What are they up to? A look at how Ole Miss opponents are faring this season
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss is three weeks into the season and, so far, has an unblemished record. Still, there is a long time to go in the season, so let’s take a look at what each of the Rebels’ opponents this season have been up to.
TROY
The record: 1-2. Lost to Troy, beat Alabama A&M, lost to Appalachian State.
Last week: Troy was literally two seconds and five yards away from beating the team that beat Texas A&M the week before these two played. A Mountaineer Hail Mary was successful as time expired to give App State the 32-28 win.
Up next: Troy hosts Marshall this week.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
The record: 1-2. Lost to Missouri State, lost to Ole Miss, beat Idaho State.
Last week: The Bears laid a beat down on Idaho State 31-16 behind Hunter Hays 284-yard performance.
Up next: UCA travels to Southeast Missouri this week.
GEORGIA TECH
The record: 1-2. Lost to Clemson, beat Western Carolina, lost to Ole Miss.
Last week: Tech was embarrassed by Ole Miss 42-0.
Up next: The Yellow Jackets travel to Orlando, Fla., to take on UCF.
TULSA
The record: 2-1. Lost to Wyoming 40-37 (2 OT), beat Northern Illinois, beat Jacksonville (Ala.) State.
Last week: Beat up on Jax State 54-17.
Up next: Tulsa is at Ole Miss this week.
KENTUCKY
The record: 3-0. Beat Miami (Ohio), beat Florida, beat Youngstown State.
Last week: The Wildcats whitewashed Youngtown State, 31-0.
Up next: UK will host Northern Illinois Saturday.
VANDERBILT
The record:3-1. Beat Hawaii, beat Elon, lost to Wake Forest, beat Northern Illinois.
Last week: Rallied to beat Northern Illinois, 38-28.
Up next: Vandy opens SEC play at Alabama.
AUBURN
The record: Beat Mercer, beat San Jose State, lost to Penn State.
Last week: Auburn got crushed by Penn State, 41-12.
Up next: The Tigers host Missouri.
LSU
The record: 2-1. Lost to Florida State, beat Southern, beat Mississippi State.
Last week: Outlasted Mississippi State 31-16.
Up next: LSU welcomes New Mexico Saturday night.
TEXAS A&M
The record: 1-2. Beat Sam Houston, lost to Appalachian State, beat Miami (Fla.)
Last week: Held Miami to three field goals and beat the Canes 17-9.
Up next: Heads to Arlington to take on Arkansas.
ALABAMA
The record: 3-0. Beat Utah State, beat Texas, beat ULM.
Last week: It was never in question, beat ULM 63-7.
Up next: Hosts Vanderbilt to start SEC play.
ARKANSAS
The record: 3-0. Beat Cincinnati, beat South Carolina and beat Missouri State.
Last week: After a tough start, the Hogs beat SEMO 38-27.
Up next: Texas A&M awaits the Hogs in Arlington.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
The record: 2-1. Beat Memphis, beat Arizona, lost to LSU.
Last week: Surrendered 21 fourth-quarter points and lost 31-16.
Up next: State hosts Bowling Green next week.
Steve Barnes
Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers.
He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio.
A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series.
Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time.
He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk.
Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.
