Instant Reaction: No. 7 Ole Miss Handles Business, Continues Hunt for College Football Playoffs

OXFORD, Miss. — It wasn’t about perfection — it was about persistence. And once again, Lane Kiffin’s Rebels did what good teams do in November: they won.

No. 7 Ole Miss took care of business under the lights at Vaught-Hemingway, defeating South Carolina, 30–14, to stay squarely in the College Football Playoff conversation. It might not have been a masterpiece, but it was a complete win from a team learning how to close out games when it matters most.

Rebels Stay on Track

At this stage of the season, there’s just one mission: don’t lose. Style points are nice, but survival is what separates playoff contenders from the rest.

Ole Miss woke up Saturday needing four more wins to keep its CFP hopes alive. After handling South Carolina, the number drops to three — and the Rebels are very much in control of their own destiny.

Defense Dominates the Day

This one belonged to the defense.

After a strong performance in Norman last week, Pete Golding’s unit turned in another gritty effort, holding the Gamecocks to just 50 rushing yards on 32 attempts.

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers never found a rhythm, finishing 16-for-30 for 180 yards with one touchdown and two costly interceptions. The Rebel defensive front swarmed, and the secondary continued to make timely plays — a combination that’s becoming Ole Miss’ defensive identity down the stretch.

Suntarine Perkins and Kam Franklin each finished with six total tackles and each notched two solo. Perkins also added 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a quarterback hurry. Franklin recorded a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry.

Offense Efficient When It Counted

While the offense had its ups and downs, it did what it needed to do. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss managed the game efficiently, the offensive line gave him time, and Kewan Lacy once again proved yet again why he’s one of the SEC’s most valuable running backs. The Missouri transfer finished with 167 yards on 24 carries, a whopping 7 yards per carry average.

The Rebels racked up 417 total yards, averaged 6.3 yards per play, and were perfect in the red zone — all while winning time of possession and first downs.

The only blemish? A rough 1-for-11 showing on third down. But credit Kiffin’s aggressiveness — Ole Miss converted 3-of-4 fourth downs, extending drives and maintaining control.

Big Picture: Three More Steps

The Rebels’ path forward is simple: win out and control your own destiny. Next up is The Citadel, followed by two key matchups against Florida and Mississippi State.

Florida showed it can hang with anyone, giving Georgia a scare and beating Texas earlier this season. And the Egg Bowl? Well, no matter the records, it’s never easy. A hungry Mississippi State team with nothing to lose could make for another emotional showdown.

Still, the Rebels have shown resilience and growth since that loss in Athens. There’s a maturity about this group — a quiet confidence that’s starting to look like something special.

Final thoughts

No. 7 Ole Miss isn’t chasing flash — it’s chasing history. The road to Atlanta and beyond remains open, and the Rebels are proving, week after week, that they can take a punch, respond, and keep moving forward. Three games remain.
Three wins stand between Oxford and a seat at college football’s biggest table.