No. 6 Ole Miss faces an uphill battle in its College Football Playoff first-round game against No. 11 Tulane after losing starting quarterback Trinidad Chambliss to a first-half injury on December 20. The Rebels were cruising with a 17-3 halftime lead, but now must rely on backup Austin Simmons to continue their playoff run from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Trinidad Chambliss suffered injury late in first half on 11-yard scramble, leaving with 43 seconds remaining in Q2
- Rebels led 17-3 at halftime despite losing their starting QB and running back Kewan Lacy
- Chambliss completed 13 of 16 passes for 167 yards before injury occurred at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
- Austin Simmons, injured Week 2 at Kentucky, entered the game as backup and led a drive that ended in fumble
Trinidad Chambliss Takes Hit on Key Scramble
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Trinidad Chambliss hit the injury tent late in the second quarter after absorbing contact on an 11-yard scramble. Tulane defender Chris Rogers took him to the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium turf, with 43 seconds remaining in the first half. Chambliss limped off the field after the play and did not return before the break.
The Ole Miss starter was performing at an elite level before the injury. He completed 13 of 16 passes for 167 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Chambliss also rushed for 8 yards and 1 touchdown on 3 carries. By the time he exited, Ole Miss had built a commanding advantage over the Green Wave.
Backup Austin Simmons Enters the Game
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Austin Simmons took over at quarterback after Chambliss departed. The sophomore had entered the 2025 season as Ole Miss’s starting QB before suffering an ankle injury in Week 2 against Kentucky. Simmons then connected with Deuce Alexander on a 15-yard completion and found Dae’Quan Wright for 10 yards on his first two plays.
The backup’s drive stalled when Tulane’s Harvey Dyson III strip-sacked Simmons, resulting in a fumble recovered by the Green Wave. Simmons entered the game having completed 41 of 70 passes for 680 yards with 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions this season.
Ole Miss Facing Multiple First-Half Injuries
| Player | Position | Status |
| Trinidad Chambliss | Quarterback | Exited with apparent injury late Q2 |
| Kewan Lacy | Running Back | Shoulder injury, went to medical tent |
| Austin Simmons | Quarterback | Now starting, went to sideline in injury tent |
Running back Kewan Lacy, one of the nation’s elite ball-carriers, also sustained an apparent shoulder injury despite a dominant first half. Lacy had recorded 10 carries for 67 yards and 1 touchdown before getting hurt on a 7-yard reception with 1:40 left in the second quarter. During the regular season, he led the SEC with 20 touchdowns while accumulating 258 carries for 1,279 yards.
Rebels’ Dominant First Half Provides Cushion
Despite the injury concerns, Ole Miss dominated Tulane in the first 30 minutes of play. The Rebels built a 17-3 halftime lead at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, outgaining the Green Wave in total offense. The No. 6 seed Rebels earned the higher seeding over the No. 11 Green Wave in this first-round matchup.
Head coach Pete Golding, in his first season with Ole Miss after former coach Lane Kiffin did not participate in the College Football Playoff, saw his offense execute efficiently during the opening half. The team will need to maintain this momentum despite losing key players to injury during the critical playoff contest.
Can Ole Miss Survive Second-Half Adversity Against Tulane?
The most pressing question for Ole Miss is whether Austin Simmons can manage the offense effectively without the electric playmaking of Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels’ 17-3 advantage provides breathing room, but losing both QB1 and a star running back significantly changes the playoff dynamics.
Tulane comes into this matchup seeking revenge after Ole Miss dominated the Green Wave 45-10 in September during the regular season. The Green Wave need quick offensive scores to capitalize on any momentum shifts caused by Ole Miss’s injury troubles. The way the Rebels handle the second half will determine if they advance to face Georgia in the Sugar Bowl or face elimination in the first round of the playoffs.
Sources
- The Clarion-Ledger – Trinidad Chambliss injury updates and game statistics
- USA TODAY – Kewan Lacy shoulder injury details and running back statistics
- Saturday Down South – Trinidad Chambliss injury play-by-play analysis
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.