Rebels prove they’re built for more: What Ole Miss learned from road win over Oklahoma

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss earned a strong resume win Saturday after defeating the then-No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, 34-26. While some may argue this was Lane Kiffin’s biggest win as the Rebels’ head coach, there’s no disputing it helps Ole Miss inch closer to a college football playoff berth this year.

Ole Miss now sits 7-1 and is preparing to host a South Carolina team that has lost three straight games. There are some key takeaways from the win over Oklahoma, so let’s dive in to them.

1. The Ole Miss offense proved it can break down any defense

This 2025 Ole Miss offense may be the most efficient and effective offense Lane Kiffin has assembled since arriving in 2019. Prior to this game, there was so much talk about OU head coach Brent Venables’ defense and how effective his number one total defense in the country was and how it would completely dominate Ole Miss coming off the South Carolina victory.

Instead, it was Ole Miss that prevailed time and time again and for a number of reasons.

Offensive line

Let’s start with the offensive line, where credit is certainly due, Ole Miss went on the road to Georgia and Oklahoma, and Trinidad Chambliss was only sacked one time.

Chambliss did create some big moments with his legs to avoid some negative plays throughout these two games, but the turnaround for John Garrison’s group is incredible. There were ample opportunities for this offensive line to fade, a bad snap to Trinidad Chambliss on third down, and an even worse snap to Kewan Lacy, but the front line never wavered against an Oklahoma team that is tied for second in the country for sacks. Patrick Kutas and Jayden Williams have strung together, and Delano Townsend has gotten better with every game. Diego Pounds, on Monday, was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.

Lane Kiffin understands the dynamics and the chemistry of his offensive line a lot better than he did before the season started, and that has helped create effective plays on third and fourth downs.

Kewan Lacy

The next reason the Ole Miss offense has been so successful is Missouri transfer running back Kewan Lacy; simply put, he is a game changer. The Rebels’ running back can create something out of nothing, and that’s incredibly valuable for an up tempo offense.

Lacy had himself another game Saturday against the Sooners, finding the endzone twice while also posting 78 yards. An effective run game seems to have been the missing piece that Ole Miss couldn’t find in 2024. Lacy isn’t just an effective runner, he’s a timely runner. Creating space and opportunities for himself, Lacy tiptoes through plays, sometimes appearing to be waiting for the right moment to explode.

Tremendous credit must also be given to Lacy’s pass blocking ability. He has shown no fear and exudes a willingness to put his head down and help block for his teammates — and that’s what helps make this offense so successful. His efforts do not go unnoticed by his coaches and teammates. His receiving ability is also very important for Ole Miss, He’s Mr. Do-It-All, and the Rebels are better for it.

Ole Miss receivers 

Let’s not leave out the Ole Miss wide receiver group as they deserve their flowers. At Oklahoma, true freshman Winston Watkins excelled. He notched four catches for 111 yards, and none was bigger than his catch with 6:58 remaining in the fourth quarter as he helped Ole Miss extend its lead to eight points.

The Rebels have a group that runs routes at an elite level, and when one player might not have his best game, others step up, causing problems for any defense.

The four tight end set has continued to work at a high level for Ole Miss, and Trace Bruckler was a key participant against Oklahoma. The Texas native hauled in his first touchdown catch of the season in Norman, and even forced a huge fumble on a punt return in the fourth quarter. Charlie Wise Jr has schemed Dae’Quan Wright, Caleb Odom, Luke Hasz, and Trace Bruckler in ways that set the Ole Miss offense up for success on any down.

2. Trinidad Chambliss continues his Heisman push

Chambliss continues to shine in every aspect. The Ole Miss QB finished the game Saturday 24-for-44 in the air, 315 yards passing, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. He also tallied 66 yards rushing against the Sooners. Is that not dynamic? And against the statistical number one-ranked defense in the nation.

Saturday was the fourth time this season that Chambliss has thrown for at least 300 yards and run for more than 50, tying Heisman trophy winner Johnny Manziel for second-most in SEC history. That’s a recipe for success, but forget the numbers, and take a moment to understand the magnitude of the last two weeks. Chambliss started his first road game last weekend for Ole Miss at Sanford Stadium, a game where he totaled more than 300 yards of offense.

His second-ever road start would follow with Saturday’s road trip to Norman as he faced the top defense in the country. Oklahoma had not allowed one quarterback this season to throw for more than 220 yards, yet Chambliss walked into their home and dominated.

Ole Miss has a quarterback that is confident in his game, and rightfully so. Chambliss carved up the OU defense with some beautiful throws against the Sooners, showing great accuracy all over the field. He continues to understand the importance of using a check down and avoiding negative plays. Accurate throws in the pocket and on the run put fear in opposing defenses, and that’s exactly what Chambliss has done for Ole Miss. Credit goes to Lane Kiffin and Charlie Wise Jr, as they sought this player in the portal for a reason and dialed up incredible things for him to be successful this season and against Oklahoma.

Chambliss continued to fight no matter the score, and he helped his team find a way to win a huge game.

3. The Ole Miss defense stepped up when it mattered

A lot of noise and pressure surrounded Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding and his group after the Georgia loss, and rightfully so. Good thing for Ole Miss fans, these guys answered the call, and players stepped up in big ways when they needed to.

One of those is defensive lineman Princewill Umanmielen. He has continued to show flashes of his abilities this season, but it all came together for him against Oklahoma. Making his way through the Oklahoma offensive line, Umanmielen finished the game with 1.5 sacks, and his pressure made him impactful on almost every drive.

Umanmielen’s speed and footwork make him a headache for opposing players, and it helps when other players also step up. Suntarine Perkins also came to life against Oklahoma, and that’s what Ole Miss fans have been excited to see. The Rebels completely turned the game plan around from the Georgia game, and Perkins thrived in every aspect against Oklahoma because of it. Will Echoles continues to grow into an elite player for Ole Miss, as his size and pure aggression to get to the quarterback is a quality Coach Golding enjoys.

Linebacker Andrew Jones, a Grambling State transfer, also had a terrific game against Oklahoma, finishing with three important tackles, all solo. Jones found himself in every position to succeed against the Sooners’ offense, flying across the field and making huge tackles, and it begs the question why Ole Miss hasn’t used him more this season. Nonetheless, he’s made an impact over the last two games for the Rebels, building competition in the linebacker room in the process.

The Ole Miss defense fought until the final seconds ticked off the clock Saturday. Different Rebels stepped up in the secondary and made plays over and over again, and that’s what matters the most. Ole Miss never gave up when Oklahoma made big plays or drove down the length of the field, and that attitude will lead them to even greater heights the rest of the season.

Next Up:

Ole Miss hosts South Carolina Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.