Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss throws against the Louisville Cardinals. Image courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics.

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The sole Top 25 matchup of Week 1 did not disappoint for college football fans. The stakes were high for both Ole Miss and Louisville, and the environment was playoff-esque. You really couldn’t ask for a better game to kick off the season.

It took some time for both offenses to get going, with a field goal from the Cardinals and a Trinidad Chambliss fumble to end the first quarter. It looked like both teams were just knocking the rust off in their first game of the season.

The Ole Miss offense began to put together some drives as the second quarter went on, with a field goal and a Kewan Lacy touchdown putting them up 10-3. But after regaining possession from a punt, Chambliss killed the momentum by throwing one to the defense. Another Louisville punt, a missed field goal by Ole Miss, and a field goal from Louisville brought the game to halftime at 10-6. 

After a defensive showdown in the first half, both teams began the third quarter trading touchdowns, with a 30-yard scamper from Tre Richardson and a 62-yard bomb to Deuce Alexander. 17-13 Rebels. 

After two punts and a field goal from Louisville, two more blows were exchanged. Alexander matched his score from earlier, and Tre Richardson also had a 62-yard score. These two receivers were dynamic in this game. 24-22 Rebels.

The Cardinals really put the pressure on after completing a two-point conversion, tying the game at 24 as the third quarter came to an end.

The Rebels never showed signs of stopping, beginning the fourth quarter with a 35-yard touchdown strike to Caleb Odom and a five-yard scoring run from Chambliss. 38-24 Ole Miss. 

At this point, the game was looking out of hand. But Lincoln Kienholz and his squad did not back down. The Cardinals responded with their own pair of touchdowns – a 54-yard pass to Lawayne McCoy and a seven-yard score from Kienholz – tying this absolute shootout up at 38-38.

The Rebels got the ball with 1:28 left in the game, and nothing could stop this offense from driving down the field and setting up a 48-yard field goal for Lucas Carneiro as time expired.

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