When Ole Miss and Tulane take the field this Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, it’ll be a rematch with some serious emotional undercurrents-and plenty of football intrigue. The Rebels handled the Green Wave with ease back in September, cruising to a 45-10 win.
But that was then. This is now.
And both programs are walking into this one with very different vibes-on the field and on the sidelines.
Let’s break down the three biggest storylines heading into this matchup:
1. Coaching Chaos vs. Coaching Continuity
This game features two staffs in very different phases of their journeys. On Tulane’s side, head coach Jon Sumrall is already halfway out the door, set to take over at Florida next season.
And whether anyone wants to admit it or not, that kind of transition leaves a mark. It’s hard to imagine Sumrall and his staff aren’t already mentally shifting gears toward Gainesville.
That trickles down to the locker room. Players feel that.
They notice when the energy in meetings changes, when the urgency in practice dips just a bit. And in a bowl game-or any postseason environment-those margins matter.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss is going through its own coaching transition, but the tone is strikingly different. Pete Golding, the new head man, is doing everything he can to keep the Lane Kiffin blueprint intact-at least for now.
He’s not trying to reinvent the wheel before kickoff. He’s loosened the reins just enough to let players feel a fresh start-like letting them mix up their cleat colors-but the mission remains the same: win, and do it with confidence.
Golding’s approach seems to be resonating. The Rebels are treating this game like a program-defining moment, and if they can focus through the noise, they’ve got a real shot to make a statement.
The question is: who handles the distractions better? The team with a foot in the future or the one trying to steady itself in the present?
2. Tulane’s Ground Game vs. Ole Miss’ Front Seven
If Tulane is going to flip the script from their September loss, it starts with the run game. The Green Wave rushed for 179 yards on 39 carries in that first meeting-right in line with their season average of 170 yards per game at 4.6 yards per carry.
That’s not just a stat line-it’s their identity. Tulane wants to control tempo, chew clock, and keep opposing offenses on the sideline.
That’s how they win.
But Ole Miss knows that, and they’ll be ready. The Rebels want the opposite: quick stops, short drives, and their explosive offense back on the field.
This is going to be a trench war. Can Tulane’s offensive line create lanes and keep the chains moving, or will Ole Miss stack the box, control the line of scrimmage, and force Tulane to rely on a passing game that hasn’t exactly been lighting it up?
If the Rebels can shut down the run early, it could be a long day for Tulane. But if the Green Wave find rhythm on the ground, they’ll be able to slow the game down and make it a grind-exactly what they want.
3. Chambliss and Lacy: The Rebels’ Engine
When you talk about Ole Miss this season, two names rise to the top: Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy. They’re the heartbeat of the Rebels’ offense, and if Ole Miss is going to take care of business again, it starts with them.
Chambliss was electric in the first meeting, throwing for 307 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-27 passing, while also adding 112 yards on the ground. That dual-threat ability puts defenses in a bind, and Tulane had no answers last time. If Chambliss can replicate that performance-especially spreading the ball around like he did to seven different receivers-it’ll stretch Tulane’s defense thin and open up even more space for Lacy.
And Lacy? He’s the kind of back that demands attention on every snap.
He doesn’t just keep drives alive-he demoralizes defenses with his physicality and vision. If Tulane sells out to stop him, it opens up the passing game.
If they don’t, Lacy could take over the game himself.
Tulane’s defense is going to have to pick its poison. And if Chambliss and Lacy are both clicking? That’s a nightmare scenario for the Green Wave.
Final Thought
This isn’t just a rematch-it’s a measuring stick for both programs. For Tulane, it’s a chance to show they’re better than what we saw in September.
For Ole Miss, it’s about proving that their momentum is real, even with a new voice at the helm. There’s talent on both sidelines, but the team that blocks out the distractions and executes their identity will come out on top.
Saturday’s going to be fun. Buckle up.