(BCSNN) — Ole Miss opened its 2026 season with the kind of drama that tends to follow the Rebels into big moments.

After watching a 14‑point fourth‑quarter lead evaporate, No. 9 Ole Miss steadied itself in the final 88 seconds and marched into scoring range, setting up Lucas Carneiro’s 48‑yard field goal as time expired to defeat No. 24 Louisville 41–38 on Sunday night at Nissan Stadium.

Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss delivered a vintage performance, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score. Wide receiver Deuce Alexander, making his first start as a Rebel, erupted for 159 yards and two touchdowns, both on electrifying 62‑yard strikes that flipped momentum in the third quarter.

Ole Miss trailed 13–10 early in the second half before Chambliss found Alexander deep down the sideline for the first of their two long touchdowns. After Louisville briefly pulled within one, the duo connected again — another 62‑yard burst — to push the Rebels ahead 24–16. But Louisville answered with a 62‑yard touchdown of its own and a two‑point conversion to tie the game 24–24 entering the fourth.

Chambliss opened the final quarter with a 17‑yard scramble that jump‑started a go‑ahead drive. Two plays later, he hit tight end Caleb Odom for a 35‑yard touchdown, the freshman’s first collegiate score, giving Ole Miss a 31–24 lead. The defense followed with a sack from Kam Franklin, forcing a punt and setting up another scoring chance.

A roughing‑the‑kicker penalty on Louisville extended the next Ole Miss possession, and Chambliss capitalized with a rushing touchdown to extend the lead to 38–24 with under seven minutes remaining — marking the sixth game of his career with both a passing and rushing score.

Louisville refused to fold. The Cardinals struck quickly with a 54‑yard touchdown, then forced a three‑and‑out and mounted a 77‑yard drive capped by Lincoln Kienholz’s seven‑yard keeper to tie the game 38–38 with 1:28 left.

Chambliss and Alexander answered immediately. Alexander opened the final drive with a 15‑yard catch, and on third down Chambliss fired an 18‑yard strike to Odom to move the Rebels to the Louisville 38. Ole Miss inched the ball forward, called its final timeout with three seconds remaining, and sent Carneiro out for the game‑winner.

His 48‑yard kick split the uprights as the clock hit zero, delivering Ole Miss a thrilling season‑opening victory and its second straight walk‑off field goal in a neutral‑site game.

Running back Kewan Lacy added 61 rushing yards and a second‑quarter touchdown, tying Archie Manning for 25 career rushing scores. Odom finished with 66 receiving yards, while Keaton Thomas and Jaylon Braxton led the defense with eight tackles apiece. Suntarine Perkins added 1.5 tackles for loss, pushing his career total to 33.5, tied for fifth in school history.

Ole Miss returns home to host Charlotte on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 6:45 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Louisville opens its home slate Friday, Sept. 11 against Villanova.