NORMAN, Okla. — When No. 8 Ole Miss’s players and coaches woke up Saturday morning, their chances of making the College Football Playoff were about 50 percent.
When they go to sleep, those chances will be a lot higher.
The Rebels’ 34-26 win against No. 13 Oklahoma has put them in a great spot to make the playoff. Win out, and they’re in.
And the hardest game on the schedule is the Egg Bowl game against Mississippi State in Starkville.
Ole Miss will host South Carolina, The Citadel and Florida over the next three weeks before making the short trip south to land of cowbells.
Of the SEC teams vying for a playoff spot, that’s got to be one of the easiest schedules.
WINSTON 🤯 WATKINS 🤯@winstonwatkins_ | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/Sp6lLa8zgV
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 25, 2025
Beating the Sooners wasn’t easy, though.
Oklahoma mounted comebacks after being down by multiple scores, but even when the Sooners had fallen behind 26-25 in the second half, it always felt like Ole Miss was going to win.
Was it harder than it should’ve been? Yes.
In the first half, the only thing that could stop the Rebels were the Rebels. Most notably was the failure to get into the end zone in the second quarter when Austin Simmons missed two open receivers.
The Rebels had to settle for a field goal.
There was also the decision by Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin to try and convert a fourth down from the Rebels’ 25-yard line. The direct snap to running back Kewan Lacy was off-target and the result was a turnover on downs.
The Rebels’ defense held Oklahoma to just a field goal after that to highlight how important its contributions were to the win.
Oklahoma’s defense was ranked at the top or near it in every important defensive category. The Sooners forced some big plays and stops, but Ole Miss didn’t struggle often on offense.
The Rebels’ defense shined brightly, recording a safety in the first half, three sacks and five tackles for a loss during the game, even if they were only on the field for 51 plays.
Additionally, Oklahoma’s offense gained 325 yards but most of those yards came on a 76-yard touchdown by Isaiah Sategna III and a 65-yard touchdown run by Xavier Robinson.
But several ill-timed penalties and a fourth quarter fumble doomed the Sooners.
Overall, it was a good game for Ole Miss and its fans should find plenty of reasons to be hopeful about the rest of the season.
Trinidad Chambliss led an offense that racked up 431 total yards, accounting for 315 passing and 53 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown himself.
TOOOOO smooth 😮💨#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/1kS3xKUt1L
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 25, 2025
Kewan Lacy was a workhorse for the Rebels, running the ball 22 times for XX yards and X touchdowns.
Now, Ole Miss just has to avoid a repeat of last season and what happened to end its playoff hopes (i.e., don’t lose to Florida again).
