When people talk about Citadel vs Ole Miss, they usually mention "buy games" or "tune-ups." It’s that predictable November slot where an SEC powerhouse hosts a smaller military college, writes a big check, and expects a blowout. But if you actually watched what happened in Oxford on November 8, 2025, you know the vibe was a little different. It wasn't just a lopsided score; it was a masterclass in efficiency from a Lane Kiffin squad that refused to play down to its competition.
Ole Miss walked away with a 49-0 victory.
Domination? Absolutely.
But for the 67,326 fans at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, it was about seeing if Trinidad Chambliss could handle the pressure of being "the guy" as the Rebels pushed for a 9-1 record. Kiffin is famous for his high-octane offense, yet he spent the week leading up to the game challenging his quarterback to stop hunting for "hero shots." He wanted surgical precision. He got it. Chambliss finished the day 29-of-33 for 333 yards and three scores. That's a 87.8% completion rate. Honestly, you don't see that kind of focus often when a team is favored by 40-plus points.
The Historic Disparity of Citadel vs Ole Miss
Looking at the history of Citadel vs Ole Miss, there isn't a long list of games to pull from. In fact, these two programs have only met twice. The first was back in 2005, a much closer 27-7 Rebels win. Fast forward twenty years, and the gap between the top of the SEC and the Southern Conference (SoCon) feels like a canyon.
The Citadel Bulldogs play a gritty, clock-chewing brand of football. Against Ole Miss in 2025, they were snapping the ball with under five seconds on the play clock almost every single time. They had to. If you give Lane Kiffin more possessions, you're just asking for a 70-point nightmare.
The Bulldogs only managed 106 yards of total offense.
Think about that for a second.
An entire game of college football, and they barely crossed the century mark. The Rebels' defense, led by guys like Andrew Maddox and TJ Dottery, stayed disciplined against the triple-option looks and short-gainers. It was the fewest yards Ole Miss had allowed since a game against Memphis in 2014.
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Why the 2025 Matchup Matters for the Rebels' Future
While The Citadel was trying to survive, Ole Miss was busy rewriting its own record books. Running back Kewan Lacy had a day he'll probably tell his grandkids about. He notched three rushing touchdowns, which tied the school record for most rushing scores in a single season (16).
It’s interesting how these games serve as a laboratory. Kiffin used the second half to rotate in 12 different receivers. We saw freshmen like Dillon Alfred and Caleb Cunningham get their first career catches. In the world of the transfer portal and NIL, keeping your young talent engaged during a blowout is actually a vital piece of program management.
- Trinidad Chambliss: 2,356 passing yards on the season after this game.
- Kewan Lacy: Hit the 1,000-yard career rushing mark during the contest.
- Defense: Recorded 13 tackles for loss, a season high.
The Rebels weren't just killing time. They were sharpening the blade for a November run that included a massive game against Florida just a week later.
The Citadel's Perspective: Why Play These Games?
You might wonder why a team like The Citadel even signs up for this.
Money is the obvious answer—these "guarantee games" fund entire athletic departments for smaller schools. But there is a psychological element too. For a kid playing in the SoCon, getting to suit up in a stadium with nearly 70,000 screaming fans is the highlight of a career.
Bulldogs quarterback Cobey Thompkins, a freshman, didn't even attempt a pass until the second quarter. That tells you everything you need to know about their game plan. They wanted to shorten the game, stay healthy, and maybe catch a break on special teams. They didn't get the break, but they did show some life in the fourth quarter when Mikey Rosa intercepted a backup quarterback's pass and returned it to the Ole Miss 17-yard line.
They still didn't score. They missed a 32-yard field goal shortly after. It was just one of those days where the talent gap was an immovable object.
Tactical Breakdown: How Ole Miss Dismantled the Bulldogs
The Rebels’ offensive strategy was "horizontal to go vertical." Instead of launching deep bombs from the jump, Chambliss used quick outs and perimeter screens to stretch The Citadel's defense from sideline to sideline.
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Once the Bulldogs' linebackers started cheating toward the edges, the middle opened up.
Harrison Wallace III was the primary beneficiary, hauling in eight catches for 87 yards. He wasn't doing anything flashy; he was just finding the soft spots in the zone that a tired military-school defense eventually leaves open.
By the time the third quarter rolled around, the Bulldogs were spent. The Citadel's time of possession was actually higher (32:04 to 27:56), which is exactly what they wanted. Usually, if you win the time of possession battle against a Kiffin team, you're in the game. But when you only average 2.1 yards per play, the clock is just a countdown to an inevitable loss.
What Most Fans Get Wrong About This Matchup
There’s a common misconception that these games are "boring" or "useless."
Kinda, if you only care about the final score.
But if you’re a scout or a die-hard fan, Citadel vs Ole Miss provided a lot of data. It proved that the Rebels' defense could stay focused against a "boring" offense. It proved that their backup depth—like quarterback Austin Simmons—still has some growing to do after that late-game interception.
Also, it's worth noting the injury report. These games are terrifying for coaches because one awkward hit on a star player can ruin a season. Tight end Dae'Quan Wright left the game early with an injury. Kiffin called it "precautionary," but those are the moments where every Rebel fan holds their breath.
Key Performance Metrics
- Total Yards: Ole Miss 603, The Citadel 106.
- First Downs: Ole Miss 35, The Citadel 5.
- Efficiency: Ole Miss went 6-for-7 in the Red Zone.
The disparity in first downs is the most telling stat. Moving the chains five times in 60 minutes is a brutal reality for any offensive coordinator.
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Looking Ahead: The 2026 Shift
As we look toward the 2026 season, the landscape changes. Ole Miss has already unveiled a schedule that is significantly tougher, featuring nine conference games and a neutral-site opener against Louisville in Nashville.
The "Citadel-style" games are becoming rarer.
In 2026, the Rebels will host Wofford on November 21, keeping that late-season SoCon connection alive, but the pressure to be perfect in those games is higher than ever with the expanded 12-team playoff. You can't just win; you have to look dominant to satisfy the committee.
The 49-0 shutout against The Citadel was exactly what the committee wanted to see. It showed a team that didn't play with its food.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following these types of matchups in the future, keep a few things in mind to better understand the "game within the game":
- Watch the snap counts: In these games, the first-string players usually exit by the middle of the third quarter. If you're looking at live betting totals, the game often slows to a crawl once the "twos" and "threes" are in.
- Check the defensive discipline: Against a triple-option or heavy-run team like The Citadel, look at how the defensive ends contain the edge. It’s a great indicator of how well-coached a team is for the late-season stretch.
- Time of Possession is a trap: Don't let a "low" time of possession for Ole Miss fool you. Lane Kiffin’s offense is designed to score in under two minutes. They don't want the ball for 35 minutes; they want 40 points.
- Injury Management: Always check the post-game presser for news on "precautionary" benchings. Often, a star player will sit out the second half of a game like this not because they are hurt, but because the risk-reward ratio just isn't there.
The 2025 meeting between these two programs was a reminder that while the scoreboard might look like a foregone conclusion, the individual battles on the field dictate how a team handles the high-pressure SEC games that follow. Ole Miss used The Citadel to prove they were a top-tier contender, and The Citadel used Ole Miss to test their mettle against the best in the business.
To stay updated on the Rebels' progress or to see how the Bulldogs bounce back in the SoCon, monitor the official team injury reports and SEC conference standings as the playoff race intensifies.