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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Postgame Quotes vs. Tulane
9/20/2025 | Football
OLE MISS HEAD COACH LANE KIFFIN
Opening Statement:
"All right, that's a really good win. You know, Tulane's a good team: a really good program, well-coached, and tackles extremely well. I think if you look at their games, that usually doesn't happen when teams play them, even, you know, as you look at, I think, I went to Oklahoma last year in a tight game there. And so proud of our guys in all three phases, you know, to come out and play like that, I think 45-3, and then they get the last touch of 45-10. It's challenging to play that well, because a lot of people around them, you know, want to focus on the next week and, you know, I guess probably a top-10 matchup next week with LSU. So, I'm proud of how they answered, because I've been in those games and you've seen those games where they're kind of flat and struggling in some SEC teams, you know, lose to a team in a conference like that. So, I'm just really pleased with how they performed in the defense. You know, after a tough week of a lot of criticism, which is extremely fair, how we played last week, to answer that in the style that they did, I think there's three, maybe in a row, fourth down stops, which are basically turnovers. You know, we're in teams in four down situations, it's hard to stop them. You know, it's a lot easier when they're willing to punt. So, I'm just really, really happy with how they performed."
On Trinidad Chambliss' performance:
"Yep, I thought Trinidad [Chambliss] played great. You know, the most important thing he did was not turn the ball over two weeks in a row, you know. Because if you do that, you win a lot of games, take care of the ball. And the first offense didn't turn over back to back weeks. And he played really clean, you know, not balls on the ground, one sack. So we had one last week, so back-to-back weeks. When you just don't have a negative place, he carries the ball 14 times long, only loses two yards. He has one sack. You know, everything else is positive, and you rushed for 112. So what? 419 total. And three and a half quarters is really good. Against a defense that has stopped a lot of people."
On how relieving it was to not have a close game after two previous:
"Really relieving, I know it was for me. I hope for our fans it was, because we really didn't need another one of those types of games. And because I think in this conference, you're going to have a lot of them. And I've said that this model is set up so that the SEC bottom is going to be really strong. So, you're going to have a lot of hard games. You're going to eight of them, and then nine starting next year, because the portal, when teams may be down there, they go and fill the voids. You know, it used to take maybe two years to get out of there, out of the bottom. So, this was good to have against a team that normally doesn't have a score like that against them."
On adjustments made to the defense:
"They had one completion going into that last drive. I thought our guys played assignments really well, and obviously, it was a huge emphasis, because you're going to see those are what good coaches do, so you're going to see the same plays that you didn't stop the week before. So, a lot of emphasis on the quarterback pulling it and how to play that. And then, you know, we let him out in the long run, you know, but we had a good scramble spy with a centering package for him that I think worked really well after we screwed up initially. But after that, I thought it was a really good game plan against him, and that's what you expect from Pete Golding, you know, that they may get you the one week, but you're going to go back to work and perform like that the following week."
OLE MISS LB JADEN YATES
On if this was the best defensive performance of this year:
"I think it was definitely our best bounce-back performance. Obviously, knowing the product that we put on tape last Saturday on that field was not a product that we were proud of by any means. We had to sit on that for a week, kind of, I guess, thinking about it, which I mean, you want to turn the page at some point. But when things kind of go that left, it's kind of hard to, so we had a bad taste in our mouth all week. The big emphasis was just to do your job, with all 11 on the field doing their job. We were a very good defense. I am very proud of how we bounced back."
On the meeting Saturday night and how that motivated them:
"Yeah, we had a meeting Saturday night. Coach [Pete Golding] pulled up about a 30-play cutup of his plays in the game, referencing what guys did exactly the opposite of what we're trying to accomplish here: guys not doing their job, guys doing too much, things like that. Not making plays that we know we're supposed to make. So, for me personally, I took that as I'm sure everyone else in the room took that. It's full of competitors, full of guys that want to do the right thing. But me personally, it's being able to look myself in the mirror and knowing that I'm not doing enough, what more can I do to help our defense be successful? It all starts with practice. We're going to go up about this week, Monday through Thursday, where everyone is putting their best forward, whether that be practice or walk-throughs."
On the team has rallied around the quarterbacks in the last two weeks:
"I feel like we have two great quarterbacks. Not a lot of people in the country can say that. So, I feel like, if anything, it's simply a plus. I mean, we have two guys that can go out on any given Saturday and put out video game numbers. I mean, there needs to be no controversy or complaints about it. It is a great blessing for us to have two guys willing to play for us."
On playing LSU next week:
"It's the 24-hour rule. We get to celebrate it for 24 hours, enjoy it, and enjoy the feeling. But I mean the work, we've got more to do. It's a long season, and it's not good to dwell on any game for too long, for better or for worse. Getting ready, going over film from this game, reviewing it, correcting things that need to be corrected, and celebrating things that need to be celebrated. And then get the game plan going for LSU next week."
OLE MISS WR DEUCE ALEXANDER
On how he would evaluate his play against Tulane:
"I say I'm doing a pretty good job, like, adjusting well to the offense. I just have been getting a lot of work in my quarterback and my coaches, just having them build more trust in me to get me the ball. So, I feel like I'm doing alright."
On how the offense plays to his strengths:
"The coach and, like, just the coaches believe in getting the ball into the playmaker's hands, and I feel like I'm one of those guys. If I get the ball into my hands, that's like, you never know what I can do with it. Like, I'm always trying to score, get yards and do anything I can with it. So definitely, just, offense fits me."
On being a sneaky offensive threat among his teammates:
"Yeah, yeah, definitely. I love flying under the radar. Like, guys, like teams, they really don't try not to key on me too much, and I love that. So, I just let them keep doing it."
On how impressed he has been with Trinidad Chambliss coming from Division II:
"Yeah, it's definitely very impressive. But in Division II level, he took them to a national championship. So I knew, coming in, he was going to be ready. He was ready for the big moments. It was never going to be too big for him. So, yeah, I'm definitely impressed though."
OLE MISS QB TRINIDAD CHAMBLISS
On how he's dealt with the attention he has received this past week:
"It's been surreal. Like I said last week, it's a dream come true. I'm honestly just grateful to God that He put me in this position to do what I do. Twitter is hilarious. I love all the edits and AI stuff. It's really fun."
On if he had any nerves today:
"Obviously last week, getting my feet wet, playing more minutes and my role was bigger. This week, another tough team, Tulane, solid group of five school. So, it was the same as last week honestly. Being locked in and being prepared, and knowing what to do when the opportunity comes."
On implementing more deep passes today:
"Coach Weiss always deals up great plays for our playmakers. Our receiver room is unbelievable. Deuce [Alexander], Trey [Harrison Wallace III], Strib [De'Zhaun Stribling], Caden [Lee], Winnie [Winston Watkins] and Dae'Quan [Wright] as well. So if that's what the defense is giving us, then we're going to take what they're giving us."
On if he saw any Trinidad and Tobago flags at Ferris State:
"No, that's actually new. Obviously, Ole Miss has a bigger fanbase so they get more creative and whatnot with the Trinidad flag and the AI stuff with Trinidad, the country. This is the only time I've really seen that."
TULANE HEAD COACH JON SUMRALL
Opening Statement:
"Not our best today. Just an overall frustrating performance. It's on me, starts with me, ends with me. I've got to have our guys more prepared to play better football. Hats off to Ole Miss, really good football team, really well coached. Lane and his staff did a tremendous job getting ready for the game today. I thought we were emotionally ready. Early I thought they controlled the ball and controlled the pace of the play. We didn't really handle some of the tempo stuff they did and we just didn't execute. You have to capitalize on certain things in a game like this to have an opportunity to win we did not. Hate it for our team, hate it for our guys. We all have to be better. Like I said, it starts with me, and we'll get back after it. I can promise this, we'll watch the game tonight on the plane and get focused on conference play moving forward. We're going to sit in this one and let it hurt for a little while because it should."
On Tulane's struggles passing the ball:
"They did a good job smothering us in coverage. I thought they were really sticky and they did a good job of putting bodies on bodies. We did not execute well in the throwing game. Sometimes it's not just the quarterbacks. Sometimes it's the receivers, the lineman, or a tight end or a back in protection. I think a lot of things went into it, but we did not throw and catch the football like we did last week for sure. Their defensive unit played well. They were attached to us most of the day and we didn't create opportunities for ourselves."
On Trinidad Chambliss:
"He's a really good football player. He's very crafty and quick. Everything he does is fast whether it be decision making, throwing the ball or running it. He's just one of those guys that is aggravating when you're on the other side. He fights for extra yardage. I have a lot of respect for him, I really do. Everybody made a big deal about Simmons not playing, well did you watch six play last week? He'd be a starter for a lot of people in college football. I'm really really impressed with him. I think for him to have only been here since June, he looks very comfortable and confident. You can tell he's played a lot of football just by his instinctive play. We didn't manage him very well at all."
On what his message is to his players after such a deflating loss:
"It's a hurt locker room. Those guys worked really hard and they know they didn't perform their best today. None of us were at our best today and that really stinks because we missed an opportunity that was special. We have conference play starting next week. We have to view conference play like the beginning of a new day. When you get into conference play, conference championships are some of the biggest goals you have every year. I think this group will focus and turn their attention towards next week and be ready to give everything they have. It comes back to what we didn't do well. Tip your cap to Ole Miss they are a really good football team. I could have told you that they were going to make some big plays. We have to play better football on our end and just refocus on that."
TULANE WR ANTHONY BROWN-STEPHENS
On the effect Ole Miss' secondary had in the passing game:
"I feel like today, they just executed well. We'll get back, watch film, evaluate and make the adjustments moving forward to next week."
On the gauntlet Tulane has had this season:
"I think it just comes with being a football player. We are four weeks in. There are going to be ups and downs, but it's all about how we respond."
Looking ahead to conference play:
"We just need to dial into the little details because Coach Sumrall always tells us to dial into the little things and be where are feet are. Focusing on those things will prepare us for conference play.
TULANE LB SAM HOWARD
On what Trinidad Chambliss did to disrupt the defense:
"I thought their offense was very good. They had a good idea of where we were going to be and they had plays to counter that."
On the Ole Miss offensive scheme:
"They're fast and extremely efficient. One of the more difficult things is just trying to get lined up before they do every play. I think we did a decent job of that. We obviously practiced all week going up tempo, we just didn't make enough plays on the ball."
On bouncing back headed into conference play:
"I would say we need to understand it's a one game season from here on out. Every game really matters. Being more detailed will be a big moral for us heading into next week. I think not letting this game linger, watching tape, learning from it and correcting mistakes will be huge for us. Knowing we have a chance to correct those mistakes and get the chance to respond next week is big."
On how Trinidad Chambliss running helps the Ole Miss offense:
"It helps them a lot just because they have so many moving parts. You just have to play with good eyes and we didn't do a good job of that today."
