Inside the Emotional and Strategic Wildcard of the Ole Miss vs. Tulane Showdown
Jon Sumrall’s final ride with Tulane is turning into one of the most emotionally charged and strategically unpredictable stories of this year’s college football postseason. As Tulane gears up for a high-stakes matchup against Ole Miss, Sumrall is navigating more than just X’s and O’s-he’s doing so in the wake of personal tragedy. The Green Wave’s head coach recently lost his father, George Sumrall, after a prolonged illness, casting a heavy emotional shadow over what should be a career-defining moment in the College Football Playoff.
And yet, this game isn’t just about emotion-it’s also about the unknown. A lot of it.
Let’s start with Ole Miss. With Lane Kiffin no longer in the picture, the Rebels are now being led by Pete Golding.
That shift alone would be enough to throw a wrench into Tulane’s preparation. But there’s more.
The absence of Kiffin has opened the door for one of the most iconic families in football to step back into the Ole Miss spotlight-the Mannings.
Archie Manning, a name synonymous with Ole Miss football, reportedly re-engaged with the program in the lead-up to this playoff run. According to analysts Steve Willis and David Johnson, the Manning family had distanced themselves during Kiffin’s tenure.
Johnson noted that the family “didn’t want to be associated with Lane very much,” but are now “embracing Pete Golding.” That’s no small thing.
The Manning name carries weight-not just in Oxford, but across the sport. Their involvement isn’t just ceremonial; it can energize a program and rally a fan base in a way few others can.
So while Tulane may have initially seen Kiffin’s absence as a break, it’s quickly become clear that the new-look Ole Miss-reinvigorated by the Manning family’s backing and the mystery of Golding’s system-presents a whole new set of challenges.
From a tactical standpoint, Tulane is flying a bit blind. Their prep work was built around Kiffin’s offensive blueprint.
Now, they’re facing a Pete Golding-led team with no meaningful game tape to study. That lack of familiarity could be a major curveball.
Golding, known for his defensive acumen, brings a different philosophy and structure-one that Tulane’s players haven’t seen in action.
But it’s not a one-sided mystery.
Ole Miss, for its part, might be just as unsure about what Tulane will look like on game day. With Jon Sumrall’s status on the sideline uncertain following his father’s passing, newly promoted head coach Will Hall could be the one leading the Green Wave. Hall brings his own style and strategic tendencies, and without a full season of tape on him at the helm, Ole Miss might find themselves doing some guesswork of their own.
That mutual unfamiliarity is what makes this game so compelling. It’s not just a playoff matchup-it’s a chess match between two programs trying to outmaneuver each other in real time. Both sides are dealing with emotional weight, coaching transitions, and schematic uncertainty.
For Tulane, this could be a rallying moment. Whether Sumrall takes the field or Hall steps into the spotlight, the Green Wave have a chance to turn adversity into fuel. A win here wouldn’t just be a playoff victory-it would be a tribute to a coach’s resilience and a father’s legacy.
For Ole Miss, it’s a chance to show that this program is bigger than one head coach. With Pete Golding calling the shots and the Manning family once again in the fold, the Rebels are looking to prove they’re not just surviving post-Kiffin-they’re evolving.
Two teams. Two new head coaches. One massive stage.
And all the unpredictability that makes college football so captivating.