Ole Miss vs. Middle Tennessee State: First Look
OXFORD, Miss. – (Release) Week one couldn’t have gone any better for Ole Miss football, as Lane Kiffin‘s team demolished Furman 76-0 to start the season 1-0. The Rebels are right back at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium this weekend to host Middle Tennessee.
How to Watch: Ole Miss vs. Middle Tennessee
Date: Saturday, September 7
Time: 3:15 p.m. CT
Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Tickets: Limited Quantity Available
What to Wear: Red
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: ESPN App (SEC Network+)
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
LiveAudio: OleMissSports.com/watch
2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Recap
Last season, Middle Tennessee finished 4-8 with a 3-5 record in Conference USA. The Blue Raiders opened last season with a 56-7 loss at Alabama, but their next meeting with an SEC foe went much differently. The following week, at Missouri, they trailed by just four in the fourth quarter and drove into Tiger territory, but a holding call disrupted the upset bid as Missouri escaped with a 23-19 win.
2024 Middle Tennessee Snapshot
In Week 1, it looked like Middle Tennessee might cruise to victory when it took a 21-0 lead in its season-opener against Tennessee Tech. But the Golden Eagles responded with a 25-3 run to take a 25-24 lead with just one minute to go. However, the Blue Raiders drove the length of the field, converting a 4th-and-5 along the way, and Frank Peasant broke free on a 30-yard touchdown run with 0:16 on the clock to secure a 32-25 win and a 1-0 start.
Three Players to Watch: Ole Miss
- Jaxson Dart – Jaxson Dart put up a full game’s worth of numbers in just one half against Furman.
- Micah Pettus –It’s always fun to watch Micah Pettus play football.
- Chris Paul Jr. – Chris Paul Jr. was all over the field in his Rebel debut, leading the defense with eight tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, a shared sack, a pass breakup and a QB hurry.
Three Players to Watch: Middle Tennessee
- John Howse IV – The Vanderbilt transfer at safety was second on the team with five tackles, including one for a loss, and had a 42-yard interception return to set up a touchdown in the opener.
- Frank Peasant – The hero from Week 1, Peasant led the MTSU ground game with 50 yards on 10 carries with two TDs, including the game-winning 30-yard dash.
- Nicholas Vattiato – Ole Miss will have to contend with a veteran quarterback in Vattiato. Vattiato threw for more than 3,000 yards last year, and he was sharp in last year’s near-upset at Mizzou: 22-for-36 with 248 total yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He’ll need another similar performance this weekend at The Vaught.
Ole Miss and MTSU kick off at 3:15 p.m. this Saturday. Hotty Toddy!
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
