Tulane Green Wave Stun Nation with Last-Second Bowl Win: Highlights, Reactions & What’s Next

Tulane football is in uncharted territory this afternoon as the No. 11 Green Wave storm into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to face No. 6 Ole Miss in the first round of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT) on TNT, with streaming available through Fubo and participating cable apps. Why the matchup matters • First CFP appearance: Tulane is the first American Athletic Conference program to crack the playoff field, setting up a David-vs-Goliath rematch against an SEC heavyweight. • Revenge narrative: The Rebels routed Tulane 45-10 on Sept. 22, but head coach Jon Sumrall’s squad has ripped off nine straight wins since, including an AAC title over North Texas. • Coaching carousel drama: Lane Kiffin’s December jump to LSU leaves Ole Miss interim staff in charge, while Sumrall is juggling Tulane’s playoff run with an accepted job at Florida. Key players to watch • QB Jake Retzlaff, Tulane – The BYU transfer leads the Green Wave in passing and rushing; his 16 rushing TDs are tied for most by an FBS quarterback. • DL Santana Hopper, Tulane – First-team All-AAC disruptor (10.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks) anchors a front that must contain SEC rushing leader Kewan Lacy. • QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss – The Heisman finalist torched Tulane for 419 total yards in September and pilots the nation’s No. 4 scoring offense. • LB Princewill Umanmielen, Ole Miss – Nebraska transfer paces the Rebels with 10 TFL and is heating up with 4.5 sacks in the last five games. Strategic keys 1. Contain the edge: Tulane’s defense is stingy inside but surrendered 248 rushing yards outside the tackles in the first meeting. Expect coordinator Shiel Wood to crowd the perimeter with safety Jack Tchienchou. 2. Early tempo: Retzlaff operates best in hurry-up; Tulane is 8-0 when scoring first. Offensive coordinator Slade Nagle scripted 15 plays emphasizing quick throws and option looks to neutralize Rebel pass rush. 3. Third-down discipline: Ole Miss converts 52 percent of third downs, second nationally. Hopper and linebacker Jesus Machado must create negative plays to force Chambliss into obvious passing downs. 4. Turnover margin: Tulane is +11 during its winning streak; Ole Miss is −3 in its last four games. Ball security could flip a projected 17.5-point spread. Weather & surface Forecast calls for clear skies and 58°F at kickoff in Oxford. Vaught-Hemingway’s natural grass was resodded after the Egg Bowl, drawing rave reviews from players during Friday’s walkthrough. Fan impact More than 10,000 Green Wave supporters caravaned up I-55, producing one of the largest visitor sections Ole Miss has seen outside the SEC. Tulane’s athletic department sold out its initial 5,000-ticket allotment in 18 minutes, then secured an additional 2,500 upper-deck seats that were claimed within the hour. Path forward The winner advances to the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal on Jan. 1 against No. 3 Georgia. For Tulane, that would mean its first game in the Superdome since the 2023 Cotton Bowl victory over USC; for Ole Miss, it would set up a rematch of its lone loss this season. SEO takeaways Search interest around “Tulane vs Ole Miss live stream,” “Tulane College Football Playoff,” “Tulane kickoff time,” and “how to watch Tulane football today” is spiking. Bookmark this page for live updates, post-game reaction, and complete CFP bracket coverage as the Green Wave chase the biggest win in program history.