Tulane at Ole Miss injury update: Initial availability report revealed for CFP first-round game

The College Football Playoff is rapidly approaching. Ahead of the games this weekend, teams are set to release injury reports for their upcoming games. That includes the 11-seeded Tulane Green Wave as they prepare to go to Oxford and take on the sixth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels.

There’s plenty of outside noise and familiarity going into this matchup. The two have played twice in the past two seasons. Ole Miss has won both of those games, including by a score of 45-10 earlier this season at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Of course, there’s since been a massive shakeup, as both teams have lost their head coaches to new jobs, though with notably different transitions ahead of next season.

There’s plenty of outside noise going into this one. That’s before injuries are taken into account for both sides. Still, those injuries are very much worth knowing about and the Wednesday injury report can be seen here.

No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (11-1)

• DB Cedric Beavers – OUT
• TE Hayden Bradley – QUESTIONABLE
• TE Trace Bruckler – PROBABLE
• LB Raymond Collins – OUT
• DB Antonio Kite – QUESTIONABLE
• OL John Wayne Oliver – OUT
• TE Dae’Quan Wright – PROBABLE

No. 11 Tulane Green Wave (11-2)

• LB Dickson Agu – OUT
• WR Bryce Bohanon – DOUBTFUL
• OL Tristen Fortenberry – PROBABLE
• OL Derrick Graham – PROBABLE
• K Cooper Helmke – OUT
• DE Gerrod Henderson – OUT
• OL Mitch Hodnett – PROBABLE
• TE LeRon Husbands – OUT
• DB Michael Igbinoghene – PROBABLE
• DB Dorion Jackson – PROBABLE
• DB Jayden Lewis – OUT
• WR Antwaun Parham – PROBABLE
• QB Kadin Semonza – PROBABLE
• DB Josh Sims – PROBABLE
• S Jack Tchienchou – PROBABLE

Perhaps the biggest loss either side has suffered was Ole Miss losing head coach Lane Kiffin to rival LSU. There had been a long saga at the time regarding whether or not Kiffin would be able to coach Ole Miss, and just how many assistants would also be on the move. Now, it’s clear that he won’t be on the sidelines for the Rebels, though some assistants, like offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr, are returning for the Playoff run.

Replacing Lane Kiffin was defensive coordinator Pete Golding. He already has the full time job at Ole Miss. He also recently shared that his expectation is for the team to have a full roster for the College Football Playoff.

On the other side of that coaching change coin was Tulane. The Green Wave lost Jon Sumrall to Florida. However, he’ll be pulling double-duty and is roaming the sidelines for Tulane ahead of their Playoff matchup.

While both teams had some time off to try and get healthy, Ole Miss had an additional week by not playing in their conference’s championship game. It seems like it will have had a positive impact moving forward too. Still, there’s a few players worth keeping an eye on.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, December 20th. The winner will move on to play No. 3 Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl (CFP Quarterfinals).