Tag: Tulane

Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (1) breaks the tackle attempt by Tulane Green Wave defensive back Isaiah Wadsworth (8) during the first half of a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

No. 6 Ole Miss begins Pete Golding era with CFP rout of No. 11 Tulane

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Trinidad Chambliss threw for 282 yards and accounted for three touchdowns that combined with No. 6 Ole Miss’ strong defensive performance for a 41-10 victory over No. 11 Tulane under new coach Pete Golding in a College Football Playoff first-round game Saturday at Oxford, Miss.

Golding’s first game as head coach coincided with the Rebels’ first CFP game, and it was mostly a smooth day as the Southeastern Conference team rolled to its second victory this season against Tulane.

Chambliss threw for one touchdown and had rushing scores from 4 and 8 yards.

Ole Miss (12-1) heads to the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 in New Orleans to face No. 3 Georgia in the quarterfinals. It will be a rematch of the Rebels’ only loss this season – by a 43-35 score on Oct. 18 on the Bulldogs’ home field.

Tulane (11-3) played under coach Jon Sumrall in his final game before he takes over at Florida. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff was 20-for-35 passing for 306 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Shazz Preston caught five passes for 125 yards.

Golding, who rose from defensive coordinator to head coach when Lane Kiffin bolted for LSU on Nov. 30, watched his defense keep Tulane out of the end zone until four minutes remained in the game.

Chambliss was 23-for-29 without an interception. Kewan Lacy rushed for 87 yards with a touchdown on 15 carries.

Lacy scored the game’s first touchdown on a 20-yard burst up the middle as the Rebels went 75 yards in three plays to score 59 seconds into the game.

Following Jaylon Braxton’s interception in the red zone, Ole Miss was quickly in the end zone again. The Rebels covered 60 yards in four plays as Chambliss ran 4 yards to make it 14-0 at the 7:26 mark of the first quarter.

Tulane opened the second-quarter scoring on Patrick Durkin’s 39-yard field goal. Ole Miss regained the 14-point edge on Lucas Carneiro’s 42-yard field goal, then a red-zone fumble in the final minute of the first half prevented the Rebels from further adding to the lead.

Ole Miss made it comfortable by scoring on its first two possessions of the second half. Chambliss threw 13 yards to De’Zhaun Stribling and Carneiro kicked a 48-yard field goal.

The final score wasn’t much different than the teams’ first meeting this season. The Rebels topped Tulane in a 45-10 romp on Sept. 20 in the same stadium.

–Field Level Media

New coach opposes lame-duck coach as Ole Miss takes on Tulane

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No. 6 Ole Miss will try to win its first game under new head coach Pete Golding when it meets No. 11 Tulane in a College Football Playoff first-round game on Saturday in Oxford, Miss.

The Green Wave will try to prevent the game from being its last under outgoing head coach Jon Sumrall.

The success of the Rebels (11-1) and Tulane (11-2) led LSU to hire Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss while Florida hired away Sumrall.

Ole Miss chose to not let Kiffin stick around for the playoff and quickly promoted Golding from defensive coordinator. The Green Wave chose to allow Sumrall to complete the season even after naming passing game coordinator Will Hall to succeed Sumrall for next season.

Golding said his focus is on finishing the job Kiffin started, and he can wait to reflect on his first opportunity to be a head coach during the offseason.

“Right now I’m trying to prepare extremely hard and get a good plan in place for these players and hold them accountable to practice the right way and prepare the right way to give themselves the best chance,” Golding said.

Ole Miss does have some continuity with Golding handling the defense and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Charlie Weis Jr. sticking around before joining Kiffin at LSU.

“We’ve got highly qualified (offensive coaches) that have been very successful this season,” Golding said. “I’m not going in there like I’m Jon Gruden all of a sudden.”

Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, a second-team All-SEC selection, said Kiffin and Golding are “two totally different dudes,” noting that Kiffin is quieter and Golding is “very emotional when he talks to the team.”

When the Rebels routed Tulane 45-10 on Sept. 20 in Oxford, Chambliss passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 112 yards. Kewan Lacy, a first-team All-SEC honoree, rushed for 68 yards and two TDs.

“We have to play a better football game than we played the last time in Oxford, Miss., because last time we played rotten and they played good,” Sumrall said. “Hats off to them. They’re a really good team.

“I just want to see us play a better version of Tulane football than what I saw the last time we went up there.”

Green Wave quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who arrived on campus from BYU just six weeks before the season opener, struggled in the first meeting. He completed 5 of 17 passes for 56 yards before being benched.

“The guys know who I am (after a full season), so that helps a lot,” Retzlaff said of his teammates. “We started poorly last game. That’s out, that’s gone, that’s been flushed through the system.”

Ole Miss ranks 11th in the country in scoring (37.2 points per game) and Tulane is 57th (29.1), but when the Green Wave stall in scoring position, they can lean on kicker Patrick Durkin. The American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year has made 24 of 27 field-goal attempts, including 4 of 6 tries from 50-yards plus.

Tulane is 1-0 with Sumrall as a lame duck, having defeated then-No. 24 North Texas 34-21 in the American championship game on Dec. 5 in New Orleans.

–Field Level Media

Tulane promotes Will Hall to replace Jon Sumrall

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Tulane promoted passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Will Hall to be its next head coach on Monday.

Hall replaces Jon Sumrall, who is leaving to fill the coaching vacancy at Florida.

Hall will be formally introduced Tuesday. However, he won’t take over full duties until after Tulane’s College Football Playoff run, as Sumrall has agreed to stay with the Green Wave (11-2) through the end of its season.

Hall, 45, is in his second stint at Tulane. He previously served as the Green Wave’s offensive coordinator in 2019-20 before leaving to become the head coach at Southern Miss.

“We are thrilled to select Will Hall to be our head coach,” Tulane athletic director David Harris said in a statement. “His character, integrity, and leadership qualities are evident both on and off the field. With extensive head coaching experience and a proven track record of success at every level, Will embodies the qualities we value in our program. We believe he is the right person to lead Tulane Football into its next chapter.”

Hall had a 14-30 record over four seasons with the Golden Eagles (2021-24), leading them to one bowl appearance. However, he does have a track record of success as a head coach at the Division II level, leading West Alabama to a 25-11 record and two playoff appearances from 2011-13 and then taking West Georgia to a 31-9 record and two D-II semifinals from 2014-16.

The Amory, Miss., native has also made coaching stops as Louisiana’s offensive coordinator (2017) and as Memphis’ assistant head coach/tight ends coach (2018).

“I’m truly honored to accept this opportunity to serve as Tulane’s head football coach,” Hall said in a statement. “Tulane has been a special place for me. I’ve felt the unique spirit of Tulane and the strength of its culture. I’m excited to lead this program with a deep respect for its history, its people, and the city of New Orleans. Together, we’ll build on our success and continue to embody the resilience, pride, and excellence that make Tulane and this community so extraordinary.”

The Green Wave won their second American Conference championship in four seasons Friday night to clinch the program’s first CFP appearance. No. 11 seed Tulane plays No. 6 Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., on Dec. 20.

–Field Level Media

No. 20 Tulane handles No. 24 UNT for American title, eyes CFP bid

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Quarterback Jake Retzlaff rushed for two touchdowns and safety Jack Tchienchou was involved in three big plays to help put No. 20 Tulane on the doorstep of earning a College Football Playoff berth with a 34-21 victory over No. 24 North Texas in the American Conference championship game on Friday at New Orleans.

Jamauri McClure rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown for the Green Wave (11-2), who are in prime position to land a CFP berth as one of the top five conference champions. Chris Rodgers returned an interception for a touchdown and Retzlaff completed 13 of 22 passes for 145 yards and added 49 yards on the ground.

Drew Mestemaker connected on 21 of 34 passes for 294 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for North Texas (11-2). Tre Williams III and Miles Coleman caught scoring passes and Ashton Gray ran for a touchdown for the Mean Green.

North Texas star running back Caleb Hawkins left early in the second quarter due to a left arm injury. Hawkins is the national leader in both rushing touchdowns (23) and total touchdowns (26). He had 20 yards on seven carries before exiting.

Both coaches were guiding their teams despite landing other jobs. Tulane’s Jon Sumrall will become the coach of Florida, and North Texas’ Eric Morris is taking over at Oklahoma State.

Tchienchou forced a fumble with the blow that caused Hawkins to leave the game. LJ Green returned it 34 yards to the North Texas 37-yard line.

Two plays later, McClure scored on a 7-yard run to give the Green Wave a 14-7 lead with 12:29 left in the half. The lead grew to 10 when Patrick Durkin booted a 30-yard field goal with 5:46 remaining.

Late in the half, Alec Clark’s punt hit North Texas’ Baron Tipton in the leg and Tchienchou recovered at the Mean Green 13 with 50 seconds left. Tulane cashed in when Retzlaff scored on fourth-and-goal from the 1 as time expired for a 24-7 halftime lead.

Midway through the third quarter, a deflection off the hands of North Texas’ Wyatt Young was plucked by Rogers, who ran 35 yards for a score to give the Green Wave a 24-point lead.

North Texas then drove to a first-and-goal at the Tulane 2. Mestemaker threw the ball to a wide-open Young, and the pass went off his hand and directly to Tchienchou for an interception with 3:58 left in the third.

With 16 seconds remaining in the quarter, Mestemaker hit Coleman on a 59-yard score.

North Texas crept within 31-21 on Gray’s 9-yard scoring run followed by his two-point conversion run with 9:26 remaining in the game.

Durkin kicked a 30-yard field goal to boost the Tulane lead to 13 with 2:51 remaining.

Tulane’s Jahiem Johnson intercepted Mestemaker in the end zone with one minute left to seal the victory.

In the first quarter, Mestemaker tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Williams, and Tulane responded with Retzlaff’s 2-yard run.

–Field Level Media

Report: Ex-Florida coach Billy Napier linked to JMU opening

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Former Florida coach Billy Napier is a “person of interest” for the vacancy at James Madison, On3 reported Thursday.

The job at JMU came open this week when Bob Chesney was hired to be the new head coach at UCLA.

Napier, 46, also is reportedly one of five candidates who have interviewed to replace Jon Sumrall at Tulane. Sumrall took Napier’s former position at Florida.

Florida fired Napier on Oct. 19 in the midst of his fourth season in Gainesville. He was 22-23 with the Gators.

Florida entered the season ranked No. 15 before losses to South Florida, LSU, Miami and Texas A&M.

Napier has a 62-35 overall coaching record after posting a 40-12 mark with Louisiana (2018-21).

–Field Level Media

Report: Florida to hire Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as coach

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Florida is finalizing a six-year contract to hire Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as its next head coach, ESPN reported Sunday.

Per the network, Sumrall will receive nearly $6.5 million annually in addition to “significant incentives” tied to the College Football Playoff.

Sumrall, 43, owns a 42-11 record in four seasons as a head coach split between Troy and Tulane. He was the 2022 Sun Belt Coach of the Year with the Trojans and guided the Green Wave to a 10-2 record in 2025.

Sumrall returns to the Southeastern Conference after playing at Kentucky and serving as an assistant coach and co-defensive coordinator at the school.

He effectively will take the position previously held by Billy Napier, who was fired on Oct. 19 and replaced by interim coach Billy Gonzales. The Gators finished the season with a 4-8 record after posting a 40-21 victory over Florida State (5-7) on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

No. 24 Tulane shuts out Charlotte, advances to American title game

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Tulane did its damage early by finding paydirt on its first two drives, and the No. 24 Green Wave locked in a spot in the American Conference title game by blanking the Charlotte 49ers 27-0 on Saturday night in New Orleans, La.

With the win, the Green Wave (10-2, 7-1) earned the right to host North Texas next Friday night in the American Football Championship in the first meeting between the teams this season.

Tulane’s Jake Retzlaff went 28 of 38 for 291 yards and two interceptions but rushed for two scores. Anthony Brown-Stephens had nine catches for 98 yards. Jamauri McClure rushed for 69 yards on 11 carries.

For Charlotte (1-11, 0-8), Grayson Loftis completed 18 of 25 passes for 140 yards with an interception. Sean Brown notched five receptions for 49 yards.

This was the first time either Charlotte or Tulane have been involved in shutouts this season.

With the news of Tulane coach Jon Sumrall emerging as the top candidate to lead Florida next season, Retzlaff moved the home team to the end zone on the first two series — 65 and 72 yards, respectively — that ended with short rushing touchdowns in the first nine minutes.

Javin Gordon plunged in on the first one from a yard out. Then Retzlaff called his own number to double the lead and take command of the matchup early on with another 1-yard score.

Charlotte’s Kadin Schmitz snuffed out a third straight scoring drive with an interception in the end zone, and the ensuing Tulane series ended with a fumble recovered by the 49ers’ Thai Baldwin.

Tulane safety Kevin Adams III snagged his second interception this season to set up the squad for its final points of the half, Retzlaff’s sneak with 1:09 remaining for his 14th TD on the ground this season.

Other than the interception, Retzlaff was strong in the half, completing all but five of his 19 passes for 174 yards.

In the third quarter, neither side could put up any points but the Green Wave traveled inside the red zone as the quarter ended and added to their lead with a 36-yard field goal by Patrick Durkin 66 seconds into the fourth quarter. Durkin later added a 52-yard field goal.

–Field Level Media

Report: Florida not waiting on Lane Kiffin

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Florida has gotten vibes that coveted coach Lane Kiffin isn’t planning to accept a job offer in Gainesville and is moving on to other candidates, ESPN reported Friday.

A decision from Kiffin, who has Ole Miss squarely in the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth, is expected to come Saturday. He is believed to have received extremely lucrative offers from Southeastern Conference foes Florida and LSU — offers designed to lure him from the Rebels, who want him to stay.

But, ESPN reported, “irregular communication” with Kiffin’s camp has left Florida officials believing he is interested in a different dance partner.

Despite their strong interest in hiring Kiffin, 50, to replace the dismissed Billy Napier, Florida is believed to have interviewed at least 10 other coaches. ESPN said that among the group of candidates like Jeff Brohm of Louisville, Jon Sumrall of Tulane and Jedd Fisch of Washington have risen to the top.

A separate ESPN report Friday said Sumrall is expected to decide by Sunday whether to stay at Tulane or accept another offer. Like Florida, Auburn also has “significant interest” in Sumrall, 43.

Sumrall is in his second season at Tulane, after two seasons at Troy, and has an 18-7 overall record with the Green Wave. Tulane is 9-2 (6-1 American) and ranked No. 24 in the College Football Playoff.

Brohm, a Louisville alum, is in his third season with the Cardinals. He has a 26-12 record there, including 7-4 (4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) this season. Brohm, 54, previously had successful runs at Western Kentucky and Purdue.

The Gators also are reaching into the Big Ten with their interest in Fisch, 49, a Florida alum. After three seasons at Arizona and two at Washington, Fisch has a 31-32 record. The Huskies are 8-3 (5-3 Big Ten) heading into their regular-season finale Saturday against No. 6 Oregon.

Florida’s season ends Saturday against Florida State. The Gators stand at 3-8 (2-6 SEC).

–Field Level Media

No. 24 Tulane has big aspirations on line against hapless Charlotte

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The Tulane Green Wave find themselves in a fairly clear position: Win and you’re in the American Conference’s title game.

The Green Wave, who remained at No. 24 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night, will host the Charlotte 49ers Saturday night in New Orleans in a matchup that could be the first of two giant steps in their season.

First off, Tulane (9-2, 6-1 American) must take care of the hapless 49ers (1-10, 0-7) before getting ahead of itself and worrying about the conference championship game, which will be a home game for the higher seeded of the two opponents.

Because the Green Wave are in the CFP Top 25, unranked North Texas and Navy, both with one conference defeat and not part of a three-way tiebreaker with Tulane, would cede the home game to the Green Wave and travel next Friday in an attempt to spoil the party in New Orleans.

In his past four seasons — two at Troy, two at Tulane — coach Jon Sumrall has posted a 41-11 record and become a hot commodity as vacancies have popped up at Power 4 schools, particularly in the SEC.

He has also been named one of the 24 semifinalists for the George Munger College Coach of the Year Award.

Rumored as being courted by a number of SEC schools, Sumrall is trying this week to keep his squad focused on Charlotte.

“As soon as you think we’ve got nine wins, that means we’re going to get 10, that’s when you’re going to get beat,” said Sumrall on Monday. “You have to earn it, and the only way you earn it is by preparing the right way and giving great effort. I’m probably going to coach these guys harder this week than I have all year.”

BYU transfer Jake Retzlaff has thrown for 2,426 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also rushed for a team-high 565 yards, while Shazz Preston has 33 catches for 539 yards and four scores.

Charlotte enters the meeting having dropped eight straight decisions after beating Monmouth 42-35 on Sept. 13 in Week 3.

“They do a lot of different things,” Charlotte coach Tim Albin said of Sumrall’s team on Monday. “There’s a lot of different personnel groupings on offense. You name it, they have it. They want to run the ball and have great play-action stuff. Defensively, the front seven is really solid.

“It’ll be a huge challenge for us, but we’re going to try and play spoiler and get better.”

Grayson Loftis has 1,275 passing yards to go with eight TDs and seven interceptions. Javen Nicholas has grabbed 56 receptions for 700 yards and five scores.

The 49ers will be playing their second consecutive game against a potential CFP squad after losing 35-3 at No. 4 Georgia last week in front of over 93,000 fans — the largest crowd Charlotte has ever been a part of.

The North Carolina school also left with a $1.9 million paycheck for the nonconference affair — the largest it has ever received and the most handed out by the SEC powerhouse Bulldogs.

–Field Level Media

No. 24 Tulane keeps rolling, blows out Temple

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What had the makings of a trap game instead turned into another statement win for 24th-ranked Tulane on Saturday.

Quarterback Jake Retzlaff threw a pair of touchdowns and ran for another score and freshman Patrick Durkin made all five of his field-goal attempts as the Green Wave smashed the Temple Owls 37-13 in Philadelphia, staying on track for a conference title game and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

A win at home next Saturday against Charlotte would put Tulane in the American Conference championship game on Dec. 5. A win there would most likely put the Green Wave into the CFP as the top-ranked Group of 5 team.

But before all of that could come into play, Tulane (9-2, 6-1) had to first visit the Owls, who entered Saturday 5-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play but having lost two straight.

Every part of the Green Wave attack made sure there would be no letdown, as the defense complemented the offense and special teams by holding Temple to 20 rushing yards on 20 carries, allowing just 167 yards total, and forcing the game’s only turnover.

It didn’t take long for Tulane to strike on offense. After Temple opened with a three-and-out, Javin Gordon ran for three yards and Retzlaff hit Shazz Preston for a 69-yard touchdown on the Green Wave’s second play on offense.

After another forced punt, Tulane went 52 yards on 11 plays with Durkin connecting from 50 yards out to make it 10-0.

Temple’s Evan Simon connected with Peter Clarke for a 3-yard score on the ensuing possession, but Tulane took over from there. The Green Wave score the next 16 points, holding the Owls to four punts and the drive that ended the half, where Temple tried a series of laterals but fumbled, with Tulane defensive back Javion White picking the ball up and falling eight yards short of a touchdown with no time on the clock.

Retzlaff was 17 of 28 for 231 yards through the air. Jamauri McClure led the ground game with 122 yards on 17 carries while Preston finished with 96 yards on five receptions.

Simon threw for 168 yards and a pair of scores but the Owls’ top rusher — Jay Ducker – finished with 17 yards on seven carries.

–Field Level Media