OXFORD — The legend of Trinidad Chambliss grew a little larger in Ole Miss’ 41-10 victory over Tulane on Saturday in a first-round playoff game, with the former Division II championship quarterback playing one of his most complete games since taking over the starting position in September. T he senior was responsible for 318 yards of offense and three touchdowns, moving him into sixth place all-time in program history. His third-quarter touchdown pass to De’Zhaun Stribling was the 50th of his college career. He has thrown for at least one score in every game since he arrived in Oxford. Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) scores a touchdown against Tulane during the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Oxford, Miss. Credit: AP Photo/James Pugh After the game, Chambliss took a minute to reflect on how different his life is compared to a year ago. “This was definitely a dream of mine from when I was a little kid,” he said. “And now that we’re here, it’s time to embrace it and have fun. But, yeah, it’s crazy to think about how my life has changed since going from Division II Ferris State to Ole Miss and the SEC.” Chambliss’ former team, Ferris State, clinched its second-straight championship Saturday with a 42-21 win over Harding in McKinney, Texas. “Shout out to them,” Chambliss said Saturday with a grin. The senior was responsible for 318 yards of offense and three touchdowns, moving him into sixth place all-time in program history. His third-quarter touchdown pass to De’Zhaun Stribling was the 50th of his college career. He has thrown for at least one score in every game since he arrived in Oxford. The Mississippi contingent Several of the Rebels’ biggest contributors Saturday were Mississippi natives, especially on the defensive side of the football: • Sophomore Will Echoles, a former Houston Hilltoppers, led the Rebels with six total tackles, including one for a loss. • Junior linebacker and Raleigh native Suntarine Perkins had four tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, and forced a fumble that Ole Miss recovered. • Sophomore defensive end Kam Franklin, a Lake Cormorant product, finished the game with three solo stops and got in on one of the two Rebel sacks of Tulane quarterback Jake Retzlaff. Echoles, who recently announced he has no plans to enter the transfer portal, said he is looking forward to playing in the Magnolia State for at least one more year. “Home is home,” Echoles said. “Ole Miss is my home and I love the fans here. Why would I want to be anywhere else?” Sumrall acknowledged ‘hard’ week Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall reacts to a play against Mississippi during the first round of an NCAA the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Oxford, Miss. Credit: AP Photo/James Pugh Tulane’s loss to Ole Miss capped a whirlwind December for Green Wave coach Jon Sumrall. Just two weeks ago, the 43-year-old Huntsville, Alabama, native experienced the highest of highs — accepting the head coaching job at the University of Florida, a position that will reportedly pay him $44.7 million over six years. And Friday, on the eve he was to lead Tulane into the program’s first-ever College Football Playoff, he announced that his father, George Sumrall, had died after a lengthy illness. “He watched us today,” Sumrall said. “He’s probably got some questions about how we played, just like I do. I just don’t get to hear it from him tonight.” A day of records The announced crowd of 68,251 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Saturday is the largest crowd to ever witness a live sporting event in the state of Mississippi. Fans are treated to a drone show during the second half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, featuring Tulane against Mississippi, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Oxford, Miss. Credit: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis The win for Ole Miss makes this 2025 rendition of the Rebels the first in program history to record 12 wins, topping the 11-2 previous high set in 2023. The Rebels have also now won 12 consecutive home games going back to an Oct. 26, 2024 win over Oklahoma. It’s the third-longest active steak in all of college football. If all that wasn’t enough, fans were encouraged to don Santa hats, provided by the university, in an attempt to set the world record for most people in one place wearing Santa hats. No word, as yet, on whether a record was set or who would confirm it. ...read more read less