Ole Miss finishes off insane SEC Week 1 domination not seen since 1997

After a lackluster start, Ole Miss stepped on the gas in the second half and escaped Louisville, 41-38, at Nissan Stadium on Monday.

Lucas Carneiro scored the walk-off field goal from 48 yards to give the Rebels the nail-biting win. Trinidad Chambliss was phenomenal, throwing for 336 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He also ran for a score.

Ole Miss was the last team from the SEC to play in Week 1, and it made sure that it did not break a conference-wide run, as pointed out by ESPN’s Peter Burns.

“The SEC went 16-0 in Week 1. It’s the first time the entire conference swept the opening weekend since 1997,” wrote Burns on X.

During that year, Chambliss was only five years old.

On3, meanwhile, noted that the 16 teams won by an average margin of 36.6 points, underscoring the SEC’s dominance.

NEW: The SEC went 16-0 in Week 1

Winning by an average of 36.6 points per game. https://t.co/1uBIo8gArx pic.twitter.com/54iatry9iJ

— On3 (@On3) September 7, 2026

The SEC expanded to 16 teams in 2024, adding Texas and Oklahoma.

Nine teams from the SEC are listed in the AP Top 25, with Georgia and Texas leading the way at No. 3 and No. 5, respectively. Ole Miss is at No. 9.

The Rebels’ exciting victory was too close for comfort for Chambliss, but he was happy that they survived the big scare from the 24th-ranked Cardinals.

“I honestly hate these games. I don’t know why we do this every time. We like close, one-score games, but yeah, we got the win. That’s all that matters,” said the 24-year-old quarterback, who is being touted as a prime candidate for the Heisman Trophy, in a report from the Associated Press (AP).

Ole Miss will go up against Charlotte at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday.

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