The Ole Miss Rebels kicked off their 2025 football season on a neutral site, facing Louisville in a much-anticipated opener that marked the second meeting between the two programs in recent memory. The Rebels emerged victorious, 43-24, showcasing a potent offense that surged in the second half.
Season Opener Showdown
A crowd of 57,390 filled the stadium, creating an electric atmosphere as the teams exchanged early blows before Ole Miss pulled away. The decisive stretch came after halftime, when the Rebels erupted for 31 points, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss orchestrating every scoring drive.
Chambliss was the catalyst of the offense, throwing three touchdown passes and adding a fourth to finish with four total scores, a feat that underscored his ninth career 300-yard passing game and placed him seventh in school history for that metric. Wide receiver Deuce Alexander complemented the attack with two 62-yard touchdown receptions, marking his first 100-yard game and cementing his status as a deep‑threat playmaker.
Defensive Highlights and Clutch Kicking
The defense contributed key moments, including a sack by Suntarine Perkins that tied him for fifth in school history for career sacks, and a forced fumble by Luke Ferrelli that set up a short field. Late in the fourth quarter, kicker Lucas Carneiro delivered a 48-yard field goal that sealed the win, extending his career point total to 160 and positioning him 14th on the program’s all‑time scoring list.
The victory improved Ole Miss’s record in season‑opener games to 98‑29‑5, a winning percentage of .764, and pushed their mark against non‑conference opponents to 76‑18 (.808). Under head coach Pete Golding, the Rebels are now 2‑1 in non‑conference play, and the game saw twelve players make their first career starts, including Alexander, Brown and Robinson, signaling a depth of talent across the roster.