Ole Miss Rolls Past Tulane in CFP Opener, Proving They're Still Built for the Big Stage
When a head coach leaves for a new opportunity, the assumption is the magic might leave with him. But Ole Miss is making it clear - the magic didn’t leave Oxford. It just put on a different headset.
In their College Football Playoff debut, the Rebels didn’t just win - they dominated. Ole Miss dismantled Tulane 41-10 on Saturday in a performance that was as confident as it was convincing. From the opening snap, this looked like a team with something to prove - and the firepower to back it up.
A Historic Start and Relentless Finish
If there were any questions about how locked in the Rebels were, they answered them in under a minute. Literally.
Ole Miss found the end zone just 59 seconds into the game, setting a new mark for the fastest touchdown in College Football Playoff history. That opening drive was a statement - and the Rebels weren’t done talking.
Ole Miss’s first five plays from scrimmage went for 30, 25, 20, 30, and 26 yards. That’s not a typo - that’s a track meet.
By the end of the first quarter, the Rebels were averaging a jaw-dropping 14.1 yards per play. At that point, it wasn’t about whether Ole Miss would win, but how emphatically they’d do it.
The second quarter saw the pace slow slightly, but Ole Miss still took a 17-3 lead into halftime. From there, they kept their foot on the gas.
Ten points in the third, 14 more in the fourth, and turnovers forced in both quarters - each one turned into points. That’s how you close out a playoff game.
Chambliss Delivers - Even Through Pain
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss showed exactly why he’s the leader of this team. He completed 23 of 29 passes for 282 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns. He also added 36 yards on the ground - and he did it all while briefly leaving the game in the second quarter with an apparent injury.
He returned in the second half and didn’t miss a beat. With this performance, Chambliss vaulted into the top 10 in Ole Miss history for single-season passing yards - a milestone that speaks to both his consistency and explosiveness all year long.
Defense Sets the Tone
While the offense was humming, the defense made sure Tulane never got comfortable. Green Wave quarterback Jake Retzlaff was bottled up all night, managing just 13 rushing yards on 10 carries. He fumbled twice and threw a pick on Tulane’s first possession - a tone-setting moment that Ole Miss capitalized on immediately.
The Rebels’ defense wasn’t just opportunistic - it was suffocating. Every time Tulane tried to build momentum, the door slammed shut.
And when the defense gave the ball back to Chambliss and company, the offense turned those chances into points. That’s complementary football at its finest.
Injuries Add a Note of Caution
There was one cloud in an otherwise clear CFP sky for the Rebels: injuries. Star running back Kewan Lacy looked electric early, ripping off 50 yards on his first two touches and finishing with 87 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. But he exited in the third quarter and didn’t return.
Lacy is chasing history - he sits second on Ole Miss’s all-time single-season rushing list and needs 201 yards in the Sugar Bowl to tie Quinshon Judkins for the top spot. Whether he’ll be healthy enough to chase that record against Georgia on January 1 remains to be seen, and his status will be closely watched in the coming days.
A Night to Remember in Oxford
Saturday night wasn’t just a win - it was a celebration. Ole Miss set a new program record for attendance, and the crowd was electric from the first snap to the final whistle. Chants for new head coach Pete Golding echoed through the stadium, and the team on the field gave fans every reason to believe that this new era is already off to a special start.
The Rebels didn’t just survive their first CFP appearance - they thrived. They looked fast, focused, and flat-out dangerous. And while there are still hurdles ahead - namely, a showdown with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl - for now, Ole Miss fans can breathe easy.
This team? Still special.
Final Score: Ole Miss 41, Tulane 10