Lucas Carneiro drilled a 48-yard field goal as time expired to give ninth-ranked Ole Miss a dramatic 41-38 victory over No. 24 Louisville on Sunday night in the Music City Kickoff in Nashville.
The Rebels (1-0) escaped with their season opener after Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz tied the game at 38 with a 7-yard scramble with 1:28 remaining. Carneiro's kick capped a thrilling back-and-forth contest between two ranked teams.
Trinidad Chambliss threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-36 passing for Ole Miss. He also added a 5-yard rushing score that gave the Rebels a 38-24 lead with 6:43 remaining, but Louisville refused to fold.
Deuce Alexander emerged as Chambliss's top target, catching five passes for 159 yards including a pair of 62-yard receiving touchdowns in the second half. The explosive plays helped Ole Miss build what appeared to be a commanding lead before Louisville's late rally.
Louisville's debut quarterback impresses despite loss
Kienholz made his first start at any level in nearly four years and became the first Louisville (0-1) signal-caller to throw for 300 yards in his debut. The Cardinals quarterback finished 18-for-29 for 307 yards and two touchdowns while adding 69 yards on 14 carries.
His performance kept Louisville competitive throughout the contest, setting up the dramatic finish when his late touchdown run knotted the score and gave the Cardinals a chance to steal the victory.
Injury concerns for Ole Miss
The Rebels lost running back Kewan Lacy, a Heisman Trophy hopeful, midway through the third quarter with a reported leg bruise. Lacy also reportedly banged up his shoulder in the first half, finishing with 61 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries before exiting the game.
Lacy's health will be something to monitor as Ole Miss prepares for the rest of their season, given his importance to the Rebels' offensive attack and national championship aspirations.
The victory gives Ole Miss an important early-season win over a ranked opponent as both teams navigate what promises to be competitive conference schedules. For Louisville, the narrow defeat showed promise under their new starting quarterback despite the disappointing result.
