Jon Sumrall: Ole Miss looked very similar despite loss of Lane Kiffin

On Sept. 20, Ole Miss dominated Tulane in a 45-10 blowout. Three months later to the day, the two teams faced off again. However, this time, the Rebels were without head coach Lane Kiffin, who’d left the program in stunning fashion ahead of the College Football Playoff.

Despite the change, a similar result ensued. Ole Miss ran away with a 41-10 triumph. After the game, Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall revealed whether he noticed any differences in the way Ole Miss played compared to the first time the two teams met.

“Looked very much the same to me. I didn’t notice anything different,” Sumrall said. “The only thing I’ve noticed maybe different is like on third downs when you heard somebody whistle, you knew that was Lane and he might change a play.

“But other than that, I thought the offense looked structurally very similar. The players are the players. They’ve got really good football players. The back is a good football player. They’ve got great receivers. The quarterback is obviously big time. I didn’t feel a whole lot of difference in regards to how they played the game offensively. Felt very similar.”

Ole Miss didn’t waste any time after Kiffin announced he was leaving the program to take over at LSU. The Rebels immediately promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to head coach.

The Rebels’ spectacular showing against Tulane on Saturday is a promising sign for Ole Miss’ future under Golding. Of course, it’s worth noting that several of the offensive staff members will be joining Kiffin at LSU next year instead of returning.

Nonetheless, Ole Miss fans won’t complain about a 31-point victory in the CFP. In the win, Ole Miss racked up 497 yards of total offense, while only committing one turnover.

Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was particularly fantastic, completing 23-of-his-29 pass attempts for 282 yards and a touchdown. Running back Kewan Lacy was also stellar, notching 87 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries. Evidently, Pete Golding was never concerned about Ole Miss’ offense, even if Kiffin wasn’t on the sideline.

“I had zero concern with [offensive coordinator] Charlie Weis calling this game for this one reason… Charlie Weis could not afford not to call a hell of a game,” Golding said. “All he’s heard his whole life: Lane Kiffin’s offense, Lane Kiffin’s offense, Lane Kiffin’s offense.

“This is his one opportunity for people to realize Charlie, Charlie Weis, calls the offense, just like he’s done all year, and he did a great job of tonight. I had no concern on that, because the last thing Charlie wanted to do was come out here and lay an egg because then whose offense is it?”