Ole Miss finds rhythm on both sides in 34-26 road win at Oklahoma
NORMAN, Okla. — On a slick field and in hostile territory, the No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels overcame early mistakes and a second-half response from No. 13 Oklahoma to secure a hard-fought, 34-26 road win.
𝙎𝙤𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧? Try 𝗟ater 😏 #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/h3tNsnxgye
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 25, 2025
The Rebels responded to a gut-wrenching loss in Athens with grit in Norman. Ole Miss’ defense got to the quarterback, won the turnover battle and gave up just 136 yards on the ground despite a 65-yard touchdown run for the Sooners in the second half.
After the game, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin commented on the tough road victory.
“Very different fourth quarters as a team, this was a big win. This was hard, and we didn’t want to go on the road and lose two in a row. Obviously, we want to be undefeated, but 1-1 is something to build on”
~ Lane Kiffin after the win over Oklahoma
Game recap
Despite slowing down the tempo on wet turf, the Ole Miss offense started just as it did a week ago — fast. Trinidad Chambliss looked De’Zhaun Stribling‘s way twice in a row for 19 yards to open the drive, then found Cayden Lee in a tight window down the seam to put the ball in Sooner territory. However, the drive stalled there, and Lucas Carneiro came out for a 45-yard field goal that put the Rebels up 3-0.
The Ole Miss defense forced a quick third down on the first Oklahoma possession but failed to get off the field, just as it struggled to do a week ago. John Mateer launched one down the sideline over the shoulder of Isaiah Sategna III for a 39-yard gain, but a holding penalty halted the momentum and forced the Sooners into a 42-yard field goal to tie it 3-3.
Short gains and a 25-yard catch by Harrison Wallace III put Ole Miss back in position to answer quickly. A few plays later, Kewan Lacy found daylight and raced 28 yards into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game — and the first touchdown Oklahoma had allowed in an opening quarter this season.
HE’S BREAKING FREE 🎶#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/2ebndAHiur
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 25, 2025
The Ole Miss defense then did something it had struggled with all season: forcing a three-and-out. TJ Dottery stuffed a pair of runs and gave the ball back to the Rebel offense, but Chambliss and company failed to capitalize. After moving the ball near midfield, a low snap to Chambliss resulted in a 5-yard loss on third down, and Ole Miss punted to end the first quarter.
The lead didn’t last long. Mateer directed traffic and found Sategna III on a crossing route for a 76-yard touchdown on the second play of the quarter. Lacy put the Rebels ahead of the sticks with a 13-yard run to start the ensuing drive, but a sack and another loss after that was too much to overcome, and the Sooners seized momentum.
However, a strong punt by Oscar Bird pinned Oklahoma at its own 5-yard line, and the Landshark defense added a safety two plays later — its first since 2022. It was Princewill Umanmielen and Will Echoles meeting the Sooner running back in the backfield to drop him in the end zone — the start of a breakout game for Umanmielen.
Seatbelts ONNNN 💺 @hoodiiewill | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/2yXffsWycV
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 25, 2025
“I think we didn’t make as many mistakes. Last week Georgia made some really good plays, but there were a lot of times where we didn’t make them work for it.”
~ Kiffin on the Ole Miss defense
After the safety, Izaiah Hartrup returned the kickoff for 38 yards near midfield. Chambliss went back to work with his legs, picking up 16 yards to move into plus territory. Wallace III turned a short catch into a 21-yard gain, and another first-down run by Chambliss on third and long put Ole Miss on the goal line. Austin Simmons checked into the game after that but overthrew a wide-open Stribling in the end zone, then missed again on the next play, forcing another field goal try.
The Sooners looked to respond down five late in the half, but Umanmielen came up big again, sacking Mateer on 4th-and-2 to force a turnover on downs.
1⃣’s having a DAY 😌@hoodiiewill | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/xF46vOHTbz
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 25, 2025
A couple of short gains later, Chambliss delivered a 31-yard strike to Lee to put the Rebels back on the goal line. Chambliss stayed in the game this time, and Lacy punched in his second touchdown from two yards out to extend the Ole Miss lead to 22-10 going into halftime.
Do your dance 5⃣ 🕺#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/J1I81amilf
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 25, 2025
Kiffin is now 5-1 with Chambliss as his starter and the Rebel head coach thought he was the difference today.
“I thought he was great, I thought he did what team did. He made some really great throws, some corner route throws where he missed some against Georgia.”
~ Kiffin on Chambliss against Oklahoma
The Ole Miss defense forced a quick punt to open the second half, but Oklahoma’s defense answered in kind. Facing 4th-and-1 on the next drive, Kiffin kept the offense on the field despite a 12-point lead, but a bad direct snap to Lacy pushed the Rebels backward for a turnover on downs in their own territory.
Luckily for Ole Miss, Umanmielen continued his dominant day, combining with Jaden Yates for another sack of Mateer. Still, the short field allowed Oklahoma to trim the lead to 22-13.
Chambliss responded by leading a five-minute drive into Sooner territory, aided by two Winston Watkins Jr. catches for 28 yards and a roughing-the-passer call that moved the ball into the red zone. The drive stalled again, and Carneiro nailed a 29-yard field goal.
The second 12-point lead of the day didn’t last either. On the first play of the next Oklahoma drive, Xavier Robinson broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run, cutting it to 25-20. The Sooners had just 18 rushing yards before that play.
Ole Miss went three-and-out on its next drive, and Mateer quickly gave Oklahoma its first lead of the day. A mix of plays set up Robinson’s second touchdown, putting the Sooners ahead 26-25 after a failed two-point try.
With a minute left in the third quarter, Ole Miss faced another fourth-and-1. This time, the Rebels converted with a pass into the flat to Dae’Quan Wright for a 7-yard gain as the quarter expired.
Two plays later, Chambliss hit Watkins Jr. over the middle for a 40-yard gain into the red zone. Lacy and Chambliss moved the ball inside the 10, and Chambliss capped the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Trace Bruckler. The Rebels went for two but failed, with Simmons checking in again for the play.
WINNIE WIDEEEEEE OPEN 😌@winstonwatkins_ | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/aHdooPx9Zx
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 25, 2025
TOOOOO smooth 😮💨#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/1kS3xKUt1L
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 25, 2025
Kam Franklin sacked Mateer on the ensuing drive, and the defense forced another quick punt. Chambliss and the offense went three-and-out again, but Bruckler made his second huge play of the day by ripping the ball away from Sategna III on the punt return to set Ole Miss up near midfield.
Watkins Jr. continued his career day when Chambliss found the true freshman down the sideline for a 43-yard gain to the Oklahoma 10. The Rebels tried to bleed clock with a few runs that went backward, and Carneiro added three more points to extend the lead.
Watkins Jr. finished with four catches for 111 yards — a career high — in a game where Ole Miss needed explosive plays.
WINSTON 🤯 WATKINS 🤯@winstonwatkins_ | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/Sp6lLa8zgV
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 25, 2025
With four minutes to go, a pass interference call on the Rebel defense prolonged Oklahoma’s final real chance, but Mateer and the Sooners eventually turned it over on downs again. Ole Miss drained more clock before punting with a minute left, and Oklahoma’s last-ditch effort fell short.
Chambliss again surpassed 350 total yards to lead the Rebel offense, while Lacy anchored the ground game with 27 carries for 78 yards and two scores. Outside of Watkins Jr., Wallace III added five catches for 64 yards.
Kiffin bragged on Lacy and his offensive line after the victory.
“He’s (Lacy) really elite, and took care of the ball. Thats two games on the road, zero turnovers, and one combined sack.”
~ Kiffin on Lacy and the Ole Miss offensive line
The Ole Miss defense looked much improved from the showing in Athens, finishing with three sacks and six tackles for loss. Umanmielen led that unit with six tackles, 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss.
Up next
The Rebels will return home from their two-game road trip and host the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Nov. 1. Kickoff time and a television slot is still to be determined.
Kameron Wicker
Kam is an Ole Miss alumnus with a degree in Journalism. Even though he's from Delhi, Louisiana, that didn't stop Kam from growing up a diehard Ole Miss fan. He's a sports guru who watches and follows all sports at all times. He lettered four years in football and baseball in high school and is an avid Saints, Pelicans, and Astros fan. He currently resides in Gulf Shores, Alabama where he works full-time as a sports editor.
