Ole Miss walked out of its 41-38 win over Louisville with a headline performance from Deuce Alexander, but the second of his two long touchdowns came with a potential problem attached.
On a 62-yard scoring play in the second half, Alexander appeared to celebrate by flipping the ball behind him as he headed into the end zone. The issue: it looked possible he may have lost control of the ball before actually breaking the plane.
Officials did not spot anything wrong on the field, and the play was not reviewed. That score pushed Ole Miss to an 8-point advantage in the second half. If Alexander did in fact drop the ball before the goal line, the play should have gone the other way entirely, with a touchback and possession awarded to Louisville.
ESPN did not provide a down-the-line angle during the broadcast, leaving the moment open to debate. The network’s social account highlighted the explosive night with a post reading: “TWO TOUCHDOWNS FOR DEUCE ALEXANDER 🔥
Ole Miss takes the 3rd quarter lead over Louisville 😤
- ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 7, 2026”
The Rebels ultimately needed every bit of it. Ole Miss sealed the win with a 48-yard field goal at the end of regulation.
If more video surfaces in the coming days, it may settle whether Alexander’s touchdown should have stood. For now, though, the result is clear: Alexander was central to the victory, finishing with 5 catches for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Ole Miss hosts Charlotte next week.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Fans ESPN Moment Became A Much Bigger Story Than Expected
The season opener against Louisville gave Ole Miss plenty of drama on the field, but one fans reaction wound up getting nearly as much attention as the game itself. During ESPNs coverage, Sara M. Smith was shown looking understandably stressed after a Louisville touchdown, and the brief moment quickly took on a life of its own once it hit social media.
Smiths anxious expression spread fast enough to turn her into an unintended viral figure, prompting a flood of attention and forcing her to temporarily lock down her Instagram profile. It was a strange little subplot to a wild night in Oxford, where the Rebels eventually finished the job with a 41-38 win on a walk-off field goal. [Read more 🡒]
Trinidad Chambliss Answered Ole Miss Biggest Week 1 Question
The most important thing Ole Miss needed to learn in Week 1 was whether Trinidad Chambliss could steady a game that might have gotten away early, and he answered it in a big way against Louisville. After a shaky start that included turnovers, Chambliss settled in and kept the Rebels on course in a back-and-forth matchup, piling up 386 passing yards and accounting for four touchdowns while helping Ole Miss survive a 41-38 finish.
What stood out most was how the game tightened around him late, when every possession mattered and the Rebels needed someone to handle the pressure instead of adding to it. In a weekend when a lot of SEC teams cruised through lopsided openers, Ole Miss got a real test, and Chambliss final drive gave the Rebels a much clearer idea of what they have under center as the season moves into a tougher stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Deuce Alexander Just Gave Ole Miss Fans A New Reason To Believe
The first full week of SEC football brought an early lift for Ole Miss, and Deuce Alexander was right in the middle of it. The Rebels wide receiver was named a co-offensive player of the week by the conference, a nod that lands just as the league begins handing out its first round of weekly honors and starts separating the teams and players that made an immediate impression.
Alexander shared the distinction with LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt, putting Ole Miss on the leagues opening-week shortlist in a way fans will notice. It is the kind of recognition that can help shape the early conversation around a team, even with the SEC also unveiling its weekly honors for defense, special teams, the lines and a freshman standout. [Read more 🡒]