Ole Miss Destroys Tulane: 5 First Round CFP Takeaways

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Ugh.

Ole Miss never let the College Football Playoff First Round get interesting.

It took just three plays and less than a minute to go up 7-0, it was 14-3 in the second quarter, and that was it for the drama.

Ole Miss was bigger, stronger, faster, and better, and Tulane was totally outclassed. It’s fine – the Green Wave was a conference champ who got in, but now we move on.

It was a huge moment for the Ole Miss program, a coaching change, and to keep moving forward in the tournament. Here are five takeaways from the Ole Miss 41-10 win.

Ole Miss Passed Its First Test of the New Era in a Mismatch

Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling (1) reacts after catching a touchdown against the Tulane Green Wave during the second half of a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. © Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

5. Ole Miss was the Power Four program, and Tulane wasn’t

Tulane beat Northwestern and Duke. It’s not that it couldn’t hang with Power Four programs, but there’s a massive difference between dealing with teams trying to put it all together early in the season, and a fully-focused College Football Playoff-caliber team from the SEC.

Much was made about Ole Miss rolling Tulane 45-10 in the first meeting, and this was even less competitive, even if the final score was better.

It’s not that Tulane can’t tackle, it’s that it couldn’t. Ole Miss was bigger, faster, stronger, and again, wasn’t going to look past a game like this.

It was over from jump, but …

4. Tulane DID deserve to be here

Notre Dame couldn’t have been in Oxford facing Ole Miss – five conference champions had to be in. So if you take out James Madison, you put in Duke, and that would’ve been the 12 seed going to Oregon since Tulane beat the Blue Devils.

The Green Wave won the best Group of Five conference. The beef overall is more about James Madison – unless it rocks and shocks Oregon, which is coming up after this is written.

Tulane played its way in, got its shot, came up way short, and we move on. That’s fine. That’s the whole point of the College Football Playoff First Round. You get a chance if you’re a Tulane.

A game like this was necessary. It’s part of the process, and it’s fine.

3. The Rebel backfield was fantastic, but …

Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels linebacker Suntarine Perkins (4) celebrates a defensive play against the Tulane Green Wave during the second half of a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The stars showed up, but they got banged up.

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was hurting early on, but he came back in and played. Razor-sharp, he completed 23-of-29 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 36 yards and two scores – health-wise, he was just fine.

Running back Kewan Lacy hurt his shoulder, but he still busted out 87 yards and a score on 15 carries. He was terrific, Chambliss was great, and now it’s about getting them both healthy and rested for Georgia.

2. Pete Golding is setting a whole new tone for Ole Miss

This is not the Lane Kiffin era.

It’s been obvious from the start that the players like the guy. It’s not in a “win one for him” sort of way, but more like in a respect, he’s a good dude type of motivation.

Kiffin was the star of the show, and it’s been slightly unfair the way he’s been dragged. I know many didn’t like the act, but Ole Miss isn’t Alabama, or Ohio State, or LSU. Having a superstar figure like him brought attention and an attitude to the program, and it totally worked.

This is Lane Kiffin’s team in the CFP Quarterfinals.

But Golding is different. It’s ALL about the players, from the interviews to the game walk, to the credit given, to everything. Golding isn’t a star, but …

1. Ole Miss has a College Football Playoff win

© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Pete Golding has a College Football Playoff win. Lane Kiffin doesn’t.

Golding joins a small fraternity of current head coaches – Mario Cristobal, Ryan Day, Kalen DeBoer, James Franklin, Marcus Freeman, Dan Lanning, Steve Sarkisian, Kirby Smart – with a CFP win.

Remember, Ole Miss isn’t a traditional powerhouse program. Again, give Kiffin credit for getting the Rebels here – Florida, LSU, Tennessee, and Texas aren’t in the playoff, and Texas A&M and Oklahoma are done.

This continues to be the best season in the program’s history, and now it gets to take its cuts in a rematch against Georgia to keep it all going.

Even after all the drama and all issues, Ole Miss has a College Football Playoff win.

This story was originally published by College Football News on Dec 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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