Ole Miss opened its College Football Playoff run in dominant fashion, steamrolling Tulane 41-10 on Saturday. But while the scoreboard told one story, there’s a fascinating subplot that adds another layer to this win - most of the Rebels’ offensive coaching staff is set to follow former head coach Lane Kiffin to LSU after the postseason. That includes offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who just gave LSU fans a sneak peek at what their offense might look like in 2026.
Despite Kiffin not being allowed to coach the playoff after his departure, Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding made the calculated decision to keep the rest of the offensive staff intact for the postseason. And based on what we saw Saturday, it was the right call. That continuity paid off in a big way.
Let’s break down how Charlie Weis - the Tigers’ future OC - dialed it up against Tulane and what it tells us about his offensive philosophy.
Weis’s Plan: Stress the Defense, Win with Space
From the jump, Ole Miss came out aggressive. On the opening drive, quarterback Trinidad Chambliss connected with tight end Dae’Quan Wright on a chunk play that set the tone.
The design was clever - Ole Miss pulled a guard, which froze the linebackers just long enough, while motion moved Tulane’s defensive backs away from the play. That opened up a soft spot in the zone, and Wright slipped right into it for an easy gain.
That’s vintage Weis: manipulate the defense with motion and misdirection, then exploit the space.
Later in the same drive, Ole Miss leaned on its bread-and-butter - the zone run with an insert. Tulane had rotated its secondary toward the field side, leaving the boundary vulnerable.
The insert forced the linebackers downhill, and when running back Kedrick Lacy found the cutback lane, there was no one home. That’s the kind of sequencing that wears down a defense - Weis knew exactly how to bait Tulane into overcommitting.
Then came the formation wrinkles. Ole Miss went 21 personnel (two backs, one tight end) and condensed the formation.
The misdirection in the backfield pulled Tulane’s eyes all over the place, and the result was a wide-open crosser. Tulane was aggressive up front and often sat in Cover 3 on the back end, which left a soft underbelly in the middle of the field.
Weis saw it and kept hammering it.
One of the hallmarks of this Ole Miss offense - and something LSU fans should get excited about - is how well they get the ball to playmakers in space. Sometimes it’s not about the flashy play design; it’s about recognizing when the defense is giving you free yards and taking them. That’s what Weis did over and over again.
Next Man Up: No Drop-Off with Simmons
Chambliss briefly exited late in the first half, but the offense didn’t miss a beat. Freshman Austin Simmons came in and Weis adjusted seamlessly.
One of the first plays was an unbalanced look that led to a high-percentage throw downfield. That’s another thing that stands out about Weis - he doesn’t ask his quarterbacks to be heroes.
He builds in easy completions and lets the system do the heavy lifting.
By the Numbers: A Clinic in Efficiency
This wasn’t just a good offensive performance - it was one of the best of the season. Ole Miss posted a 51% success rate, which puts them in the 90th percentile nationally.
Their yards per play came in near elite territory, ranking in the 86th percentile. And through the air?
Chambliss and company averaged 9.61 yards per dropback - that’s good for the 93rd percentile.
Even though Ole Miss wasn’t particularly strong on passing downs, it didn’t matter. They were so efficient on standard downs that they rarely found themselves behind the sticks. That’s a credit to Weis’s game planning - stay ahead of schedule, keep the defense guessing, and let your athletes go to work.
Chambliss finished 20-of-26, a line that reflects both his poise and Weis’s ability to scheme open throws. The offense looked polished, balanced, and versatile - all while being led by a staff that’s already halfway out the door.
What This Means for LSU
If you’re an LSU fan watching this game, you couldn’t help but imagine what this offense might look like in Baton Rouge. Sure, the personnel will be different, and Weis will have to tailor the scheme to fit new faces. But the core principles - motion, misdirection, spacing, and efficiency - will travel.
Saturday’s performance wasn’t just a playoff win for Ole Miss. It was a preview of what might be coming to Death Valley. And if Charlie Weis can replicate this kind of execution with SEC talent at LSU, the Tigers’ offense could be a problem in 2026.