Ole Miss Rolls Into CFP Quarterfinals, Eyes Georgia Clash in Sugar Bowl
Ole Miss is marching on in the College Football Playoff, and they’re doing it with authority-and a bit of holiday flair. In front of a packed house at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, where fans set a world record for the most Santa hats worn in one place (yes, really), the No.
6 Rebels dismantled No. 11 Tulane, 41-10, on Saturday to punch their ticket to the CFP quarterfinals.
Congrats to all the coaches and players @OleMissFB and especially @CoachGolding and seeing his 2 boys on the sidelines 💙❤️ Great win today. #1-0. #BeatGeorgiaInTheBoot
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) December 21, 2025
Next up? A date with No.
3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. It’s the kind of matchup that feels like a heavyweight bout-two SEC powers colliding with everything on the line.
But what makes this Ole Miss run even more compelling is who isn’t on the sideline.
Lane Kiffin, the architect of this breakout season, is no longer in Oxford. After six seasons at the helm, Kiffin led the Rebels to an 11-1 record and their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. That résumé caught the attention of other SEC programs, and by late November, rumors were swirling that both Florida and LSU were making a serious push for his services.
Ole Miss wasn’t about to be left in limbo. The school reportedly gave Kiffin a deadline-make a decision by the Egg Bowl on Nov.
- Kiffin didn’t announce his move to LSU until two days later, on Nov.
- He made it clear he wanted to coach the Rebels through their postseason run, but Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter drew a firm line.
The Rebels would go forward without him.
That didn’t mean a total separation, though. A handful of Kiffin’s offensive assistants-four in total-were allowed to return to Oxford for the playoff push, joining offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. on the sideline. Together, they’re now working under new head coach Pete Golding, who’s been tasked with steering this team through the most important stretch in program history.
And so far, so good.
Against Tulane, Ole Miss looked sharp, focused, and every bit like a team that belongs on the national stage. The offense clicked, the defense swarmed, and the Rebels played with the kind of energy that suggests they’re not just happy to be here-they’re aiming to make noise.
As for Kiffin, he watched from afar and posted on social media after the game, showing support for the program he helped build. But come next season, the reunion will get a little more personal. LSU is set to visit Ole Miss on Sept. 19, and that game already has the makings of a must-watch showdown.
For now, though, the focus is on Georgia. The Bulldogs are a perennial powerhouse, and the Sugar Bowl will be a massive test. But with momentum, a deep staff, and a roster that’s bought in, Ole Miss isn’t backing down.
They’ve already made history. Now they’re chasing more.