Note: Our coverage of Ole Miss football in the College Football Playoff is brought to you by the great folks at BlueSky, Richland Dental, Oxford Krystal and Southern Traditions Farm. We are incredibly appreciative of these sponsors and encourage you to click on the links above to visit their sites.
OXFORD, Miss. — Here we are, Ole Miss is in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history and will face a familiar opponent in Tulane.
The last time the Green Wave visited Oxford, the Rebels rolled to a 45-10 victory and totaled 548 yards of offense. Ole Miss holds a 41-27 all-time series lead over Tulane, with its most recent loss in the matchup coming in 1987. The Rebels are also 14-2 at home against the Green Wave, with the last home loss dating to 1980; though, the stakes are significantly higher this time.
Things may not have gone as expected up to this point for the Rebels, but you cannot takeaway anything that this team has accomplished. Despite the coaching changes and all the distractions that came with that, this was an Ole Miss team that never paid attention to the outside noise. It’s put-up-or-shut-up time in Oxford; the Pete Golding era officially kicks off in a sold-out Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, and there is nothing else left to say other than: Spot. the. ball.
With that being said, here is The Rebel Walk staff giving their best shots at predicting 6-seeded Ole Miss vs. 11-seeded Tulane:
Score prediction: Ole Miss 35, Tulane 28
X-Factor player: Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy
In this high scoring playoff game in Oxford, Trinidad Chambliss throws for over 300 yards with three touchdowns. Kewan Lacy runs for 200 yards and two touchdowns.
Bold prediction: Tulane keeps it close
Tulane is lead by quarterback Jake Retzlaff who has passed for 2,862 yards on the season with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Green Wave comes in averaging 410.7 yards of total offense with passing 235.0 yards while running the ball 170.2 yards.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 35, Tulane 17
X-Factor player: De’Zhaun Stribling & Deuce Alexander
Stribling has come on super hot at the end of the season being a dynamic threat in every zone for Ole Miss, and it seems he and Trinidad have found it together. Deuce was the leading receiver the last time they met, finishing with four catches for 94 yards. I can see him having a repeat performance.
Bold Prediction: Ole Miss wins the turnover battle
This is something that has been preached all week by Pete Golding and Co. and with the defensive coordinator stepping onto the gridiron as the head coach for the first time, I have no doubt this defense will be flying around all night.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 34, Tulane 14
X-Factor player: Deuce Alexander
I think Deuce has remained quiet much of the season, despite wanting and earning more targets. His long touchdown catch in the Egg Bowl proved he’s hungry and ready to show the world his upside. Expect a big game from Alexander; big catches and finding the end zone are his speciality
Bold Prediction: The Ole Miss defense tallies three sacks
This is a group of guys that according to TJ Dottery still haven’t played a full game all season. I expect them to do so against the green wave. The defense understands this team will go as far as they will take them, and there’s no better way to build confidence than sacking Retzlaff three times.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 31, Tulane 7
X-Factor Player: Trinidad Chambliss
Trinidad is Top 5 in the country and owns the third-highest QBR (rating for all facets of performance) of the twelve quarterbacks entering the playoffs, and he’ll be cutting it loose on the Tulane defense in every situation that presents itself.
Bold Prediction: Defense is Unyielding
The Pete Golding defense puts its best foot forward for its new head coach, holding the American Conference champs to single digits.
Prediction: Ole Miss 38, Tulane 21
Ole Miss enters this game with an offense built around one of the best rushers in the country and a quarterback who’s been productive all season.
X-Factor: Trinidad Chambliss
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has been excellent with his arm and legs, routinely topping over 300 yards of total offense and keeping defenses off balance with his running game, too. Running back Kewan Lacy has powered the ground attack all year and leads the team in rushing yards and touchdowns while posing a constant threat to break a long one. Wide receiver Deuce Alexander has been a reliable target downfield, making big catches in key moments.
Bold Prediction: Ole Miss pass rush gets home
On defense, playmakers like Zxavian Harris and Suntarine Perkins will make life tough on Tulane with their ability to disrupt in the backfield.
Tulane will compete. They have shown they can move the ball and make plays of their own, Ole Miss has more firepower and depth, especially at home in Oxford.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 48, Tulane 17
X-Factor player: Trinidad Chambliss
I know, I know. I sound like a broken record. But as Trinidad goes, so go the Rebels. In the first matchup against the Green Wave back in September, he was 17-of-27 but those 17 went for 307 yards and two TDs. Chambliss also rushed for 112 yards on 14 carries, proving he can be a workhorse with his legs if he needs to be.
Media likes to point out that Tulane QB Jake Retzlaff was still early in his career with the Green Wave and is a much better player now that he has so many more games under his belt. However, keep in mind, Trinidad made his first start against Arkansas in week 3, followed by just his second start ever in D1 football the next week against Tulane.
So while there’s no doubt the Green Wave will be better — there’s no doubt Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss will be also.
Bold Prediction: Ole Miss scores more points than they did the first time (45) the two teams played
I think Jon Sumrall will have dialed up some defensive schemes and packages to try and disrupt Chambliss. It won’t work. I look for RB Kewan Lacy to exceed his 68 yards (18 carries) he notched in the first game. Rebels score 48 and roll into NOLA to a Sugar Bowl matchup against Georgia.
Score prediction: Ole Miss 38, Tulane 13
X-Factor player: Trinidad Chambliss
Well, the moment has finally arrived. The Ole Miss Rebels will not only be participating in a playoff game, they will be hosting one, against the Tulane Green Wave. In a battle between two teams known to have prolific offenses and less-than-stellar defenses, it may well come down to which QB can out-duel the other, and if the first go-round between these two teams is any indication, there is quite a gap between the starting QBs of these two squads (as is there is between these two offenses as a whole).
With the Rebels bringing an offense that averages 498.1 yards per game (numbers that were compiled against SEC teams) compared to a Tulane offense that averages an impressive but not quite as high 410.7 yards per game (numbers that were compiled against American Athletic teams) it’s clear which team will have the edge, and there’s reason for optimism for the Ole Miss defense to outperform its own expectations.
Bold Prediction: Ole Miss records more than 500 yards of total offense
Not only has the Ole Miss offense been one of the most deadly of any team in the country, but Tulane’s defense has been thoroughly unspectacular, giving up 375.5 yards per game as well as 255.2 passing yards per game. Couple that the strong home field advantage the Rebels will enjoy, having gone 35-3 in their last 38 home games (with the three losses by a combined 11 points) and all signs point to a career day for the Ole Miss offense. Be on the lookout for video game numbers from Trinidad Chambliss and co. as well as a comfortable Rebel victory.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 40, Tulane 20
X-Factor player: Will Echoles
Echoles ranks second on the team in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (8) and elevated his play in the back half of the season along with the rest of the Rebels’ front seven. Earlier this season against Tulane, the Ole Miss defense did not record a sack and finished with five tackles for loss, despite allowing just 10 points.
Expect “Big Will” to set the tone for the Landshark defense in the second half. The unit appears to be rallying around Golding, and Echoles is among the players fully bought in, announcing earlier this week that he will return to Ole Miss for the 2026 season.
Bold Prediction: Close first half, but Ole Miss shuts Tulane out in the second
The Rebels took a 23-3 lead into halftime in their Week 4 matchup en route to a blowout victory. Although Sumrall will coach elsewhere next season, the Green Wave should not be expected to fold.
Expect a motivated Tulane team playing with nothing to lose early. The Green Wave could even hold a lead for a stretch in the first or second quarter, but Ole Miss should ultimately have too much offensive firepower to let this game slip away.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 33, Tulane 14
X-Factor player: Trinidad Chambliss
Trinidad Chambliss had an absolute field day during the first game 307 passing yards, 2 Touchdowns and 112 yards rushing. He has only gotten better so I expect another explosive game from him.
Bold Prediction: Defense soars to new heights with Pete Golding on the sideline
I expect our defense to step up in a huge way with Pete Golding not in the box, as he will be on the sideline. Over the course of the season, the defense has steadily improved. However with Coach Golding on the sideline, I expect this defense to play to the next level.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 31, Tulane 21
X-Factor player: Trinidad Chambliss
Bold Prediction: Ole Miss taking down Tulane in an extremely competitive game
Coach Sumrall and Jake Retzlaff will be far more difficult to deal with but I’m ultimately confident in Pete Golding and the Rebels’ defensive unit. I believe Princewill Umanmielen will notch over 2 tackles for loss and De’Zhaun Stribling will catch a touchdown pass.
Up next:
The first round CFP matchup between Ole Miss and Tulane kicks off Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. CT on TNT, truTV and HBO Max. Stay tuned in with The Rebel Walk for all your game coverage.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
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.
