backfield than their Louisville counterparts. Louisville never got settled in the traditional run game as star back Isaac Brown averaged just 2.3 yards per carry. But there were some serious holes in the Ole Miss secondary during the second half that will need to be addressed soon. With No. 11 LSU coming to Oxford for Lane Kiffin's much-anticipated return on Sept. 19, the clock is ticking.

The Rebels must shore up their secondary if they are going to contend with the Tigers, who looked virtually unstoppable in a 51-10 beatdown of Clemson on Saturday night. Surrendering 386 yards and 32 points in the second half against Louisville will give first-year Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding, the Rebels' former defensive coordinator, a lot to address.

After sputtering to just 83 yards in the first half, the Cardinals totaled 233 in the third quarter alone as quarterback Lincoln Kienholz settled in during his first career start. Just when Louisville looked like it might be done after falling behind 38-24 with 6:43 remaining, the Ohio State transfer hit Lawayne McCoy for a 54-yard score to bring the Cardinals back within a touchdown. It was just one of several highlight-reel plays in the second half from the Louisville offense. Even in defeat, Kienholz's second-half resurgence suggested the Cardinals could be threats in the ACC as he settles into the starting role. After three years of reserve duty at Ohio State, the former four-star quarterback simply needed to knock off some rust.

He missed a wide-open Tre Richardson in the second quarter, narrowly overthrowing the Vanderbilt transfer on a go route that certainly would have resulted in a touchdown. But once he settled in, his promise became apparent. His athleticism gives Louisville coach Jeff Brohm some options that last year's starter, Miller Moss, did not offer. Late in the third quarter, Kienholz took a read option keeper 40 yards into Ole Miss territory to set up a Louisville field goal. Later, he capped Louisville's furious late rally with a 7-yard touchdown run to tie it at 38 with 1:28 remaining. Kienholz finished as Louisville's leading rusher with 69 yards, far surpassing star running back Isaac Brown, who was held to just 36 yards on 16 carries.

1:28 4Q: Ole Miss 38, Louisville 38

Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz is finding redemption after a shaky start. The Ohio State transfer just tied this game up with a 7-yard touchdown run. He's been stellar in the second half as the Cardinals have erased a 14-point deficit in a span of roughly five minutes. The Cardinals could have opted for a 2-point play there to try to take the lead. But they played it safe and tied it up with a PAT.

Louisville has the football in Ole Miss territory, trailing 38-31, with no timeouts remaining as the two-minute timeout arrives. The Cardinals looked all but dead with under seven minutes remaining after Ole Miss surged ahead 38-24, but they got a score and a stop and are moving the football here as tension builds inside Nissan Stadium. Fascinating finish on deck here in Nashville as Lincoln Kienholz looks to produce some magic in his first career start.

4:42 4Q: Ole Miss 38, Louisville 31

Louisville just infused some late drama into this one with a quick strike touchdown, as Lincoln Kienholz found Lawayne McCoy for a 54-yard score. Just like that, it's a 7-point game once again. The secondary was always the concern for the Ole Miss defense entering this season, and those concerns have been laid bare in the second half of this game. Of note: Louisville burned all three of its timeouts in the third quarter.

6:43 4Q: Ole Miss 38, Louisville 24

Facing a fourth-and-11 from the Louisville 40-yard line, Ole Miss coach Pete Golding trotted out Lucas Carneiro for a 57-yard field goal attempt. It was short, but a roughing the kicker penalty bailed Ole Miss out. It looked like it could have been deemed "running into the kicker," but the 15-yard penalty gave the Rebels new life. A few plays later, Trinidad Chambliss punched in a 5-yard touchdown run to make it a two-possession game.

Penalties plagued Louisville, setting up a third-and-14 that led to the second sack of the night by the Ole Miss defense. That was an unmitigated disaster of a possession from the Cardinals, who just went three-and-out for the first time since the second quarter. Kam Franklin now has two tackles for loss.

As Ole Miss takes over again, Deuce Alexander is on the field, but Kewan Lacy is not.

12:45 4Q: Ole Miss 31, Louisville 24

Trinidad Chambliss has officially settled in and is dissecting the Louisville defense. He just hit Caleb Odom for a 35-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the fourth quarter. He was starting down a pass rusher as he lofted that one to his tight end, who had previously been MIA. Great throw and great catch amid some traffic. An offensive firefight has developed out of nowhere.

End 3Q: Ole Miss 24, Louisville 24

Buckle up. Lincoln Kienholz just hit Tre Richardson for a huge touchdown over the top, and the Cardinals converted on a 2-point play to tie it up. Ole Miss and Louisville combined for three 62-yard touchdown passes in the third quarter as the dam officially broke on a contest that was all about defense in the first half. The teams combined for 32 points in the quarter after totaling just 16 in the first half. Both offenses have come alive in Nashville as the only ranked-vs.-ranked matchup of Week 1 lives up to its billing.

After getting banged up in the first half but re-entering the game, Ole Miss star running back Kewan Lacy is working through something again. He's been spotted on the sideline getting his leg worked on. Lacy has played in the third quarter, but he wasn't in for the Rebels' most recent series. Additionally, Deuce Alexander was getting attention from the training staff after his second 62-yard touchdown reception of the third quarter. He ultimately went to the locker room with the help of a trainer. Those are the two most important skill players for the Rebels. Big issue to monitor.

0:57 3Q: Ole Miss 24, Louisville 16

Deuce Alexander is enjoying a breakout performance tonight. He just outran the Louisville defense for a second time in the third quarter, notching his second 62-yard touchdown reception of the third quarter. It's taken a while to find, but the Ole Miss offense is beginning to show the high-caliber playmaking expected. Chambliss had Alexander in 1-on-1 down the right sideline and threw a perfect ball.

2:22 3Q: Ole Miss 17, Louisville 16

Lincoln Kienholz finally broke free with his feet, taking a read option keeper 40 yards up the middle into Ole Miss territory. Subsequently, faced with a fourth-and-3, Jeff Brohm opted for the points, and Carson Hilbert drilled a field goal from 45 yards out. He is 3 for 3 tonight with makes of 25, 46 and 45 yards.

Of note: Ole Miss lost starting right tackle Tommy Kinsler to injury on its last possession. Connor Howes entered in his place.

Keyjuan Brown picked up another chunk gain on the ground — ripping off a 17-yarder — to get Louisville out from deep in its own territory. But the Cardinals stalled out from there. Keyjuan Brown has been far more effective than Isaac Brown tonight for Louisville. Keyjuan has 47 yards on five carries versus 26 yards on 13 carries for Isaac Brown, who is regarded as one of the nation's top backs.

8:53 3Q: Ole Miss 17, Louisville 13

There's the explosiveness Ole Miss was expected to bring. Trinidad Chambliss threw a strike over the middle to Deuce Alexander, who showed impressive acceleration while taking it to the house for a 62-yard touchdown. The first six minutes of the third quarter have brought more touchdowns than the entire first half provided. The Rebels needed less than two minutes to retake the lead.

10:51 3Q: Louisville 13, Ole Miss 10

Louisville slot receiver Tre Richardson just took a jet sweep 30 yards to the house to give the Cardinals the lead. That was quite a statement drive from the Cards to start the second half. Lincoln Kienholz finally hit a deep pass, connecting with Treyshaun Hurry for a gain of 27 down the left sideline. It was a perfectly thrown ball dropped between the cornerback and the sideline. Hurry barely tapped his toe just as he gained possession of the football. Ole Miss fans wanted it reviewed, but the review never came, and the Cardinals marched on for their first touchdown of the 2026 season.

The first half for Ole Miss was largely defined by missed opportunities and blunders. Typically sure-handed Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss lost a fumble and threw an interception. Additionally, the Rebels dealt with a devastating -21 yard play on a high snap that stunted their opening possession. Finally, veteran kicker Lucas Carneiro missed a 46-yard field goal late in the second quarter. The Rebels played stingy defense, but their star-studded offense needs to lock in.

Louisville will want a few plays back from that first half as well. In particular, quarterback Lincoln Kienholz missed a wide open Tre Richardson early in the second quarter. Would have been a touchdown. Shortly thereafter, a bad snap on a punt gave Ole Miss a short field for the game's only touchdown.

Half: Ole Miss 10, Louisville 6

Louisville mustered just 83 total yards in the first half, and the passing game was particularly lifeless. But the Cardinals will head into halftime in decent shape before getting the football to start the third quarter. Carson Hilbert drilled a 46-yard field goal with six seconds remaining in the second quarter to bring Louisville within 10-6. The Cardinals moved the football better in the two-minute drill than they did on any possession since their first series. Keyjuan Brown busted a couple of big runs to establish the Cards inside the Ole Miss 30, leading to Hilbert's second make of the first half.

Trinidad Chambliss had Johntay Cook breaking toward the left pylon in single coverage on third-and-5. But Kaleb Beasley made a great play to turn and knock it away. That set up a 46-yard attempt from Lucas Carneiro, who pulled it wide left. Now Louisville gets the football with time to add points before getting the football to start the second half. Huge sequence there.

Ole Miss faces a second-and-8 from the Louisville 32 coming out of the two-minute timeout. If the Rebels are able to punch in another touchdown here, that puts Louisville in a precarious spot given how much of a struggle it's been for the Cards offensively. Louisville gets the football to start the second half, but it needs a big stop from the defense here just as the Rebels are starting to get some traction in the run game.

Faced with a third-and-9, Trinidad Chambliss forced a pass over the middle to Deuce Alexander. Louisville linebacker Stanquan Clark read it the whole way and made a great diving interception. That's exactly what Louisville needed after it felt like Ole Miss had secured all the momentum. Chambliss has turned it over twice. Rough start for one of the nation's great QBs.

Blake Purchase and Suntarine Perkins just sacked Lincoln Kienholz for a loss of seven as Ole Miss continues to gain momentum here after an uneven start for its offense. Lincoln Kienholz has been close to making big plays on a handful of occasions for Louisville. But as a fourth-year college player making his first career start, he just looks a step slow on making decisions and isn't quite dialed in.

10:38 2Q: Ole Miss 10, Louisville 3

Disaster just struck for Louisville as a high snap sailed over the head of punter Niall Hayes. He fell on it at the Louisville 12-yard line, setting up the Rebels in the red zone. They capitalized as Kewan Lacy scored on a 1-yard touchdown run a few plays later. What a change in momentum.

Ole Miss pinned its ears back and brought a lot of pressure on that Louisville series. It nearly backfired when Tre Richardson broke wide open out of the slot on a second-and-12 play. But Lincoln Kienholz barely overshot the Vanderbilt transfer. That could have been seven points for Louisville. Instead, Ole Miss now leads 10-3.

14:51 2Q: Louisville 3, Ole Miss 3

Ole Miss tried to draw Louisville offsides on a fourth-and-4 play. But when the Cardinals didn't bite, Pete Golding called a timeout. Then, he sent the field goal team out, and Lucas Carneiro tied it at 3-3 with a perfect 43-yard kick. The Rebels went 60 yards on 11 plays with the 31-yard connection between Chambliss and Ray accounting for more than half of those yards. Nothing has come easily for the vaunted Rebels offense early.

End 1Q: Louisville 3, Ole Miss 0

Ole Miss finally took a downfield shot on its third series. Faced with a second-and-10, Trinidad Chambliss threw a strike down the seam to Traylon Ray for a 31-yard gain. That was a huge grab for the former West Virginia transfer, who was on the team last year but barely played. That was the first truly explosive play from the Rebels' offense, which dealt with self-inflicted problems during the first quarter. A high snap and a Trinidad Chambliss fumble were the two most glaring miscues. But on a positive note for Ole Miss, Kewan Lacy has returned after getting his bell rung in the first quarter.

Ole Miss cornerback Jaylon Braxton read Lincoln Kienholz's eyes on a short out route on third-and-5 and jumped the pattern. He nearly intercepted it. Nonetheless, the deflection got the Ole Miss defense off the field after the Cardinals took over in great field position. Neither offense is quite in sync here in the first quarter.

While diving for the sticks on a fourth-and-2 play, Trinidad Chambliss fumbled, and Louisville's Brycen Scott recovered. Louisville is taking over with a short field for the second time in the first quarter. This has officially been a borderline disastrous start for the Ole Miss offense. The Rebels haven't shown anything in the downfield passing game and have dealt with a fumble and a devastating high snap that led to a 21-yard loss.

Ole Miss star running back Kewan Lacy was down and getting attention from the Ole Miss training staff after getting slung to the turf near midfield by a couple of Cardinals after a 3-yard gain. He eventually got up and walked off, heading to the sideline, where he was spotted slurping water. Lacy is widely regarded as the top running back in college football and is pivotal to the Rebels' aspirations in 2026.

7:19 1Q: Louisville 3, Ole Miss 0

The Louisville offense looked really good on its first possession until getting slowed down by a couple of delay of game penalties and a big TFL from Kam Franklin. Prior to that, Lincoln Kienholz picked up eight yards on a QB keeper and then found Jaleel Skinner for a 22-yard pickup to get Louisville into the red zone. Isaac Brown got plenty of work on the series with five carries for 15 yards.