Lucas Carneiro just nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired, snatching a wild 41-38 victory for No. 9 Ole Miss over No. 24 Louisville on Sunday night. Talk about a nail-biter, especially after the Rebels coughed up a 38-24 lead in the fourth quarter, giving up a stunning 14 straight points. This game went down to the wire in the craziest way imaginable, with Ole Miss needing an 18-yard completion from Trinidad Chambliss to Caleb Odom just to set up Carneiro’s game-winner.
The Second Half Showdown Was Pure Chaos
If you missed the second half, you missed pure offensive fireworks. Seriously, both teams combined for over 600 yards after halftime, and it felt like neither defense could get a stop to save their lives. Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss, after a rough first half that saw him toss an interception and fumble, completely turned it around. He exploded for three touchdowns passing and another one rushing in the second half alone. He finished the game 21-of-36 for 336 yards and those three critical TDs. Wide receiver Deuce Alexander had an absolute breakout game, hauling in five catches for a massive 159 yards. Get this: two of those were 62-yard touchdown grabs in the second half, and he never even cracked 100 yards in a single game last season! This guy, a second-year Rebel who transferred from Wake Forest, just announced his presence with authority.
Louisville wasn’t sitting back either, especially their QB Lincoln Kienholz in his first college career start. The former Ohio State backup, who transferred in the offseason, looked good, making big plays outside the pocket. Kienholz finished 18-of-29 passing for 307 yards and two scores, adding another 69 yards on 14 rushes. He even tied the game with just 1:28 left on a seven-yard TD run. They kicked the extra point, hoping to get the ball back or force overtime, but that plan went out the window thanks to Carneiro.
Defense? What Defense? And What About Lacy?
While the offense was buzzing, both defenses seemed to take the second half off. The combined yardage tells you everything you need to know about the lack of success stopping each other. On top of that, penalties were a problem. Louisville committed eight flags, and Ole Miss had six, plus those two first-half turnovers from Chambliss. The Rebels also played much of the second half without star running back Kewan Lacy, who was sidelined with a left thigh bruise. Lacy had rushed 17 times for 61 yards and a touchdown before going out. This is a guy who racked up over 300 rushes and 24 ground touchdowns in 2024, so his absence was definitely felt.
So, what’s next for these squads? Ole Miss rolls into Week 2 as a massive favorite against Charlotte, but Week 3? They’ve got a huge one, hosting LSU and former coach Lane Kiffin in what’s shaping up to be one of the biggest games of the year. Louisville also plays Villanova in Week 2 before welcoming SMU on September 19th in a game that could absolutely shape the ACC picture. You know both these teams will be watching film hard to fix those defensive struggles before those big ones.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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