Ole Miss thumps Tulane: Rebels dominate first-round CFP game to set up rematch with Georgia in Sugar Bowl

It'd be unwise to make too big a deal over Ole Miss easily crushing Tulane given it already did so, 45-10, earlier this season. But there's something to be said for easily handling an underdog and not letting it hang around and grow in confidence. Especially after the first two playoff home teams lost, Ole Miss deserves credit for holding serve and taking out Tulane from the jump.

But, most importantly, this Ole Miss team is a feisty bunch that may not be one-win-and-done. The Rebels already played Georgia extremely closely earlier this season in a 43-35 loss. The Rebels may not be as talented on paper as Georgia, a popular pick to win it all, but they won't shrink in the moment. This Ole Miss team knows it can hang with Georgia and just needs a play or two to go its way differently than it did the first time around. We've already seen one team -- Alabama -- fare better in the rematch effort this playoff season. Could Ole Miss be the second? Don't rule it out, especially not after tonight's performance.  

Kon Sumrall can now focus all his energy on his new employer, Florida, after Tulane's terrific 2025 season ended in Oxford. Sumrall surely would have loved to guide Tulane deeper into the playoff, especially with the winner playing in New Orleans' Sugar Bowl, but the Green Wave were overmatched in the regular season and they were overmatched in the playoff. Sometimes it just isn't a good matchup, and that was made evidently clear early in Oxford.

The lopsided end result will only embolden critics of the Group of Five's automatic playoff bid. It's been a particularly hot topic this season with two G5 teams – James Madison the other – making the 12-team field. Tulane was better than the final score would indicate, but never had the ability to deliver the big play when it was desperately needed.

It was still a special season for Tulane, though, and now Sumrall can head to Gainesville and turn over the program to his offensive coordinator Will Hall who will lead the Green Wave moving forward. Hall has big shoes to fill after Sumrall's 20-8 record over two seasons which included a playoff berth and American championship.  

Ole Miss' star tandem of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy delivered again for the Rebels. Both experienced injury scares at the end of the first half – Lacy's looked more serious and is worth monitoring – but still came back after halftime and made an impact.

There were questions about how this offense would look without Lane Kiffin lording over it. Sure, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. would still be calling the plays through the playoff run, but would the aggressive philosophy be the same? Would Chambliss and Lacy still be put in position to be explosive and effective?

Against Tulane, they were. Lacy got the party started with a 20-yard touchdown run that sent a record Vaught-Hemingway Stadium crowd into a frenzy. Chambliss added his own 4-yard touchdown run seven minutes later, and the blowout was on.

Chambliss finished 23 for 29 for 282 yards and one touchdown. He was effective picking apart Tulane's defense and didn't make the kind of mistakes the Green Wave desperately needed to stay in the game.

Lacy left the game in the third quarter and headed to the locker room with an apparent shoulder injury. After that first-half injury, he was never quite the same but still gutted it out on multiple positive carries. He finished the game with 87 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.  

Final: No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10 

For the first time in program history, Ole Miss is on to the quarterfinal of the College Football Playoff. The 10th-seeded Rebels cruised to a 41-10 against No. 11 Tulane Saturday evening to set up a Sugar Bowl rematch against Georgia. 

It didn't take long for Ole Miss to take control of the game. The Rebels opened proceedings with a 75-yards scoring drive that took just three plays and 59 seconds off the clock. They expanded their lead to 14-0 less than seven minutes later when quarterback Trinidad Chambliss rushed for a two-yard touchdown. 

Ole Miss' offense went quiet for the last 20 minutes of the first half, with just one more field goal in the second quarter added to its point total, but the Rebels blew the game open with four-straight scoring drives on their first four possessions of the second half. Chambliss was pulled midway through the fourth quarter with 23 completions for 282 yards and two touchdowns and another two touchdowns on the ground. 

Though the final score may not reflect it, Tulane did hang tough for the first 30 minutes of action. The Green Wave had more yards rushing (81) in the first half than Ole Miss and the offense moved the ball well, though costly mistakes presented it from scoring more than three points until quarterback Jake Retzlaff hit tight end Justyn Reid for a 29-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. 

Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who was hand-picked as Lane Kiffin's successor when Kiffin departed for LSU before the playoff began, is now 1-0 in CFP games. The Rebels will look to stay hot against another familiar opponent. 

Ole Miss and Georgia already met on Oct. 18. The Rebels actually lead 35-26 entering the final frame before Georgia scored 17 unanswered points to hand Ole Miss its only loss of the 2025 season. 

Late 4Q: No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10 

Tulane hasn't packed it up yet. The Green Wave scored their first touchdown of the game with just around four minutes left in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff hit tight end Justyn Reid for a 29-yard score. 

Mid 4Q: No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 3 

The only thing Ole Miss is battling against at this point is the injury bug. So it's time that the Rebels turned to their reserves to bring this game home. Quarterback Austin Simmons is back in for Trinidad Chambliss, who finished with 282 yards and one touchdown passing and two touchdowns rushing. Ole Miss can start looking ahead to its Sugar Bowl rematch with Georgia. 

Fourth quarter: Ole Miss 41, Tulane 3

Trinidad Chambliss adds his second rushing touchdown of the game, this one from 8-yards out, and Ole Miss builds its lead to 41-3. It has been an especially impressive performance for the Rebels tonight in their first game of the Pete Golding era. 

Fourth quarter: Ole Miss 34, Tulane 3

It isn't quite as bad as Ole Miss' 45-10 win over Tulane in September...yet. But it is entering that territory as Ole Miss continues to dominate the American Conference champion. The latest points came on a Logan Diggs 3-yard touchdown run. It's a party in the 'Sip tonight. 

Third quarter: Ole Miss 27, Tulane 3 

Give Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy credit for trying to gut it out, but he clearly doesn't look like himself in this second half after suffering an injury just before halftime. Lacy recently came off holding his left shoulder and left the game to go to the locker room. With Ole Miss easily cruising in this game, it's unlikely Lacy comes back in this game. 

Assuming his night is done, he'll finish with 87 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries. 

Third quarter: Ole Miss 27, Tulane 3

All that really matters now is what the final score will be, not which team will be victorious. Ole Miss will advance to a Sugar Bowl rematch against No. 3 Georgia. The Rebels added to their lead with a Lucas Carneiro 48-yard field goal. 

Third quarter: Ole Miss 24, Tulane 3

The crisis appears to have been averted. After Ole Miss' two offensive stars, Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy, went down on the same offensive drive to end the half, a quiet fell over Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. 

But, thankfully for Ole Miss, both Chambliss and Lacy were able to start the second half. Lacy's shoulder appeared to still be bothering him, but he had three rushes for 16 yards on the drive. Chambliss looked as good as new, though, and threw a 13-yard touchdown pass in Ole Miss' first second half offensive drive. 

Chambliss was 4 for 4 for 64 yards and a touchdown. 

After appearing to be hurt at the end of the first half, Trinidad Chambliss is here warming up and throwing the ball with his helmet on. The Ole Miss QB appears ready to go in the second half. 

Halftime: Ole Miss 17, Tulane 3

Ole Miss got off to a hot start in the first half of the new Pete Golding era, taking a 17-3 lead into the half. Ole Miss' first five offensive plays all went for 20 or more yards, setting up an early 14-0 first-quarter lead for the Rebels. 

Both Ole Miss touchdowns came on the ground. First, Kewan Lacy scampered 20 yards untouched into the end zone. Later, Trinidad Chambliss scored on a 4-yard keeper.

The big questions in the second half center on the status of Lacy and Chambliss after both were injured on Ole Miss' final drive of the half. The star tandem both appeared to injure their shoulders, with Lacy requiring help off the field and Chambliss down for multiple minutes. Neither returned before the end of the half. Austin Simmons came in to relieve Chambliss under center. 

Before his injury, Chambliss was 13 of 16 for 167 yards plus the rushing touchdown. 

Despite falling behind 14-0 early, Tulane hung around and moved the ball well on offense. The Green Wave wasn't too far behind Ole Miss in yards -- 206 to Ole Miss' 264 yards -- but could only score off one field goal. Tulane QB Jake Retzlaff went 9 of 14 for 125 yards and one interception. 

Ole Miss star QB Trinidad Chambliss appeared to injure his shoulder and left the game. Austin Simmons, who started the season as Ole Miss' starter, came in to replace Chambliss for the final drive of the half. Ole Miss was in prime scoring position before Simmons fumbled the ball. 

Chambliss and Lacy's status for the second half is still unknown. 

Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy had to be helped off the field and went straight into the medical tent after appearing to injure his shoulder following a a 7-yard catch. 

This is one worth monitoring closely, given Lacy's importance to the offense. 

Second quarter: Ole Miss 17, Tulane 3

In an 11-play, 64-yard drive, Ole Miss added to its lead with a Lucas Carneiro 42-yard field goal. Ole Miss' offense hasn't been as explosive or efficient since those first two drives -- a credit to Tulane's defense standing tall after falling down 14-0 -- but still important for Ole Miss to keep the momentum going with three more points. 

Second quarter: Ole Miss 14, Tulane 3

Tulane is actually moving the ball pretty well -- the Green Wave are only one passing yard shy of their entire output in the first game -- but points are hard to come by. Tulane does finally get on the board with a 39-yard Patrick Durkin field goal, though field goals aren't going to cut it against this high-powered Ole Miss offense. 

Tulane QB Jake Retzlaff is 6 of 9 for 107 yards and one interception. 

First quarter: Ole Miss 14, Tulane 0

Ole Miss has made it look easy against Tulane so far. The Rebels' first five offensive plays all went for 20+ yards leading to a Trinidad Chambliss 4-yard touchdown run. 

If you had any concerns about what Ole Miss would look like without Lane Kiffin, Pete Golding is doing a terrific job of quelling them. 

First quarter: Ole Miss 7, Tulane 0

Tulane was moving the ball fairly well and was just outside the redzone when calamity struck. Tulane QB Jake Retzlaff, who had a rough go against Ole Miss the first time around, threw an interception to Ole Miss' Jaylon Braxton. Adding to the dismay was a horse collar penalty at the end which sets the Rebels up at the 40-yard line.

Tulane can't afford many more mistakes like that if it has any hope of keeping up with Ole Miss. 

First quarter: Ole Miss 7, Tulane 0

So far, so good in the Pete Golding era. Offense hasn't missed a beat without Lane Kiffin so far. As easy and efficient drive as you'll see. Ole Miss up 7-0 early after Kewan Lacy scored from 20 yards out. 

The Grove was rocking, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was packed and Ole Miss fans were more than ready for Saturday's first-round playoff game against Tulane to kick off.

I've covered a number of big games at Ole Miss over the years, including two years as a writer in Mississippi, and this is as crowded The Grove I've seen it. We are a few minutes away from this one starting. 

Jon Sumrall needs a pick-me-up. 

It's break time after Tulane's first practice in preparation for the College Football Playoff, and in between phone calls, the head coach is receiving a cocktail of fluids and vitamins via an intravenous drip.

That's life for Sumrall, who might be the busiest, most sleep-deprived man in college football. While preparing to lead Tulane into its first-ever playoff appearance this week, he's also busy assembling a staff and handling the duties of his new job at Florida, one of the biggest programs in the sport.

"There's no official end of the day," Sumrall says over the phone. "You work as long as you can until you pass out."

Two jobs, two phones, one goal: Jon Sumrall's College Football Playoff balancing act -- Tulane and Florida

Brandon Marcello

Tulane is better than the 35-point whupping it received back in September. And with all the change and drama Ole Miss has experienced in the last month, it is easy to see how this result will be closer. But even with all that said, I don't see how Tulane pulls off the upset in Oxford. The team is fired up to play for new head coach Pete Golding. Ole Miss fans have been waiting for a moment like this their whole lives and the Rebels are simply too talented for Tulane to keep up. Take the Rebels. Pick: Ole Miss -17.5

Kewan Lacy was not a Heisman Trophy finalist like Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love. He didn't make first-team All-America at CBS Sports, the Associated Press or Sporting News. But it's long past time more people know about Ole Miss' star running back. Lacy finished with the nation's second-most rushing touchdowns at 20 and totaled 1,279 rushing yards. In his last two games alone, against Florida and Mississippi State, he rushed for 367 yards and four touchdowns while serving as the engine of the Rebels' offense. Trinidad Chambliss understandably draws most of the attention, but Lacy presents another major challenge Tulane must solve Saturday.

Almost nothing went right for the Green Wave in the first meeting. While Kiffin's departure creates opportunity, Tulane is dealing with its own challenges. Sumrall and offensive coordinator Will Hall are both pulling double duty as Sumrall prepares to leave for Florida and Hall gets ready to take over as head coach. Tulane used two quarterbacks in the first matchup, Jake Retzlaff and Brendan Sullivan, and neither found success. The pair combined for just 104 passing yards on 29 attempts. Since then, Retzlaff has settled in and helped Tulane close the season on a five-game winning streak. Even if Ole Miss is less explosive offensively, Tulane will still need to keep pace, and that will require an efficient night from Retzlaff. Running back Jamauri McClure, who had only three carries in the first meeting, enters hot after rushing 22 times for 121 yards and a touchdown in the American Championship Game win over North Texas.

In the aftermath of Kiffin's messy departure, it's the biggest question heading into this game. Kiffin, long regarded as one of the sport's top offensive minds, is gone, and it's fair to wonder how that affects the Rebels' offense even with coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. staying on for the playoff run. In his first game as head coach, does Golding take a more conservative approach than Kiffin? Does Ole Miss lean more heavily on the run and embrace a defense-wins-championships mindset? This will be our first real look at what Golding's version of Ole Miss looks like, and it will be fascinating to see how closely he sticks to what worked under Kiffin.

There are two College Football Playoff first-round rematches on deck this weekend, and the second of the two goes down on Saturday when No. 6 Ole Miss hosts No. 11 Tulane. These two met in September when Ole Miss rolled to a 45-10 win on its way to an 11-1 regular-season record. That game helped cement Trinidad Chambliss as the Rebels' quarterback of the future. Starting in place of an injured Austin Simmons, Chambliss threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns while adding 112 yards on the ground.

Much has changed since that Sept. 20 meeting in Oxford.

Ole Miss vs. Tulane prediction, pick, spread: Rebels look for second win over Green Wave, this time in CFP

John Talty