Four keys to an Ole Miss win over Tulane

OXFORD, Miss. — The Rebels head to New Orleans to face Tulane Saturday in the first road test of the season. Both No. 20 Ole Miss and the No. 24 Green Wave are coming off of a win in their season openers. 

This week it all starts up front for the Rebels. If they win in the trenches, they should be leaving The Big Easy 2-0. Let’s take a more in-depth look at four keys to the game.

Get After Pratt

In the Rebels’ season opener against Mercer, Pete Golding’s defense sacked the opposing quarterback four times. Against an FCS opponent, that number is a bit low considering the talent that Ole Miss has. 

Getting pressure this week will be particularly important because of the quarterback Ole Miss will be facing, Michael Pratt. 

Two years ago in 2021 when the two teams played in Oxford, Pratt was 10-18 while throwing for 166 yards and two touchdowns as the Matt-Corral-led Rebels defeated the Green Wave, 61-21. But Pratt is a much more experienced quarterback than he was then, and his play has elevated exponentially. 

Pratt has started in 33 games over the course of three seasons. This preseason he has been named to the watch lists for the Wuerffel Trophy, the Maxwell Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Walter Camp Award, the Manning Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Watch List and is on the Senior Bowl Watch List.

In Tulane’s week-one game against South Alabama, Pratt was pressured only four times on 22 dropbacks. The lack of pressure from the opponent led to Pratt completing 14-of-15 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns.

He was also named both Senior Bowl and AAC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

If the Rebels can get good pressure on Pratt, knocking him off his reads and timing, that will certainly bode well for Ole Miss. 

Get Q Rolling

Last week against Mercer, Quinshon Judkins rushed for 60 yards on 13 carries. Last season he averaged just over 120 yards per game. Having Judkins pounding the rock the way we all know he can will open up the offense, keeping opposing defenses guessing.

This week, for the offense it all starts up front, as the big men in the trenches will look to open up some big lanes for Quinshon and other ball carriers to get some big chunks of yards.

Score Early

Last week Ole Miss scored 21 points within its first ten offensive plays. Wide receiver Tre Harris scored all three of those touchdowns in his first game as a Rebel. 

Getting ahead early can only help the Rebels’ efforts, as we all know starting out flat on the road against a quality opponent usually doesn’t end so well.

Ride the Hot Hand

In any sport, confidence and momentum can help take a team where they want to go. Louisiana Tech transfer Harris burst onto the scene in his first game in Red and Blue, setting the record for receiving touchdowns by a Rebel in a single game with four. 

Also, Jaxson Dart certainly showed why he should be and is the starting quarterback. Against Mercer, Dart and Harris displayed their chemistry and nose for the endzone as Dart finished 18-of-23 for 334 yards and four touchdowns versus Mercer.

This Saturday against Tulane, look for a lot of Dart-to-Harris connections as they have all the confidence and momentum going into this weekend’s game.

Game info

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT against Tulane in New Orleans at Yulman Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and the Ole Miss Radio Network. 

Hotty Toddy!

(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)