Football
Ole Miss’ Kiffin on ESPN: ‘We Haven’t Been Challenged” in Non-conference
Rebels coach likes confidence of team in non-conference, but fixing the penalty issue hangs over game starting this morning.
Running up big numbers in four non-conference games is better than any alternative for No. 6 Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin knows it changes at 11 a.m. against Kentucky at Vaught-Hemingway.
“It gave us a lot of confidence,” Kiffin said on ESPN’s GameDay on Saturday morning before the game. “Hopefully that prepared us a lot.”
Still, though, the Wildcats are going to bring a solid defensive front to challenge quarterback Jaxson Dart’s offense. They have been lighting up scoreboards, starting quickly and that’s what folks are expecting to continue.
“I like how competitive [his players] are,” Kiffin said. “We haven’t been challenged and I think that’s going to happen today.”
Penalties have been the main problem area for fans and media. Even Kiffin, too, has appeared frustrated at times by it.
Ole Miss Rebels defensive linemen JJ Pegues (38) gets by Georgia Southern Eagles offensive linemen Pichon Wimbley (74) as he rushes Georgia Southern Eagles quarterback JC French (12) during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
It’s not the average of just more than eight per game (33 total), it’s the 91 yards and the timing of the mistakes. One led to the only touchdown the Rebels have given up this year against Georgia Southern last week.
“Sometimes when you create a team that’s a really physical team that’s really going to try to play really physical at a high level snap to snap, it’s going to get violent,” Kiffin said this week. “You won’t be the least penalized team defensively. I understand what we’ve created. We just have to be smarter at it. We can’t have the penalties that we can avoid.”
It’s a message the team understands. The ones we’ve talked to in the limited number of press conference this week have all echoed that.
“Our motto is playing fast,” defensive back Trey Amos said this week. “Sometimes you’re going to get calls, but we want to make plays and to be in the right spot. I feel like we can lay low with the penalties and stuff like that, but that starts in practice. We’re definitely going to practice not holding and stuff like that.”
The guess is a big part of it has been the level of competition. Heavy favorites to win every game in a blowout is something coaches hate because they don’t really know what they’re going to have when an SEC game gets close.
Kentucky will be a better challenge. Ole Miss probably noted what South Carolina did to the Wildcats in Week 2, though, in a 31-6 blowout win.
And it could lead to a big day for Dart and the passing game. While Kentucky has a defensive front that makes running tough, the back end has shown to be vulnerable.
Fans could end up loving the offensive showcase in this one if that scenario holds true.
Football
Ole Miss to learn plenty with CFP rankings: Rebel Roundup
Your daily briefing on what’s going on with Ole Miss Athletics.
Ole Miss football will get a lot of its questions answered tonight.
The College Football Playoff Committee will release its third edition of its rankings at 6 p.m. tonight on ESPN. The Rebels figure to be included in the committee’s rankings, but where they’re ranked – and more importantly where other teams are ranked – will be telling to how clear the Rebels’ path to a playoff berth is.
The SEC has five teams with two losses and how the committee ranks those teams will determine who just needs to win out and who needs help.
For the Rebels, what will be important to know is where does the committee rank Georgia? How far does Tennessee fall after losing to the Bulldogs? Is LSU fall out of the top 25? How far does South Carolina rise after beating Missouri? Is Ole Miss ranked ahead of BYU (who lost to unranked Kansas, but still in contention for the Big 12 championship)? Where does the highest-ranked Group of 5 team rank?
How the committee answers those questions will go a long way in determining in if Ole Miss simply needs to just win its final two games or needs to rack up style points in those wins?
Of course, a loss will put the Rebels in the same boat as LSU. Out of the playoffs.
Yesterday’s Ole Miss Results
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss 76, Jackson State 44
Today’s Ole Miss Schedule
Women’s Tennis: NCAA Individual Championship, Waco, Texas
Did You Notice?
Ole Miss coach Yolet McPhee-McCuin won her 200th career game, and 106th at Ole Miss, with the Rebels dispatching Jackson Stte 76-44 at SJB Pavillion on Kids Day.
Daily Dose Of Archie Manning
“I really don’t think I have lived my life as an open book.”
We’ll Leave You With This
Football
What Josh Pate thought about where Ole Miss ranked in AP poll
The Ole Miss Reels were ranked No. 9 by the media in Sunday’s poll and Josh Pate released his reaction
OXFORD, Miss. — The Ole Miss Reels were ranked No. 9 by the media in Sunday’s poll and Josh Pate released his reaction on YouTube on Monday.
Football
With a clear path to the playoff, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin talks to reporters
The Rebels’ head coach spoke with reporters about a variety of issues.
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin and his players came into the 2024 season with the loftiest goals and highest expectations an Ole Miss team has had since a Manning played quarterback.
Despite a shocking home loss to Kentucky and overtime loss to LSU, the Rebels are still in position to accomplish most of those goals. An conference championship isn’t likely, but a spot in the new 12-team playoff is and the Rebels’ path is crystal clear.
Beat Florida. Beat Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl.
If Ole Miss can win those two games, it should be in the playoff.
With that in mind, Kiffin started the week off with his weekly Monday press conference with reporters and talked about the playoffs and much more.
WATCH:
“He’s now become the rat poison.”
-Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin on Nick Saban being complimentary of his team this season. pic.twitter.com/PziIml0m3d
— Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) November 18, 2024
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