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Tulane was overwhelmed the first time it faced Ole Miss this season. Now, with a second-round College Football Playoff berth on the line, the Green Wave will get another chance, and an opportunity for redemption.
The Rebels dominated the initial meeting, rolling to a 45-10 victory in a game that was largely decided early. Ole Miss piled up a season-high 548 yards of offense and controlled play in all three phases. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss proved too much for Tulane’s defense, throwing for 307 yards and two touchdowns while adding 112 rushing yards. Running back Kewan Lacy chipped in two rushing scores as Ole Miss dictated tempo from start to finish.
Tulane struggled to generate offense. Starting quarterback Jake Retzlaff was limited to 56 passing yards, while backup Brendan Sullivan accounted for the Green Wave’s lone touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
As Tulane prepares for the rematch, much will hinge on which version of Retzlaff shows up. Despite his struggles against Ole Miss, Retzlaff remains the centerpiece of the Green Wave offense. He led the team in rushing with 610 yards and scored 16 touchdowns on the ground, tied for fourth nationally among all players. Tulane is at its best when Retzlaff is effective as a runner, and establishing him early will be a priority.
If the Green Wave can force Ole Miss to overcommit to stopping the run, play-action opportunities could open up downfield. Retzlaff showed that capability earlier this season at Memphis, where he threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Explosive plays could provide a much-needed spark.
Third-down efficiency will also be critical. In the first meeting, Ole Miss converted 7 of 11 third downs, while Tulane went just 6 of 15. Those extended Rebel drives kept Tulane on its heels. Defensively, the Green Wave must force longer third-down situations, while offensively, staying ahead of the chains will be key to sustaining drives.
Tulane’s front seven must also be more physical. Lacy rushed for 1,270 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, the latter ranking second nationally. While Tulane limited his damage in the first meeting, containing both Lacy and Chambliss in the run game remains essential.
Ole Miss enters favored again, but the path is clear for Tulane. A strong performance from Retzlaff, improved third-down play and a defense that shuts down the Rebels’ ground attack could be enough to flip the result and send the Green Wave into the playoff’s second round.
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