Game Preview: Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt
NASHVILLE, Miss. — Ole Miss (5-0, 1-0 SEC) faces Vanderbilt (3-2, 0-1 SEC) Saturday in the Rebels’ week-six matchup. The Commodores are coming off a bye week, which followed a 55-3 loss to Alabama. Vandy’s three wins have come against Hawaii, Elon and Northern Illinois.
Last week, the Rebels prevailed over Kentucky, 22-19. The defense really bowed its neck against the Wildcats, forcing two big fumbles, one of which sealed the victory for the Rebels in the final minutes of the game.
This week, Ole Miss will travel to Nashville to play a team that has had two weeks to prepare. Although Vanderbilt is not a huge threat to the Rebs’ undefeated season, it will be important that Ole Miss plays at its best against the Commodores and gets rolling as the schedule only becomes tougher in the coming weeks.
Vanderbilt Offense
Offensively, Vanderbilt is a run-first team. Their rushing attack is led by Ray Davis who has 81 carries for 402 yards and three touchdowns.
The Commodores feature two quarterbacks, AJ Swann and Mike Wright. Of the two, Swann has played more than Wright, but is second on the team in rushing with 32 carries for 264 yards and four touchdowns.
Wright’s rushing ability is something the Ole Miss defense will have to be aware of. Swann is more of a pocket passer; this season he has completed 58.3% of his passes and thrown for 567 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. At wide receiver, Will Sheppard leads the SEC in touchdown receptions and is second in both receptions and yards.
“They have some wide receivers that can test us on the exterior. I think they’re improved as a team and have two quarterbacks who can make plays and we need to prepare for that.”
Trey Washington on Vanderbilt
Commodores’ Defense
The Vanderbilt defense is giving up 5.12 yards per play and allowing 33.8 points a game, and both are the most in the SEC.
On average, the Commodores give up 299.2 passing yards and 158 rushing yards a game. Bottle that up and you have an SEC-worst 457.2 total yards a game.
The Commodore defense is headlined by senior linebacker Anfernee Orji, who not only leads his team with 52 total tackles on the year so far, but also ranks alongside some of the nation’s leading tacklers with the preseason All-SEC selection averaging 10.4 tackles a game this season. Orji comes off of seasons in 2021 and in 2022 in which he finished as the Commodores’ leading tackler, tallying 93 in 2021 and 66 in 2020.
Game Notes
• Saturday will mark the 97th meeting between Ole Miss and Vanderbilt dating back to 1894.
• It is the third-most played series all-time between Ole Miss and its 2022 opponents (Mississippi State, LSU).
• The Rebels lead the series 52-40-2 overall … The original record vs. the Commodores is 54-40-2, with wins in 2013 and 2014 by Ole Miss vacated due to NCAA ruling.
• 1962 was the last time Ole Miss started 5-0 and didn’t have to vacate any of its wins.
• The Rebels are ranked No. 9 in both the AP Poll and the AFCA Coaches Poll.
• Ole Miss has forced a turnover in 25 of the 28 games during the Lane Kiffin era.
• The Rebels rank No. 10 in the FBS in team coverage with a Pro Football Focus grade of 91.5.
• 56 of the 125 players (45 percent) on the Rebel roster are newcomers and are in their first season at Ole Miss.
• The Rebels are second in the SEC and No. 13 in FBS with 3.2 sacks per game.
• Ole Miss has had a 100-yard rusher in five straight games for the first time since 1999.
• The Rebels are one of just three teams (Duke, Kansas & Ole Miss) to have three players with four or more rushing TDs.
• Ole Miss has blocked three kicks (2 punts, 1 PAT) this season through just five games, the most by a Rebel team since 2015.
• Through just five games, RB Quinshon Judkins has the most rushing touchdowns (6) in a season by any SEC freshman since 2019.
• Judkins ranks No. 12 nationally and leads all freshman with 107.0 rushing yards per game.
• WR Jonathan Mingo is No. 2 in the SEC and No. 19 in FBS in yards per reception (20.0).
Game Info
The Rebs and Commodores kick off at 3:00 p.m. on the SEC Network.
Hotty Toddy!
(Feature image credit: Dan Anderson, The Rebel Walk)
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.
