College Football Playoff Preview: Ole Miss Hosts Tulane With Sugar Bowl Berth on the Line
For the first time ever, a team from the state of Mississippi is in the College Football Playoff-and they’re not just participating, they’re hosting. Ole Miss, riding an 11-1 season and armed with one of the most balanced rosters in the country, welcomes Tulane to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on December 20 for a first-round CFP showdown.
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on TNT.
The winner punches a ticket to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, where No. 3 Georgia awaits.
High stakes, major storylines, and a little coaching drama? This one has it all.
The Matchup: (6) Ole Miss vs. (11) Tulane
Date: Dec. 20
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS
TV: TNT
Chambliss Steps Into the Spotlight
All eyes will be on Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, and for good reason. The Division II transfer from Ferris State-where he led the Bulldogs to a national title in 2024-has gone from backup to big-time starter in a matter of months. After beginning the season behind Austin Simmons, Chambliss has steadily earned trust with his poise and playmaking, especially in pressure-packed moments.
But this is the College Football Playoff. The margin for error is razor thin, and Tulane’s defense, while gashed in the first meeting, has had time to adjust. Chambliss' ability to manage the moment, protect the football, and extend plays with his legs could be the X-factor that keeps the Rebels’ title hopes alive.
Retzlaff’s Redemption Arc
Tulane quarterback Jake Retzlaff had a rough outing the last time these two teams met-just 5-of-17 passing for 56 yards and no touchdowns. But that was then. Since that loss, Retzlaff has looked increasingly comfortable in the Green Wave offense, both through the air and on the ground.
He’s averaging 220.2 passing yards per game with 14 touchdowns and six picks, and he’s been a real threat with his legs-racking up nearly 47 rushing yards per game and 16 rushing touchdowns. If Tulane wants to flip the script in Oxford, Retzlaff will need to be sharp, decisive, and most importantly, efficient. Ole Miss' defense has speed, but it can be tested with misdirection and tempo-two things Tulane has leaned into during its five-game win streak.
Coaching Carousel: Who’s Calling the Shots?
This game comes with a unique wrinkle: both programs are navigating coaching transitions.
Ole Miss is now led by interim head coach Pete Golding, the team’s defensive coordinator, after Lane Kiffin accepted the LSU job following the regular season. While Kiffin is gone, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. is sticking around for the playoff run before joining Kiffin in Baton Rouge. That continuity on offense could be crucial, especially for a quarterback like Chambliss who’s still relatively new to the system.
Tulane, meanwhile, is in a similar situation. Head coach Jon Sumrall is headed to Florida, but he’ll coach through the CFP.
Once Tulane’s run ends, Will Hall-the former Southern Miss head coach and Tulane’s current pass game coordinator-will take over. For now, Sumrall’s presence brings stability, and his team has responded well to the noise around the transition.
What the Rebels Are Saying
There’s no looking past Tulane, not after the Green Wave have rattled off five straight wins and made key personnel adjustments-especially at running back-since their early-season loss to Ole Miss. Pete Golding and the Rebels know they’re getting a different team this time around.
“We expect a better version of Tulane,” Golding said earlier this week. “They’ve gotten better, and so have we.”
Prediction: Rebels Roll, But Expect a Fight
Ole Miss 33, Tulane 14.
This won’t be the 45-10 blowout we saw earlier in the season. Tulane has grown since then, and Retzlaff’s dual-threat ability makes them more dangerous than their seeding might suggest. But the Rebels have too much firepower, and they’ve shown a knack for rising in big moments-even amid distractions.
Expect Chambliss to deliver a steady performance, and don’t be surprised if Kewan Lacy plays a starring role out of the backfield. With Golding steering the ship and Weis Jr. still calling plays, Ole Miss should have enough to punch their ticket to the Sugar Bowl.
Game Day Extras
- Theme: Ole Miss is going all out with a “stripe out” at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Expect a sea of alternating red and blue.
- National Anthem: Country music star Trace Adkins will perform the anthem before kickoff.
CFP Bracket Snapshot
Here’s how the rest of the first round shakes out:
- (9) Alabama at (8) Oklahoma - Dec. 19, 7 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
- (10) Miami at (7) Texas A&M - Dec. 20, 11 a.m. (ESPN/ABC)
- (11) Tulane at (6) Ole Miss - Dec. 20, 2:30 p.m. (TNT)
- (12) James Madison at (5) Oregon - Dec. 20, 6:30 p.m. (TNT)
Quarterfinals:
- Cotton Bowl (Dec. 31): Miami/Texas A&M winner vs.
(2) Ohio State
- **Orange Bowl (Jan.
1):** James Madison/Oregon winner vs. (4) Texas Tech
- Rose Bowl (Jan. 1): Alabama/Oklahoma winner vs.
(1) Indiana
- **Sugar Bowl (Jan.
1):** Ole Miss/Tulane winner vs. (3) Georgia
Semifinals:
- **Fiesta Bowl (Jan.
8):** Cotton Bowl winner vs. Sugar Bowl winner
- Peach Bowl (Jan. 9): Rose Bowl winner vs.
Orange Bowl winner
Championship:
- Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL - 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)
The CFP is here, and Oxford is the center of the college football universe-at least for one afternoon. The Rebels have a shot to make history. Now it’s about execution.