Final Game-Week Practice Report: Rebels ready to take on the Gamecocks

OXFORD, Miss. – (Release) The No. 11 Ole Miss football team suffered its first setback of the 2024 season in its SEC opener against Kentucky, and Lane Kiffin’s Rebels will have no time to dwell on the defeat as they now hit the road for their next test against South Carolina.

Kiffin in his Monday press conference took a look back at Saturday’s game and the challenge that awaits in Columbia. Henry Parrish Jr., Walter Nolen, Suntarine Perkins, Chris Paul Jr. and Cayden Lee also met with the media this week, which can be found below.

Back on Track

The Rebels had aspirations for an undefeated season, but that’s the only goal off the table after their first defeat. Kiffin lamented Ole Miss’ miscues in the first loss and commended Kentucky on its ability to capitalize.

“Great opportunity for us to work this week to get back on track,” Kiffin said. “As we continue to review, we made more mistakes than them. They made more critical plays in situations than we did. First time we lost the turnover margin and lost the explosive play battle, so that usually leads to that.”

PRESSER | Lane Kiffin – Week 6 (South Carolina)

Though they learned the lesson last week at home, Ole Miss knows it will have to be even more devoid of mistakes playing on the road, particularly in a raucous environment like South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium.

“Really hard place to play, going on the road to South Carolina with a really good team,” Kiffin said. “A team that’s one penalty away from being undefeated and ranked really high. These guys are much improved from last year, especially on defense, so this is going to be a really big challenge about us improving this week.”

Us vs. Us

Ole Miss took on one of the country’s best defenses last week, and as Kiffin mentioned, the Rebels are facing yet another talented defense this week. South Carolina ranks in the top 30 nationally in total defense (14th), passing defense (23rd), rushing defense (28th) and scoring defense (30th).

“We beat ourselves,” Parrish said of the Kentucky defeat. “We just have to go out there with a mindset that it’s us vs. us, not vs. the other team. We know what we have. Just have to go out there with the mindset that we’re going to dominate the guy next to us.”

PRESSER | Henry Parrish Jr. – Week 6 (South Carolina)

South Carolina boasts arguably the nation’s best pass rusher to this point. Kyle Kennard leads the SEC and is No. 4 nationally in both sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (8.5). Parrish knows part of his job in Columbia will be contending with the Gamecock pass rush.

“I take that with a passion, especially with Jaxson Dart next to me,” Parrish said. “You have to protect the quarterback with your life. I go out there with the mindset that pass protection is key, I just have to do my job.”

Wake Up Call

It was a stunning loss for a Rebel team that expects to be in the College Football Playoff at season’s end, but as the old adage goes, it’s better to lose early than late. Walter Nolen spoke this week about how an early stumbling block could be just what Ole Miss needs to keep its intensity up the rest of the way.

“Saturday was a really great wake-up call for us,” Nolen said. “I feel like we all needed that as a team. It’s just been, get back to work, really just punish everybody in front of us for the rest of the season.”

PRESSER | Walter Nolen – Week 6 (South Carolina)

Game prep has been as intense as ever this week. Nolen reported that the motivated Rebels have been using the defeat as fuel for their fire as they prepare for another tough opponent in South Carolina.

“They’re a great team. They play hard. That’s part of the reason the offense is so good, they have a quarterback that plays hard,” Nolen said. “I feel like we are focused more because we took a loss, just taking this week and carrying it on to the rest of the season, that’s what we plan on doing.”

PRESSER | Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul Jr. – Week 6 (South Carolina)

PRESSER | Suntarine Perkins – Week 6 (South Carolina)

PRESSER | Cayden Lee – Week 6 (South Carolina)

Next Up

Ole Miss travels to Columbia to take on South Carolina this Saturday, October 5. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. (CT), and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.