Countdown to Kickoff: Preview of Ole Miss vs. Kentucky
OXFORD, Miss. — Today, Ole Miss will face seventh-ranked Kentucky at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Both teams enter the week with undefeated records of 4-0. The game will be the Rebels’ first conference game, while Kentucky faced Florida in the second week in the season, beating the Gators, 26-16, in Gainesville.
In last week’s 35-27 win over Tulsa, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and players were not pleased with how the team played in the second half, where the offense was unable to score any points and only gained 145 yards. In the first half, however, the offense accumulated 352 yards, finishing all but one of their drives with a touchdown.
“The standard is to win. When we let someone creep back into the game, that’s not our standard of football. We’re trying to become a championship program and we can’t let things like that happen.”
Jonathan Mingo on Rebels’ offensive performance versus Tulsa
Playing well for four full quarters will be paramount against Kentucky. Ole Miss will face a sound Wildcat defense which is holding its opponents to 13 points a game — which ranks fifth in the SEC and 11th nationally. They are giving up an average of just over 108 yards a game on the ground and 168 through the air per game.
“It’s the same defense as Tulsa’s. Basically a drop eight, cover three defense. They play a lot of off coverage. They play man a little bit, in third down, third and long situations.”
Malik Heath on what he has seen of Kentucky’s defense on film
The Wildcats’ leading tackler is former Rebel Jacquez Jones. Kentucky has forced four turnovers this season: three interceptions and one fumble. They are led in that department by former Ole Miss player Keidron Smith who has one interception which he returned for a touchdown that helped seal the Wildcats’ road win over Florida, he also has a fumble recovery.
Defensively, Kiffin and players who have spoken with the media to this point, felt the Rebs did not play up to their standard and this week, tackling was a point of emphasis in practice.
“We had a little off day. I did feel like it was a test, we definitely needed that. Tackling could’ve been better but we’re back to work this week.”
Linebacker Austin Keys on Rebels’ defensive performance versus Tulsa
Executing tackles will be very important versus the Wildcats as Kentucky expects running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. to return from injury. Of players who returned for the 2022 season, Rodriguez is the SEC’s leading rusher as last season he averaged over six yards a carry.
Currently, Kentucky is averaging just over 81 rushing yards a game and just under three yards a carry, so they will happily welcome Rodriguez back.
The Wildcats have a veteran quarterback in Will Levis, and he leads an offense that averages just over 296 passing yards a game. The Wildcats’ QB has thrown for 1185 yards with 10 touchdowns, four interceptions and a holds a 67.5 percent completion percentage. Kentucky’s leading receiver, Tayyon Robinson, has 20 receptions for 349 and two touchdowns through four games.
“They (Kentucky) have some very explosive receivers and try to take the top off the defense having a good quarterback. We just have to be ready to play this weekend. Ready to stop the run and the pass.”
Ole Miss DB Tysheem Johnson on Kentucky’s passing offense
Mark Stoops is in his tenth season as the Wildcats’ head coach. His ten years at the helm of the program are the most of any Kentucky head coach. Stoops’ has led his team to 33 wins in the last four seasons, which ranks 16th among power five teams.
Similar to Ole Miss, the Wildcats finished with a record of 10-3 last season. Kentucky has notched double digit wins in two of the last four seasons. The last time the Rebels and Wildcats met Ole Miss won 42-41 in overtime in Lexington. That win was Lane Kiffin’s first as the Rebels’ head coach.
Can Ole Miss improve to 2-0 against Kentucky in the Kiffin era? Find out today, as Ole Miss and Kentucky kick off at 11am on ESPN.
Hotty Toddy!
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
Nick Filipich
Nick Filipich was born and raised in Biloxi, MS. He is an Ole Miss alum with a degree in Sports and Recreation Administration. A sports junkie with a great passion for all things Ole Miss, Nick played baseball and football in high school — which is where he discovered his love for sports. He is an avid Braves and Saints fan, and in his free time enjoys spending time with family, friends and his black lab, Dixie.
