Kentucky Radio Host Deems Ole Miss’ Home Field Advantage ‘Not That Great’ Ahead of Saturday’s Matchup
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss is set to take on Kentucky this Saturday, but according to Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio, the Wildcats will be playing against a team that lacks a home-field advantage in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Here’s what the radio host had to say about the Rebels’ gameday crowd:
“I will remind you, the home-field advantage at Ole Miss is not that great, especially as a noon game. They roll out, noon game, that’s 11:00 a.m. local time… It’s not even lunchtime yet. They’re a late-arriving crowd. It’s a small stadium. It doesn’t really get that loud, and usually, the other team has a decent presence because people want to go to Oxford. So even though I think it’s one of the best party places to go in the SEC, as far as how hard is it to play, I would actually argue it’s not that hard of a place to play, especially at noon. I think you’re getting them at the best time you can get them.“
– Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio on Ole Miss’ home-field advantage
First road test at Ole Miss!
Can the Cats handle the pressure?
The KSR crew gives their thoughts on Ole Miss Preview. pic.twitter.com/nFf9Q6OkS4
— Mario A Maitland (@MarioMaitland_3) September 24, 2024
Ironically enough, the last time Ole Miss hosted Kentucky in 2022, the game was at 11:00 a.m., and despite facing a Wildcat team that was ranked seventh in the country with the future Tennessee Titans quarterback on their team, the Rebels won 22-19.
Here’s a look back at the end of that game when the Rebels beat the No. 7 Wildcats.
No. 14 Ole Miss forces the fumble to seal the victory over No. 7 Kentucky 💪
(via @SECNetwork)pic.twitter.com/ceUcxg60FZ
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 1, 2022
Looking at the 2024 season, Kentucky has yet to play on the road and will be facing the Rebels in a stadium which holds roughly 5,000 more fans than the Wildcats’ home Kroger Field in Lexington. It’s also worth acknowledging that Ole Miss fans broke the home attendance record last weekend against Georgia Southern, a Sun Belt Conference team, packing 67,505 fans into the Vaught.
In the past 24 games, the Rebs are 24-2 while playing at home, losing to Alabama and Mississippi State, both back in the 2022 season. There’s no question that there is a home-field advantage when playing in Oxford, but it seems the challenge is out for Rebel fans to prove it, yet again. We bet they’re up to the challenge and will show the visitors from Kentucky what it means to “Lock the Vaught.”
Ole Miss fans, be sure to show your support this Saturday at 11 a.m. in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Go Rebs and Hotty Toddy!
