Week 1’s only matchup between ranked teams takes place Sunday night in Nashville, Tennessee, where the No. 24 Louisville Cardinals face the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels in the inaugural Music City Kickoff. The neutral-site contest begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC from Nissan Stadium.
Ole Miss enters the new college football season following the most successful campaign in program history. The Rebels finished 13-2, reached the College Football Playoff for the first time and advanced to the semifinals before falling 31-27 to Miami.
The Rebels accomplished that postseason run after Lane Kiffin left for LSU, placing defensive coordinator Pete Golding in charge of the program. Golding now begins his first full season as head coach with two of the country’s most productive offensive players returning to Oxford.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss passed for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns and only three interceptions last season while adding another dimension as a runner. Running back Kewan Lacy carried the ball 306 times for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns, helping Ole Miss average 36.9 points and 489.7 total yards per game.
Louisville is coming off a 9-4 season that ended with consecutive victories over Kentucky and Toledo. The Cardinals have reached at least nine wins in each of Jeff Brohm‘s first three seasons as head coach, but they will open the year with a new starting quarterback for the fourth consecutive season.
Former Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz steps into that role after spending most of his first three college seasons as a reserve. Kienholz has thrown for 250 yards and one touchdown in limited action, making Sunday’s ranked matchup the biggest opportunity of his career to date.
The Cardinals can reduce the pressure on their inexperienced quarterback by leaning on junior running back Isaac Brown. Despite being limited to nine games last season, Brown rushed for 884 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 8.8 yards per carry. He recorded six 100-yard performances, including 205 yards on only 14 attempts against Boston College.
Louisville also brings back a defense that allowed 303.1 yards per game and led the ACC in pass defense last season. Defensive end Clev Lubin anchors that group after collecting 13.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles during his first year with the Cardinals.
Sunday will be the second meeting between Louisville and Ole Miss. The Rebels won the first matchup 43-24 in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta.
Louisville vs. Ole Miss Odds
Ole Miss is favored by 6.5 points for Sunday’s neutral-site matchup at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: Louisville +6.5 (+100) | Ole Miss -6.5 (-120)
- Moneyline: Louisville +210 | Ole Miss -275
- Total: Over 55.5 (-105) | Under 55.5 (-115)
Referenced odds subject to change.
Best Bet for Louisville vs. Ole Miss
Louisville +6.5 (+100): Ole Miss returns the more experienced quarterback and deserves to enter as the favorite, but Louisville has the defensive talent and run game required to prevent the Rebels from pulling away in this one.
Brown gives the Cardinals a proven way to control possession and keep Kienholz out of unfavorable passing situations. His 8.8 yards per carry last season reflected more than a handful of isolated big plays, as he surpassed 100 rushing yards in six of his nine appearances.
That ground game will test an Ole Miss defense that surrendered 149.1 rushing yards per contest in 2025. Louisville also has Keyjuan Brown available after he closed last season with three consecutive 100-yard performances, giving Brohm two capable options in the backfield.
The Cardinals should be able to create problems on the other side of the ball as well. Louisville finished among the nation’s top 25 teams in total, passing and rushing defense last season, while Lubin leads a defensive front capable of disrupting Chambliss and limiting his opportunities outside the pocket.
Ole Miss retains its two most important offensive players, but the Rebels are beginning their first complete season without Kiffin directing the offense. They must also replace several contributors around Chambliss and Lacy while facing an experienced Louisville defense immediately.
Kienholz remains the largest uncertainty for the Cardinals, especially against Golding’s pressure packages. He does not need to match Chambliss statistically for Louisville to cover, however. A steady performance supplemented by the Cardinals’ rushing attack and defense should keep the underdog within striking distance throughout the night.
- Best Bet: Louisville +6.5 (+100)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
Ole Miss is the popular side at Hard Rock Bet for Sunday night’s clash:
- Moneyline: Ole Miss has received 91% of all tickets and 90.5% of the handle.
- Spread: Ole Miss -6.5 is bringing in 78.8% of all wagers and 85.8% of the money.
- Total: Over 55.5 has drawn 69.2% of the tickets, but Under 55.5 holds 52.7% of the handle.
Louisville vs. Ole Miss Game Info
- šļø Location: Nissan Stadium – Nashville, Tennessee
- š Date: Sunday, September 6
- ā° Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- šŗ Where to Watch: ABC
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