CFP FIRST ROUND: TULANE VS OLE MISS

December 20, 2025

De'Zhaun Stribling

Vaught Hemingway Stadium

Ole Miss Rebels

Postgame Press Conference

Ole Miss 41, Tulane 10

Q. Personally, just talk to me about your emotions. How does this feel being able to transfer here, first year, College Football Playoff experience, getting a TD? What does tonight feel for you? How do you evaluate your performance as well?

DE'ZHAUN STRIBLING: It's been great, man. This is why I came here. I came to play here at a high level and play in some big-time games. Just to see all of my hard work and all the labor paying off is just a great feeling, but also great seeing what we poured in together as a team, you know, seeing it come to light.

Q. As a veteran on this football team, one of the elder statesmen here, you've played a lot of football, a lot of college football. How did tonight's atmosphere rank compared to other atmospheres you played?

DE'ZHAUN STRIBLING: It was for sure up there. The fans brought a lot of juice out there. We really felt it on the field. We try our best to stay locked in and focused, but with all the fireworks going on, you can't help but look around.

It was great out there. The fireworks, all the drones, beautiful. Loved it.

Q. How much emphasis was there just within the locker room over the last couple of weeks to show that the last few weeks of chaos and change around here weren't going to impact the way you guys played on the field?

DE'ZHAUN STRIBLING: You know, it wasn't really showing, like, all the noise didn't matter. It was just more about going out there and doing what we do. You know, we played at a high level all season, so nothing is going to change.

You know, just because we're in the playoffs, we're not going to play the game different or call it different. We're going to go out there and play our ball, and we play ball at a high level.

Q. Just what are your early thoughts on getting Georgia again and that rematch?

DE'ZHAUN STRIBLING: I'm excited for the opportunity. I'm really excited to go out there and play them again. I feel like in the first game we came up short, and there were some things that we could have executed better. So just excited for the opportunity to go back out there and play them again.

Q. How has Pete's approach and mentality resonated with you guys? I don't think I've heard him say anything that he hasn't talked about the players. You know, he doesn't tweet. He's not camera-happy. I'm just wondering from y'all's perspective as players, what's that meant to you guys?

DE'ZHAUN STRIBLING: It's meant a lot. You can see he's really bought in and invested in us. He wants the best from us. So just having someone like that who is a leader of all of us, you know, seeing how he's so locked in and really trying to push us to do our best, it brings out the best in everyone around us.

Q. Being in the wide receiver room, so much depth. You guys had ten receivers tonight, including Kewan had a catch for over 346 yards. What kind of testament does that talk to the room and also your quarterbacks as well?

DE'ZHAUN STRIBLING: It shows our real focus and our real goal is just to go 1-0. We're not really -- we don't care who the ball goes to or who has all the stats. We just care about winning. As long as we can do our job and help the team win, that's all that matters.

Q. When you look across the line of scrimmage, you see somebody 5'9", 180 pounds, and you know you're going to bully them, how does that feel?

DE'ZHAUN STRIBLING: I don't want to sound like a bully and say it feels good, but there is a certain type of feeling that you get for establishing dominance. You know, that's what I see it as. It's establishing dominance.

You know, it's a physical game, and that just comes with it. You know what I mean? Some people are bigger, stronger. It doesn't matter. I'm going to go out there and establish dominance on whoever it is.

Q. I've continue to do notice the presence of your family and friends this year. What have they meant to you and continuing to encourage you throughout the season as you're going through the long season this year?

DE'ZHAUN STRIBLING: Just a great support system. I'm from very, very far away, across the ocean. Just for them to be able to come up here and spend time with me, keep me levelheaded and keep me locked in, it really means a lot.

Q. How was this win for the program, and what were the emotions like in the locker room afterwards?

DE'ZHAUN STRIBLING: It was great, man. It was great. You know, we're just trying to keep doing what we can, you know, keep reaching for the stars. So just keep going and keep on pressing and try to go 1-0 every week.