Rebels dominate from start to finish in emphatic CFP debut

photo from usatoday.com

By Walker Johnson

Dec 20, 2025, 8:12PM

OXFORD — Playing in front of a raucous home crowd, the Ole Miss Rebels made a powerful statement in their first-round College Football Playoff game, overwhelming the Tulane Green Wave 41–10 with a blend of explosive offense and stifling defense.

Ole Miss wasted no time setting the tone, scoring on its opening possessions and racing out to a two-score lead within the first eight minutes. The Rebels’ tempo and spacing stressed Tulane’s defense immediately, opening running lanes and creating one-on-one opportunities downfield.

Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was in full command, distributing the ball efficiently and keeping Tulane off balance with both his arm and mobility. Ole Miss consistently won first down, allowing the offense to stay ahead of the chains and dictate pace throughout the game.

Tulane showed flashes of competitiveness, moving the ball between the 20s and generating yardage, but stalled drives and costly turnovers repeatedly halted any chance of momentum. Ole Miss’ defense capitalized on those mistakes, flipping field position and giving the offense short fields to work with.

By halftime, the Rebels had built a comfortable lead, and the second half became a matter of control. Ole Miss continued to rotate players, leaning on its depth and physicality to close out the game. A balanced rushing attack chewed up clock while the defense clamped down, limiting Tulane’s ability to generate explosive plays.

The win sends Ole Miss to the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal against Georgia, setting up one of the most anticipated matchups of the postseason and confirming the Rebels’ status as a legitimate national title contender for this rematch between the Rebels and the Dawgs.