Ole Miss vs Tulane: Key Details and Predictions for CFP Showdown
In an exciting turn of events, Ole Miss is set to host Tulane in the first round of the College Football Playoff (CFP) on December 20, 2025.
This historic game marks Ole Miss as the first Mississippi team to reach the CFP, adding an extra layer of significance to an already thrilling matchup.
Both teams are coming in with coaching changes and high stakes on the line, so there’s a lot to unpack here.
The winner heads to the Sugar Bowl to face No. 3 Georgia on January 1, 2026.
Let’s take a closer look at the key players, coaching drama, and what fans can expect from this pivotal game.
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Game Overview: Ole Miss vs. Tulane
The Ole Miss Rebels have put together an impressive 11-1 season and will face the Tulane Green Wave, who are 11-2.
The game is set for Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on December 20 at 2:30 p.m. CT, broadcast on TNT.
This isn’t just a battle of skill—it’s going to test both teams’ resilience as they deal with recent coaching shake-ups.
Key Players to Watch
Several players could seriously impact how this one turns out:
- Trinidad Chambliss: The Division II transfer from Ferris State has stepped up as the starting quarterback for Ole Miss, replacing Austin Simmons. Chambliss led Ferris State to a national championship in 2024 and has performed admirably in high-stakes games this season.
- Jake Retzlaff: Tulane’s quarterback, Retzlaff, had a rough outing against Ole Miss earlier this season but has shown improvement since then. He averages 220.2 passing yards per game with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. Retzlaff is also a dual-threat, contributing 46.9 rushing yards per game and 16 total rushing touchdowns.
- Kewan Lacy: Ole Miss’s running back is expected to play a crucial role in the Rebels’ offensive strategy. His performance could be a game-changer for Ole Miss.
Coaching Dynamics
The coaching situation for both teams is, well, a bit wild right now.
Ole Miss is led by interim head coach Pete Golding after Lane Kiffin took the LSU job. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will coach in the CFP game before following Kiffin to LSU.
On Tulane’s side, Jon Sumrall has accepted the head job at Florida but will stick around to coach the Green Wave through the CFP.
Will Hall, who used to coach Southern Miss, is set to take over after Sumrall leaves.
Previous Matchup: Ole Miss vs. Tulane
Back on September 20, Ole Miss rolled over Tulane with a 45-10 win.
But this time? It might not be so lopsided.
Tulane’s made some personnel tweaks, especially at running back, and they’ve rattled off five straight wins since that loss.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss is still getting used to new coaches and will need to keep their heads on straight to repeat that kind of success.
Expectations and Predictions
With changes and improvement on both sides, this game feels like it’ll be tighter than the first meeting.
Ole Miss is favored, with a predicted score of 33-14, but Tulane’s recent form suggests they could make things interesting.
Chambliss and Lacy will need to come up big for Ole Miss, while Retzlaff’s ability to run and throw could keep Tulane in it.
Game Day Experience
Fans heading to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium should expect a lively scene.
There’s a stripe-out planned for the CFP game, so the stands should look incredible.
Country music artist Trace Adkins will sing the national anthem—honestly, that’s a nice touch.
Ticket Information
Tickets are up for grabs on platforms like StubHub.
This is a historic game, so if you want in, you might want to snag your seats soon.
College Football Playoff Schedule
The Ole Miss vs. Tulane game is just one piece of a packed CFP schedule this year. There’s a lot to look forward to, honestly:
- First Round (Dec. 19-20):
- (9) Alabama (10-3) at (8) Oklahoma (10-2) on Dec. 19 (7 p.m., ESPN & ABC)
- (10) Miami (10-2) at (7) Texas A&M (11-1) on Dec. 20 (11 a.m., ESPN & ABC)
- (11) Tulane (11-2) at (6) Ole Miss (11-1) on Dec. 20 (2:30 p.m., TNT)
- (12) James Madison (12-1) at (5) Oregon (11-1) on Dec. 20 (6:30 p.m., TNT)
- Quarterfinals (Dec. 31, Jan. 1):
- Cotton Bowl: Miami-Texas A&M winner vs. (2) Ohio State (12-1) on Dec. 31 (6:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Orange Bowl: James Madison-Oregon winner vs. (4) Texas Tech (12-1) on Jan. 1 (11 a.m., ESPN)
- Rose Bowl: Alabama-Oklahoma winner vs. (1) Indiana (13-0) on Jan. 1 (3 p.m., ESPN)
- Sugar Bowl: Tulane-Ole Miss winner vs. (3) Georgia (12-1) on Jan. 1 (7 p.m., ESPN)
- Semifinals (Jan. 8, 9):
- Fiesta Bowl: Cotton Bowl winner vs. Sugar Bowl winner, Jan. 8 (6:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Peach Bowl: Rose Bowl winner vs. Orange Bowl winner, Jan. 9 (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Championship Game: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, Jan. 19 (6:30 p.m., ESPN)
If you want more details or maybe some predictions for Ole Miss vs. Tulane, check out The Clarion Ledger.
Honestly, with all that’s on the line, the Ole Miss vs. Tulane matchup could be wild. Might as well mark your calendar now.
