The final College Football Playoff rankings released on Sunday delivered a windfall for the Ole Miss Rebels.
Besides holding onto their No. 6 ranking from last week, the Rebels earned a first-round home game against a team they defeated in a landslide 45-10 victory in the regular season: the Tulane Green Wave.
Ole Miss opens as heavy favorites
The final CFP bracket has Ole Miss facing their former opponents in Oxford for the first-round game, one that the Rebels will be confident about.
Not just Ole Miss, but the bookies are also confident on the Rebels, as Josh Pate revealed how Ole Miss opens as the heavy favorite to once again win against the Green Wave at -17.5.
CFP opening round lines from @FDSportsbook
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) December 7, 2025
Alabama (-1.5) at Oklahoma
Miami at Texas A&M (-4.5)
Tulane at Ole Miss (-17.5)
JMU at Oregon (-21.5)
Although the Rebels won't have Kiffin calling the plays from the sideline this time, the rest of the staff is fairly familiar with John Sumrall's squad from their previous meetup.
Charlie Weis Jr. coming back becomes particularly a sigh of relief at this point, because the Rebels' offensive superiority was the key behind Ole Miss' win over Tulane.
Kiffin was an offensive mastermind sure, and this will be the first game Ole Miss knows whether they'll deeply miss his offensive tactics, or manage just fine without them.
Then there's the fact about this being Sumrall's last game before he moves to Florida.
Whether it will serve as the motivating factor for the Green Wave to give their absolute best, or whether they allow it to distract them, will remain a thing to be seen this weekend.
Ole Miss will be all set to welcome Tulane for a rematch on Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. in Oxford.