They call it a rivalry, but honestly, if you’re a Tulane fan, it’s started to feel a lot more like a recurring nightmare. The history between these two goes back to 1893. That is a long time to harbor a grudge. Yet, here we are in 2026, and the narrative hasn't shifted much from the days of leather helmets.
Ole Miss just keeps winning.
On paper, the matchup always looks like it should be a scrap. You've got the gritty, high-achieving "Group of Five" powerhouse in Tulane trying to prove they belong at the big table, and the "Gunslinger" culture of Ole Miss looking to defend their SEC honor. But when the ball is actually snapped? The gap becomes a chasm.
The Playoff Rematch That Wasn't Really a Match
The December 20, 2025, College Football Playoff (CFP) first-round game was supposed to be the moment Tulane finally kicked the door down. They entered Oxford as the No. 11 seed, fresh off an American Athletic Conference title. Fans were buzzing. The "Green Wave" was supposed to be a tsunami.
Instead, it was a 41-10 beatdown.
What's wild is that Tulane actually moved the ball. They put up 421 yards of total offense, which is usually enough to keep things interesting. But they went 0-for-4 on fourth down. They fumbled twice. They threw a pick. Basically, every time they got into the red zone, the wheels didn't just fall off—they disintegrated.
Ole Miss, under the "new" leadership of Pete Golding (who stepped in after Lane Kiffin’s sudden jump to LSU), didn't blink. Trinidad Chambliss was an absolute problem, accounting for three touchdowns. He’s got that dual-threat ability that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep. He ran for 36 yards and two scores and tossed another for 282 yards.
"Tulane was incapable of getting out of their own way the moment they crossed the 50," one analyst noted after the game. It’s hard to argue with that.
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Breaking Down the 15-Game Curse
If you want to find the last time Tulane actually beat the Rebels, you have to go back to 1988. Reagan was in the White House. "Red Red Wine" was on the radio. Since then? 15 straight losses for the Green Wave.
It’s the second-longest active winning streak Ole Miss has against any opponent. It’s not just that they win; it’s how they do it. Look at the numbers from the last few meetings:
- 2021: 61-21 (A total offensive explosion)
- 2023: 37-20 (Jaxson Dart pulls away late in New Orleans)
- Sept 2025: 45-10 (A regular-season preview of the playoff disaster)
- Dec 2025: 41-10 (The playoff knockout)
People often point to the 2023 game as the "what if" moment. Tulane was ranked No. 24, and Michael Pratt was one of the best quarterbacks in the country. But Pratt sat out with a knee injury. Backup Kai Horton played his heart out, and Tulane actually led 17-7 in the second quarter. But the Rebels are like a shark that smells blood. They outscored Tulane 27-3 in the second half.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
The biggest misconception is that Tulane is "outclassed" by SEC talent. That’s a lazy take. Tulane has sent guys like Tyjae Spears and Michael Pratt to the NFL. They beat USC in the Cotton Bowl not too long ago.
The real issue is depth and line play.
In the 2025 playoff game, Tulane’s offensive line held up for about two quarters. Then, the Rebels' defensive front, led by guys like Princewill Umanmielen, simply took over. When Ole Miss can "pin their ears back" and pass rush without worrying about the run, it’s over. Tulane’s Jake Retzlaff threw for 306 yards in that game, but he was under siege.
The Cultural Divide: Oxford vs. New Orleans
There is a weird, shared DNA here. Both schools were charter members of the SEC in 1932. Tulane left in 1966 to focus on academics—a move many fans still debate at the bars on Broadway Street.
When these teams play in New Orleans, the city turns into a chaotic mix of light blue and olive green. But lately, the Rebels have treated Yulman Stadium (and the Superdome before it) like a vacation home. They haven't lost in New Orleans since the late 80s.
Key Stats You Should Actually Care About
If you're betting on this game or just arguing about it at a tailgate, stop looking at total yards. They are lying to you. Instead, look at:
- Fourth Down Success: In the last three meetings, Tulane is less than 20% on "gotta have it" downs.
- Turnover Margin: Ole Miss is +6 in the last three games combined.
- Explosive Plays: The Rebels average nearly 8 yards per play against the Green Wave. Tulane struggles to keep the lid on the defense.
How Tulane Can Finally Flip the Script
It’s not enough to be "scrappy." To beat a team like Ole Miss in the current era, Tulane has to embrace a more "unserious" style of play. That sounds counterintuitive, but look at how they struggled in the playoffs by trying to play a standard, pro-style game. They got out-athleted.
Actionable path to a Green Wave win:
- Recruit the Trenches: You can't beat the SEC with "smart" blocking; you need 300-pounders who can move.
- Selective Aggression: Stop going for it on 4th and 2 from your own 40. The Rebels thrive on short fields.
- The Portal: Tulane needs to use the transfer portal to snag SEC-level defensive backs who got buried on depth charts.
The Tulane vs Ole Miss saga is one of the oldest in the South. It's a story of a "big brother" who refuses to let the "little brother" have a turn with the video game controller. Until Tulane can finish drives in the red zone and stop the bleeding on big plays, the streak will likely keep growing.
Keep an eye on the 2026 recruiting classes for both. If Tulane can land a few more "blue-chip" defensive linemen, maybe—just maybe—the 1988 curse finally breaks. Until then, Oxford remains the place where Green Wave dreams go to die.