OXFORD — Ole Miss football will look to extend its perfect start to the season.
The 11th-ranked Rebels (3-0) welcome Tulane (3-0) to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Sept. 20 (2:30 p.m., ESPN).
Although Lane Kiffin said on Sept. 15 that Austin Simmons would start at quarterback, On3 reported on Sept. 18 that Trinidad Chambliss is expected to get the nod for a second straight week. Simmons aggravated a lower-body injury against Arkansas in Week 3, lasting only four snaps after first getting hurt the week before.
Chambliss shined in his first SEC start, throwing for 353 yards, rushing for 62 more, and totaling three touchdowns.
Tulane, representing the American Athletic Conference, comes in receiving the fifth-most votes among unranked teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll. The Green Wave have already knocked off two power-conference opponents this year, beating Northwestern in Week 1 and Duke in Week 3.
Ole Miss vs Tulane prediction
Ole Miss will once again square off against a dual-threat quarterback, this time in Tulane’s Jake Retzlaff — a matchup that could produce another shootout.
A transfer from BYU, Retzlaff has been electric, averaging 522 passing yards and 96 rushing yards. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior brings a running element similar to Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green.
That’s notable because the Rebels struggled against Green, who torched them for 305 passing yards and 115 on the ground.
Retzlaff currently leads Tulane in rushing and tallied four rushing touchdowns in the win over Duke, posing a major challenge for the Ole Miss secondary.
On the other side, Tulane’s defense will have its hands full no matter who starts at quarterback for the Rebels. Ole Miss enters the game averaging 45 points per contest, fourth-best in the SEC, and will look to feature running back Kewan Lacy, who is averaging 97 yards on the ground.
Ole Miss vs Tulane scouting report
Why Ole Miss holds the edge: The Rebels have already shown they can finish tight games.
In Week 2 against Kentucky, backup quarterback Trinidad Chambliss helped secure the win by guiding the offense to the first downs needed to drain the clock. A week later versus Arkansas, linebacker TJ Dottery delivered the game-clinching forced fumble in the final moments.
After going winless in one-score games last season (0-3 in 2024), Ole Miss has flipped the script in 2025, starting 2-0 in such contests.
Why Tulane has the edge: Ole Miss’ unsettled quarterback situation plays into the Green Wave’s favor.
Austin Simmons has been battling a lower-body injury that limited him to just four snaps against Arkansas, and even if he returns, he won’t be at full strength. Trinidad Chambliss impressed in Week 3, but Tulane now has film on him against SEC competition to help shape its defensive plan.
Ole Miss vs. Tulane injury updates
Because this is a nonconference matchup, Lane Kiffin isn’t required to release an injury report, leaving Simmons’ health the biggest question mark. On the defensive side, Ole Miss could get a boost if cornerback Jaylon Braxton makes his season debut. The Arkansas transfer has yet to play but was listed as questionable the past two weeks.
Ole Miss vs. Tulane prediction
Ole Miss 29, Tulane 23: Tulane has a case as the top non–Power Conference team in the country, and a win in Oxford would make the Green Wave a serious College Football Playoff contender. Expect another tight game — but Ole Miss has made closing out close contests its calling card in 2025.
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