Jason Berry
Writer
No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels, 11-1, will face No. 20 Tulane Green Wave, 11-2, this Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
This game is a rematch of a regular-season meeting that was anything but close. Ole Miss dominated Tulane 45-10 in Oxford, Mississippi. From the start, it was a mismatch.
The Rebels piled up 548 total yards on offense. Meanwhile, Tulane managed just 282 yards, which was its lowest total of the season. Ole Miss controlled every phase of the game.
Since then, a lot has changed. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin left for LSU before the playoff began. Still, most of the offensive staff remains in place for the playoffs. Even so, the drama surrounding the move has only fueled the Rebels. They want to prove they can make a playoff run without Kiffin.
Tulane is dealing with a similar change. Just not as dramatic. The Green Wave also lost its head coach. Jon Sumrall left for Florida, and Will Hall was promoted to head coach in December of 2025.
On the field, the gap was obvious in the first matchup. Ole Miss outgained Tulane by nearly 250 yards. The Rebels completely shut down the Green Wave’s passing attack. Offensively, Trinidad Chambliss and company were dominant. They threw for over 300 yards and added 241 yards on the ground.
Ole Miss scored on eight of its first nine possessions. Tulane had no defensive answers. However, the blowout did reveal one concern for the Rebels: their run defense.
For Tulane to win, almost everything would need to go right. It would be a massive upset.
In the first meeting, the Green Wave struggled badly in the passing game. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff never found a rhythm. He completed just five passes for 56 yards. He was also Tulane’s leading rusher, which highlights another issue.
Things may be even tougher this time. Wide receiver Bryce Bohanon, one of Tulane’s top targets, is listed as doubtful. That is a major blow to an already struggling offense.
Because of that, Shazz Preston will need to step up in a big way. Still, it is hard to see Tulane overcoming such a clear mismatch across the field.
Tulane’s best hope may lie in Ole Miss being distracted due to all of the drama.
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Writer
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