Ole Miss made sure history didn’t repeat itself. A week after watching a double-digit lead vanish against Georgia, the No. 8 Rebels closed strong on Saturday night, riding the arm — and legs — of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and the relentless running of Kewan Lacy to a hard-fought 34–26 victory over No. 13 Oklahoma at Gaylord Family–Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Chambliss threw for 315 yards and a touchdown, added 53 rushing yards, and continuously extended plays with his mobility. Lacy pounded away for 78 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, pushing through a Sooner defense that entered the game ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense and No. 2 in scoring defense.
“This time, we finished,” Chambliss said afterward. “Coach told us all week — good teams respond, great teams close. We wanted to show we could close.”
Ole Miss (7–1, 4–1 SEC) wasted no time setting the tone. Chambliss looked like a magician early, dodging pressure and hitting big plays, including a 42-yard strike to Winston Watkins, who finished with four catches for 111 yards.
Lacy scored from 5 yards out in the first quarter and again in the second, helping the Rebels take a 22–10 halftime lead.
But Oklahoma (6–2, 2–2 Big 12/SEC transitional schedule) came alive in the third. After a failed fourth-down try from Ole Miss’ 25-yard line gifted the Sooners great field position, a field goal cut the deficit to 22–13. Then, running back Xavier Robinson ignited the home crowd with touchdown runs of 65 and 9 yards, vaulting Oklahoma ahead 26–25 entering the fourth quarter.
As the Rebels’ offense faced adversity again, Chambliss answered. Early in the fourth, he rolled right and found tight end Trace Bruckler for an 8-yard touchdown, reclaiming a 31–26 lead.
Moments later, Bruckler made another huge play — this time on defense. On Oklahoma’s next drive, he stripped receiver Isaiah Sategna, and Ethan Fields recovered near midfield. The turnover halted Oklahoma’s momentum and led to Lucas Carneiro’s 37-yard field goal, extending the lead to 34–26.
Sategna, who had a career-high 131 yards on six catches, could only watch as the Rebels drained the clock.
“I just have to protect the ball,” Sategna said. “That’s on me. We had a chance.”
The Sooners nearly forced overtime in the closing seconds. Quarterback John Mateer — who threw for 223 yards, a touchdown, and an interception — moved Oklahoma to midfield, converting a key fourth down. But his final heave fell incomplete just short of the end zone as time expired.
Saturday also marked a noticeable — and overdue — safety improvement in Norman. Oklahoma added protective padding around the end-zone and sideline walls after receiver Keontez Lewis suffered a frightening injury three weeks ago, crashing headfirst into an unpadded brick wall against Kent State. Lewis was carted off and has not played since, but the new padding was clearly visible before Saturday’s game.
“It’s something that should’ve been done years ago,” one team official said. “Player safety has to come first.”
Ole Miss will look to maintain its College Football Playoff hopes when it hosts South Carolina next Saturday in Oxford.
Oklahoma, now fighting to stay in the SEC title picture, will try to regroup when it visits Tennessee in a pivotal Week 10 matchup. For Chambliss and the Rebels, the message was simple — and finally proven on the field.
