Ole Miss Victory Over Oklahoma Shakes Up College Football Playoff Race
The College Football Playoff (CFP) landscape keeps shifting, and Week 9’s Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma clash was a real turning point for both teams. Both entered the game with one loss, so the stakes felt sky-high.
Ole Miss pulled off a 34-26 win, which shook up both teams’ playoff paths. Let’s dig into what went down—who stepped up, what’s left on each team’s schedule, and how this all shakes out for their playoff dreams.
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Ole Miss’s Triumph: A Crucial Victory
This win for Ole Miss wasn’t just another notch in the belt—it was a statement. The Rebels are now 7-1 (4-1 in the SEC), and that record puts them in a pretty good spot for a CFP bid.
The game itself was wild, honestly. Both sides traded punches until Ole Miss finally surged ahead in the fourth quarter.
Key Performances
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss played a huge role, racking up 314 passing yards and a touchdown. He also scrambled for 53 yards, which kept Oklahoma guessing.
Kewan Lacy, the running back, really ground it out—27 carries for 79 yards and two scores. Winston Watkins made some noise too, grabbing four catches for 110 yards.
Ole Miss’s defense stepped up when it counted, especially late in the game. Lane Kiffin leaned into a balanced attack, and it paid off as the Rebels shut down Oklahoma in crunch time.
Oklahoma’s Missed Opportunity
Tough one for Oklahoma. The loss drops them to 6-2 (2-2 in the Big 12), and their playoff window just got a whole lot smaller.
They fought hard, especially in the third quarter when they actually took the lead. But they just couldn’t hold on when it mattered most.
Notable Performances
John Mateer, Oklahoma’s quarterback, had a mixed outing. He went 17-for-31 for 223 yards and a touchdown, but only managed 17 yards on the ground.
Running back Xavier Robinson was a bright spot, breaking off 109 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries. Isaiah Sategna III also stepped up, hauling in six passes for 131 yards and a score.
Still, Oklahoma’s defense just couldn’t contain Ole Miss in the final quarter, and that’s what did them in.
Impact on College Football Playoff Chances
This win gives Ole Miss’s CFP hopes a real boost. Their schedule from here isn’t exactly a murderer’s row, so they’re set up to finish strong—if they can avoid any stumbles.
Their remaining games? South Carolina, The Citadel, Florida, and Mississippi State. None of those are sure things, but Ole Miss will be favored in all of them.
Remaining Schedule
- Nov. 1 vs. South Carolina
- Nov. 8 vs. The Citadel
- Nov. 15 vs. Florida
- Nov. 28 at Mississippi State
Even if they drop one more game, their close battle with Georgia and solid record could keep them in the playoff conversation.
Oklahoma’s Uphill Battle
Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s got a tough road ahead. Next up: Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, and LSU. That’s a brutal stretch by any measure.
To have any shot at the CFP, the Sooners pretty much have to win out. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives them just a 1% chance of pulling that off—not exactly reassuring.
Remaining Schedule
- Nov. 1 at Tennessee
- Nov. 15 at Alabama
- Nov. 22 vs. Missouri
- Nov. 29 vs. LSU
Sure, a two-loss team isn’t out of it completely, but Oklahoma’s losses to Texas and Ole Miss make things way tougher. They’ll need to win—and hope for a little chaos elsewhere.
Expert Projections
Before Week 9, folks like Pat Forde and Bryan Fischer had Ole Miss slotted at No. 10 in their playoff brackets. After the win, Fischer bumped them up to No. 7, which could mean hosting a first-round game if things break right.
Oklahoma, on the other hand, has slipped out of the bracket and into the “also considered” pile. For Ole Miss, it’s all about keeping the pedal down and not slipping up. For Oklahoma, every game is do-or-die from here on out.
Conclusion
The Week 9 clash between Ole Miss and Oklahoma really shook up the 2025 college football season. Ole Miss pulled off a win that now puts them in a pretty strong spot for a CFP berth.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s got a tough road ahead if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Every game left on their schedule suddenly feels like it could tip the scales either way.
If you want to dig deeper, check out the full article on Sports Illustrated.
