Ole Miss overcomes coaching shake-up, dominates Tulane in CFP debut
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Lane Kiffin’s controversial departure didn’t hurt Ole Miss in the team’s first-round College Football Playoff matchup with Tulane.
The Rebels earned a 41-10 victory over the 11th-seeded Green Wave on Saturday. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss received treatment on the field and was carted off the field during the Rebels’ final first-half series.
Chambliss was evaluated for a concussion and cleared. He re-entered the game on Ole Miss’ first possession of the third quarter and finished the game with a passing touchdown and two rushing scores.
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Trinidad Chambliss (6) of the Ole Miss Rebels scores a touchdown in the first quarter of a first-round College Football Playoff game against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., on Dec. 20, 2025. (Wes Hale/Getty Images)
Tulane quarterback Jake Retzlaff ran an offense that managed to move the ball at times, but the Rebels remained comfortably ahead throughout the game. Ole Miss’ dominance almost mirrored its 45-10 victory over Tulane in September.
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Retzlaff finished with 306 yards passing and a touchdown for Tulane, whose loss dropped conference teams outside the Power Five to 0-3 in CFP play. James Madison was the only team outside the Power Five in this year’s playoffs. The Dukes trailed Oregon by 31 points with less than five minutes left in the first half of Saturday night’s first-round matchup.
De’Zhaun Stribling (1) of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates with Diego Pounds (61) after scoring in the third quarter of a first-round College Football Playoff game against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Dec. 20, 2025 in Oxford, Miss. (Wes Hale/Getty Images)
Kiffin had wanted to continue coaching Ole Miss in the playoffs even while working for Southeastern Conference rival LSU. Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter denied the request. So the Rebels entered arguably the most important game ever played at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium under new coach Pete Golding.
Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding is surrounded by the team after winning their first-round College Football Playoff game against Tulane at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford on December 20, 2025. (Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Golding was promoted from defensive coordinator to the head coaching role following Kiffin’s departure.
In Mississippi’s famous Grove, artwork around tailgate tents portrayed Kiffin in a negative light; one featured her on the Christmas “naughty” list, with Golding in the “nice” column.
On the other side was Tulane coach Jon Sumrall, who was allowed to continue coaching the Green Wave after being hired by Florida. Sumrall will replace Billy Napier.
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Ole Miss advanced to the quarterfinals and will face Georgia at the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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