The Green Wave struggled on offense in its first matchup with the Rebels, but new players have become go-to guys for the team since that time.
Tulane and Ole Miss will meet for the second time this season in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday -- and for the Green Wave's sake, this game needs to go a lot better than the first one.
In their September matchup, the Rebels took command from the start and marched to a 45-10 victory with ease. It was one of the worst performances of the season for Tulane on both sides of the ball, but the offense was exceptionally abysmal.
Things have certainly changed for both teams since that first matchup, and new players have risen to the top for the Green Wave. Here's a look at three offensive standouts to watch heading into Saturday's historic postseason game.
1. QB Jake Retzlaff
Retzlaff had his worst performance of the season against the Rebels after starting the first three games of the season on the right foot. The dual-threat signal-caller's rushing ability was severely limited -- he had just eight rushes for a total of 51 yards -- and his attempts to make up for it by throwing the ball were futile.
The outing was so lackluster that backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan was brought in to finish the matchup, and Retzlaff ended the day going 5-for-17 for 56 yards.
It's safe to say that the BYU transfer has only gotten more comfortable in his passing abilities since then, and he's found success through the air against some tough competition. Retzlaff should look like a brand new quarterback to the Ole Miss defense: his game has improved tremendously, and he is facing far less pressure to carry the bulk of the offensive performance.
2. RB Jamauri McClure
McClure has taken over as Tulane's predominant rusher, and he's getting better with each passing week. He's like an unstoppable bowling ball with some quick feet.
The freshman didn't receive many touches in the programs' first matchup, with just three carries for 19 yards, but he averaged more yards per carry than any other running back. Since then, McClure has exploded for more than 120 yards in two of his last three outings and is averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
Like Retzlaff, McClure has made a big turnaround in the three months since that first contest. It will be interesting to see just how different Tulane's rushing attack is with him taking the majority of snaps at his position.
3. WR Shazz Preston
Preston was one of the few shining stars on offense in the first game against Ole Miss, with three catches for 35 yards.
Since then, he's remained one of Retzlaff's primary targets, with more than 50 receiving yards in four of nine American Conference games and three games of 85 yards or more. Preston is also the king of long receptions and has averaged more than 10 yards per catch in nine of 13 total games so far this year.
Expect this game to be no different. Preston is a veteran player who has proven his abilities with big plays throughout the season, and there's no doubt that he'll be hungry to make all of the big plays for his team in the biggest game of his collegiate career.