In December 2025, the Ole Miss Rebels played against the Tulane Green Wave in Oxford, Mississippi, during the first round of the College Football Playoff. The Rebels secured a convincing victory with a score of 41-10. Despite not being part of the coaching staff for this game, former head coach Lane Kiffin, who left Ole Miss to take on the head coach position at LSU, received a bonus of $250,000 due to Ole Miss' participation in the playoff. This bonus was a part of the agreement between Kiffin and LSU, which stipulates that he would receive bonuses based on Ole Miss' performance in the playoffs. If Ole Miss continues to win, Kiffin could potentially earn up to $1 million if they secure the national championship. Lane Kiffin offered his congratulations to the current Ole Miss coaching staff and players following their victory, demonstrating his support despite his recent departure. Meanwhile, Ole Miss' newly appointed head coach, Pete Golding, had much to prove as he was stepping into the role after Kiffin's departure. Golding’s first win as head coach came with the significant pressure of leading a team that had previously achieved an 11-1 record, making history for the program by hosting its first playoff game. The atmosphere during the game was energetic, with Ole Miss fans showing their enthusiasm for Golding, chanting his name repeatedly. His leadership style and rapport with the players were seen as essential to the team's recent success. Ole Miss’ defense performed strongly, with praise directed towards both Golding's motivational skills and the cohesion among the players. As the game concluded, Golding took subtle jabs at Kiffin during his post-game press conference, addressing concerns about distractions from Kiffin’s situation while emphasizing the players’ dedication to their performance. Looking forward, Ole Miss will continue to pursue its championship aspirations as the playoffs progress, and Golding aims to build on this initial success. The focus will remain on maintaining team spirit and performance as they aim for another victory in their next playoff game, hinting at what could be a transformation for the program under Golding’s leadership.