Halfway through the season, here are Ole Miss’ current bowl projections
OXFORD, Miss. — It’s a bye week and we’ve got a little time on our hands, so let’s take a look at where the bowl projections at the halfway mark of the season have Ole Miss headed.
The Rebels, currently 5-1, 2-1 in the SEC, are preparing to take on Auburn October 21 and just need one more win to become bowl eligible. Ole Miss has games remaining against Auburn, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Georgia, ULM and Mississippi State remaining.
CBS: Jan. 1 — Citrus Bowl
Matchup: Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten) vs. Ole Miss Rebels (SEC)
The Citrus Bowl is played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Wisconsin is 4-1 overall and sits atop the Big Ten West division at 2-0. Interestingly, head coach Luke Fickell has an offensive coordinator Rebel fans will know as Phil Longo serves in that capacity for the Badgers. Longo served as the Ole Miss OC from December, 2016 until December, 2018.
Athlon Sports: Dec. 29 — Gator Bowl
Matchup: Louisville Cardinals (ACC) vs. Ole Miss Rebels (SEC)
The Gator Bowl will be played on December 29 at TIAA Bank Field located in Jacksonville, Florida. The Rebels and Cardinals last met on September 6, 2021 in Atlanta in the season opener that saw Ole Miss win, 43-24.
Currently, Louisville is half a game out of first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference, sitting at 6-0 overall, 3-0 in league play. (Florida State is 4-0).
Ole Miss players Jordan Watkins and linebacker Monty Montgomery transferred from Louisville.
USA Today: Dec. 29 — Gator Bowl
Matchup: Miami Hurricanes (ACC) vs. Ole Miss Rebels (SEC)
Ole Miss has only played Miami three times in school history and leads the series over the Hurricanes, 2-1. The last time the two teams played was in 1951, a 21-7 loss for the Rebels.
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura Jan 1 — Citrus Bowl
Matchup: Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten) vs. Ole Miss Rebels (SEC) (See above description)
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: Jan 1 — ReliaQuest Bowl
Matchup: Louisville (ACC) vs. Ole Miss (SEC)
The ReliaQuest Bowl is played in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (See above description for Louisville vs. Ole Miss matchup.)
In head coach Lane Kiffin’s three prior seasons in Oxford, Ole Miss has gone to three straight bowl games: Outback, Sugar and Texas. They’ll look to make it four straight as they begin the second half of the 2023 schedule next Saturday in Auburn.
Hotty Toddy!
David Walker
David Walker was named Louisiana’s High School Player of the Year at just 16 years old and, at 17, became college football’s first quarterback to earn Freshman of the Year honors. He remains the NCAA’s youngest-ever starting quarterback, a distinction that has stood for decades.
Transitioning from a wide-open high school offense to Emory Bellard’s renowned wishbone triple option, Walker excelled as a dual-threat quarterback. He graduated as Texas A&M’s all-time winningest quarterback and served as a two-time team captain, helping to transform a program that had endured 15 losing seasons in the previous 16 years.
After his playing career, Walker coached and taught algebra at six Texas high schools before moving into private business. In 2011, he published his memoir, “I’ll Tell You When You’re Good,” a title inspired by the coaching philosophy of Shannon Suarez, the Sulphur High and Louisiana High School Hall of Fame coach who was a significant influence on Walker’s life and career.
Walker’s compelling storytelling in his autobiography reflects the breadth of his experiences in high school and college football, and it is an undeniable fact that he saw more action than any athlete in the history of the NCAA. Since 2013, he has contributed to The Rebel Walk, sharing his insights and expertise with readers.
