Gator Bowl: First Look at Ole Miss vs. Duke
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Ole Miss football team is through the Christmas season and ready to celebrate the end of 2024 in Jacksonville as Lane Kiffin and the Rebels prepare for their TaxSlayer Gator Bowl matchup with Duke.
How to Watch: Ole Miss vs. Duke
Date: Thursday, Jan. 2
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Jacksonville, Florida – EverBank Stadium
What to Wear: Red
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: ESPN App
Live Stats: Click Here
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Live Audio: OleMissSports.com/watch
Gameday Program: Click Here
2024 Duke Blue Devils Recap
Duke finished the 2024 regular season at 9-3 overall with three respectable losses to bowl teams in Georgia Tech, No. 13 Miami and No. 10 SMU. The Blue Devils reeled off five wins to start the season before falling to the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta. They rebounded with a win over Florida State before falling in overtime to SMU, then to Miami the following week. Duke is on a three-game win streak heading into the bowl.
Three Players to Watch: Ole Miss
- Jaxson Dart – The First Team All-SEC quarterback will don the red and blue one last time in Jacksonville. Is a big swan song in store?
- Jordan Watkins – Jordan Watkins will also play his last game in a Rebel uniform and could be the beneficiary if Dart gets going.
- Walter Nolen – Walter Nolen has been on a tear, racking up 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks over the last two games of the regular season. We can’t wait to see what Nolen puts on tape for the last time at the collegiate level before the NFL Draft.
Three Players to Watch: Duke
- Henry Belin – Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy was electric all season for the Blue Devils but opted out of the bowl and into the transfer portal, as did co-backup Grayson Loftis. How will he handle the nation’s top pass rush?
- Jaquez Moore – Duke’s leading running back Star Thomas also opted out of the Gator Bowl, but the Blue Devils still have dangerous options in the backfield and will need to limit Moore and Peyton Jones.
- Chandler Rivers – Duke’s strength is its defense, and there are several All-Americans to keep an eye on, including lockdown corner Chandler Rivers, who will be tasked with quieting the Rebel passing attack.
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.
