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Lane Kiffin’s controversial departure didn’t hurt Ole Miss in the team’s first round of the College Football Playoff against Tulane.
The Rebels earned a 41-10 victory over the 11th-seeded Green Wave on Saturday. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was treated on the field and was sidelined on the Rebels’ final series of the first half.
Chambliss was evaluated for a concussion and was cleared. He returned to the game for Ole Miss’ first possession of the third quarter and finished with a passing touchdown and two rushing scores.
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Trinidad Chambliss (6) of the Ole Miss Rebels scores a touchdown in the first quarter of a first round college football playoff game against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on December 20, 2025, in Oxford, Mississippi. (Wes Hale/Getty Images)
Tulane quarterback Jake Retzlaff orchestrated an offense that was successful at moving the ball at times, but the Rebels remained comfortably in the lead throughout. Ole Miss’ dominance nearly mirrors September’s 45-10 win over Tulane.
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Retzlaff finished with 306 passing yards and a touchdown for Tulane, whose loss dropped non-Power Five conference teams to 0-3 in CFP play. James Madison is the only non-Power Five team remaining in this year’s postseason. The Dukes trailed Oregon by 31 points with less than five minutes remaining in the first half of their first-round game Saturday night.
De’Zhaun Stribling (1) of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates with Diego Pounds (61) after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter of a first round college football playoff game against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on December 20, 2025, in Oxford, Miss. (Wes Hale/Getty Images)
Kiffin had asked to continue coaching Ole Miss through the postseason, even though he was working for Southeastern Conference rival LSU. Keith Carter, the Ole Miss athletic director, denied the request. So the Rebels entered arguably the most important game ever played at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with a new coach, Pete Golding.
Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding is surrounded by the team after winning a College Football Playoff first-round game against Tulane at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi on December 20, 2025. (Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Golding was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach following Kiffin’s departure.
In Mississippi’s famous Grove, artwork around tailgate tents depicted Kiffin in a negative light, including one showing him on a Christmas “naughty” list, with Golding in the “nice” column.
On the opposite sideline was Tulane coach Jon Sumrall, who was allowed to continue coaching the Green Wave after being hired by Florida. Sumrall will replace Billy Napier.
Ole Miss advanced to the quarterfinals and will meet Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
