Ole Miss Dominates Tulane in College Football Playoff Showdown
No. 6 Ole Miss made a statement in their College Football Playoff debut, rolling past Tulane 41-10 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Let’s break down the moments and performances that fueled Ole Miss’s big win and set up their rematch with Georgia.
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Ole Miss Dominates Early and Never Looks Back
Right out of the gate, Ole Miss flexed their offensive muscle. They scored touchdowns on two of their first three drives and never gave up the lead.
Kewan Lacy wasted no time, slicing through Tulane’s defense for a 20-yard touchdown run in under a minute. Not long after, Jaylon Braxton snagged an interception off Tulane’s Jake Retzlaff, which set up a quick four-play drive capped by Trinidad Chambliss’s 4-yard score. Suddenly, Ole Miss was up 14-0.
Tulane’s Struggles and Ole Miss’s Defensive Prowess
Tulane managed to move the ball here and there, but finishing drives? That was a different story. Their only first-half points came from Patrick Durkin’s 39-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
Ole Miss answered with a 42-yard field goal by Lucas Carneiro. A fumble by backup quarterback Austin Simmons stopped the Rebels from stretching the lead even further just before halftime.
Second Half Surge Seals the Victory
After halftime, Ole Miss just kept rolling. Chambliss, who’d left briefly with an injury, came back to lead a 7-play, 80-yard march that ended with a touchdown pass to De’Zhaun Stribling.
The Rebels tacked on two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Logan Diggs punched one in from three yards out, and Chambliss added an 8-yard keeper after a turnover on downs.
Tulane did manage to avoid a shutout late, putting together an 80-yard drive capped by a 29-yard touchdown from Retzlaff to Justyn Reid.
Key Performances and Game-Changing Plays
Some moments and players really shaped this game:
- Kewan Lacy: Opened up with that 20-yard touchdown run, really setting the tone.
- Jaylon Braxton: His interception led to a quick Ole Miss score.
- Trinidad Chambliss: Accounted for several touchdowns, both passing and rushing, even after a quick injury scare.
- Logan Diggs: Added a late 3-yard touchdown run.
- TJ Dottery and Kapena Gushiken: Forced and recovered a fumble on Tulane’s trick play, shutting down any hope of a comeback.
Looking Ahead: Ole Miss vs. Georgia Rematch
Now, Ole Miss gets another shot at Georgia—the only team to beat them this season. Trinidad Chambliss has really stepped up, especially after Austin Simmons went down with an injury.
Chambliss’s energy and playmaking have been a huge boost, and how he handles the Georgia defense in the next round feels like the big question. Can he keep this up against a powerhouse like the Dawgs?
Season Recap and Coaching Changes
Ole Miss’s year has been anything but smooth. Simmons got hurt in Week 2, and Chambliss took over, eventually locking down the starting job even after Simmons returned.
Their only loss was to Georgia, and honestly, they hung around until late in that one. Then came the bombshell—Lane Kiffin announced he’s leaving for LSU after the regular season.
Defensive coordinator Pete Golding is now running the show for the playoffs. Even with the coaching shakeup, Ole Miss’s offense is still one of the most explosive in the country, ranking third in FBS yards. That’s not something you see every day.
Tulane’s Season and Playoff Run
Tulane’s road to the College Football Playoff was gritty. They leaned heavily on BYU transfer Jake Retzlaff, who helped them grab their second straight American title after beating North Texas in a play-in game.
Retzlaff’s ability to make plays—throwing and running—was a huge factor all year.
Challenges and Areas for Improvement
Against Ole Miss, though, Tulane hit a wall. Retzlaff struggled in the passing game, tossing a costly interception and fumbling on a trick play. That made a comeback pretty much impossible.
The defense couldn’t contain Ole Miss’s big plays, either. If Tulane wants to stay in the playoff hunt next year, they’ll need to finish drives and get Retzlaff more comfortable under pressure. There’s work to do, but the potential’s there.
Final Thoughts
Ole Miss really made a statement against Tulane in their College Football Playoff debut. That win sets up a much-anticipated rematch with Georgia.
The Rebels have a wild, high-powered offense—Trinidad Chambliss leads the way there. If they keep making big plays at the right moments, they’ve got a real shot at the national title.
As for Tulane, this playoff run gave them something they’ll carry into future seasons. You can bet they’ll be back, hungrier than ever.
Want more details on this matchup or other College Football Playoff news? Check out the official NCAA website.
