Ole Miss Rolls Past Tulane in CFP Opener, Weis Jr. Shines Amid Coaching Transition
If there were any doubts about how Ole Miss would respond offensively in its first game without Lane Kiffin at the helm, the Rebels answered them early-and emphatically.
In their College Football Playoff debut, the No. 6-seeded Rebels dismantled No. 11 Tulane 41-10 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It was a statement win for a program navigating a coaching transition, and it showcased just how steady the ship remains with Charlie Weis Jr. calling plays-even as he prepares to follow Kiffin to LSU after the postseason.
This wasn’t just a win. It was a clinic.
Ole Miss came out firing, scoring touchdowns on its first two drives and needing less than a minute to find the end zone on the opening possession. The Rebels ripped off a 75-yard scoring drive in just 59 seconds, capped by a 20-yard touchdown run from Kewan Lacy. That drive featured chunk plays of 30 and 25 yards-an early sign that Tulane’s defense was going to have its hands full all night.
The offense, still under Weis Jr.’s direction, looked as crisp and explosive as it has all season. Ole Miss outgained Tulane 497-421 and averaged a healthy 7.3 yards per play. The tempo was fast, the execution was sharp, and the play-calling was aggressive-everything you’d expect from a team that’s been one of the most dynamic in the country.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was in full command of the offense, completing 23 of 29 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown. He added 43 rushing yards and punched in two more scores on the ground, showing poise, versatility, and a feel for the moment. Chambliss didn’t just manage the game-he dictated it.
Lacy, despite battling through a shoulder injury that forced him to the sideline twice, ran for 88 yards and a touchdown. His toughness and burst gave the Rebels a consistent presence in the backfield, and his early score set the tone.
But the spotlight belonged to Weis Jr., who is one of five Ole Miss assistants set to join Kiffin at LSU after the playoff run. Even with that move looming, Weis Jr. stayed locked in and delivered a masterful performance as play-caller.
Head coach Pete Golding made it clear postgame-he never had a second of doubt about Weis Jr.’s ability to lead the offense in this moment.
“I had zero concern with Charlie Weis calling this game for this one reason: Charlie Weis cannot afford not to call a good game,” Golding said. “All he heard was that it’s Lane Kiffin’s offense. This was his one opportunity for people to realize that Charlie Weis calls the offense, just like he’s done all year-and did a great job of tonight.”
Golding’s confidence wasn’t just coach-speak-it was backed by results. The offense didn’t skip a beat. If anything, it looked more motivated than ever to show that the system and execution go beyond just one name on the headset.
Quarterbacks coach Joe Judge echoed that sentiment, giving Weis Jr. credit for the offensive identity that’s been built throughout the season.
“It’s Charlie’s script. It’s Charlie’s offense,” Judge said.
“He designs it with help from all the assistants. He calls it.
He does a phenomenal job of it.”
While the Rebels will have a new offensive coordinator next season-East Carolina’s John David Baker is set to take over in 2026-Weis Jr. will continue to lead the offense through this playoff run. And if this performance is any indication, Ole Miss isn’t just surviving the coaching change-they’re thriving.
Next up: a Sugar Bowl showdown with No. 3 Georgia on January 1 in New Orleans.
It’s a heavyweight clash that promises fireworks. And if Ole Miss brings the same energy and execution they showed against Tulane, they’ll be more than ready for the moment.