Keys to The Game: No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels at No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners
OXFORD, Miss. — The Ole Miss Rebels are entering their second straight road matchup this Saturday as they travel to Norman to take on the No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners. Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is a venue that is regarded as one of the best — and loudest — in college football.
The Rebels are coming off their first defeat of the season at the hands of the now-No.5 Georgia Bulldogs in Athens last Saturday, 35-43, in a game that saw Ole Miss outscored 17-0 in the fourth quarter. Head coach Lane Kiffin’s team will need to bounce back this weekend, and they’ll have to do it against a Sooner defense that is ranked No. 1 in total defense in the country.
What are some keys for the Rebels to come out on top this weekend?
Defensive Stops
While getting defensive stops may sound like a no-brainer to winning a football game, it is the exact reason Ole Miss did not come out with a win in Athens.
The Rebels’ defense allowed 510 total yards — 289 passing, 221 rushing — and did not stop the Bulldogs from scoring on one single drive, as they allowed a field goal or touchdown on possession in the game.
This led to Georgia holding onto the ball for over 15 minutes more than Ole Miss, which, in turn, allowed the Bulldogs to control the game, especially late. That ultimately led to Georgia taking a 4th-quarter lead and rallying the crowd behind the home team as Ole Miss took over with just two minutes remaining, down 8 points and needing to drive 77 yards.
However, with one or two more defensive stops in that game, there’s no doubt the Rebels could have remained undefeated and left Athens with a win.
Ground Game
To pair with defensive stops, Ole Miss also needs to control the ground game — especially if they are holding on to a late lead. The Rebels’ talented back Kewan Lacy crossed the plane for two touchdowns last week, but he only had a total of 12 carries, even with a fourth-quarter lead.
Head coach Lane Kiffin spoke Monday on the game — including not getting Lacy the ball late in the game vs. Georgia.
“You know, I always look at things not like, ‘oh, how well did you do them?’ and sit on that? I always look at things and say, ‘Okay, how could we have done something differently,’ you know? And I kind of wish we would have got him the ball there in the fourth quarter as they (Georgia) were driving a lot. Well man, I wish we kind of would have given it to him.”
Lane Kiffin on Kewan Lacy in the UGA game
In prior games this season, Lacy saw a lot more carries, as he has the fifth-most carries in all of FBS college football. He could be a big factor again this week against a tough defense, in a tough stadium to play in.
The Oklahoma defense, the No. 1 defense statistically in the nation, has allowed just 2.3 yards per carry this season, the second-best mark in college football. Kewan Lacy and the Rebels’ ground game, on the other hand, are averaging 4.5 yards per rush, so something will have to give there.
Another Quick Start… and Sustain
Ole Miss’ biggest key to the game against Oklahoma, in my opinion, is getting off to a quick start. The Rebels scored five touchdowns on their first five drives last weekend, and that quick start helped keep them in the game in Athens.
While they do not need to score on every drive to win this weekend, they need to put up offensive numbers despite the fierce defense that will stand before them.
To get off to a quick start, Ole Miss will have to counter a Sooners’ defense that is ranked second in the SEC in third-down conversion percentage. They are allowing their opponents a conversion rate of only 25 percent and are first in first-down defense in both the conference and nation. Oklahoma has given up just 82 first downs through seven games.
If they can get out to a hot start and sustain defensively, it will draw some energy out of the crowd and help swing momentum in favor of the Rebs. Momentum is a big factor in tough road games and anything Ole Miss can do to lessen the crowd noise could be the difference between winning and losing.
A Look Ahead
The Rebels and Sooners are set to kick off in the early game at 11 a.m. CT.
Both teams sit at 6-1 on the season, and that one loss for both of them came in conference play. There’s no room for error at this point, as this game is a must-win if each is to stay in contention for a shot to play in the SEC Championship game and/or College Football Playoffs.
Billy Kuhl
Billy Kuhl joins The Rebel Walk as a sophomore at Ole Miss majoring in Journalism with a Sports Media concentration. He is from Jefferson Township, New Jersey and graduated from Jefferson Township High School where he played varsity baseball, and soccer, and swam competitively in his summers. You can contact him at wpkuhl88@gmail.com or DM him on X @Billykuhll or instagram @Billykuhll_
