Ole Miss wasted no time lighting up the scoreboard in its first-round College Football Playoff showdown against Tulane, delivering a statement in just 59 seconds that had Vaught-Hemingway Stadium rocking.
From the opening kickoff, the Rebels came out swinging. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss set the tone with back-to-back strikes-first a 30-yard dart, then a 25-yard connection-that had Ole Miss knocking on the door before Tulane’s defense could even get its bearings. The tempo was fast, the execution crisp, and the message clear: Ole Miss wasn’t easing into this one.
Then came the exclamation point. On just the third play from scrimmage, running back Kewan Lacy found a crease up the middle and exploded through it untouched for a 20-yard touchdown.
The crowd didn’t just erupt-they detonated. That early jolt of energy wasn’t just about the score; it was about setting a tone.
And Ole Miss set it loud and clear.
The Rebels’ social media team captured the moment with a fitting celebration: “LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED 🥳” - and honestly, it felt like a party in Oxford. Another post followed, highlighting the lightning-fast drive: “5⃣9 SECONDS 🤯 #CFBPlayoff x #HottyToddy.”
The fans were feeling it. So was the team.
And they weren’t done.
Still in the first quarter, Chambliss added to the highlight reel with a 4-yard touchdown run of his own, pushing the lead to 14-0. It was a one-two punch from quarterback and running back, and Tulane was reeling early.
Chambliss looked in complete control, and Lacy ran like a man on a mission. The Rebels had turned their home stadium into a frenzy before the game had even settled into a rhythm.
For a program stepping into a new era post-Lane Kiffin, this was exactly the kind of start Ole Miss fans were hoping for. Confident.
Explosive. Commanding.
There was still plenty of football left to be played, but if the opening minutes were any indication, the Rebels weren’t just participating in the Playoff-they were making their presence felt.
With a quarterfinal spot on the line, Ole Miss came out like a team that didn’t just want to advance-they wanted to announce themselves. And in less than a minute, they did exactly that.