No. 4 Ole Miss heads into Gainesville carrying the kind of buzz that can turn into a trap just as fast as it turns into momentum.
That’s the warning Joel Klatt put out this week, and the concern is easy to see. The Rebels are fresh off a massive Week 3 win over LSU, a result that meant plenty to the players and fan base after knocking off former head coach Lane Kiffin.
Now they have to reset quickly and deal with No. 21 Florida in “The Swamp,” where the heat, humidity and a 3-0 Gators team create a very different kind of test.
Klatt said on his show this week that he doesn’t see a path where Ole Miss plays well Saturday. His read is simple: after such an emotional win, a letdown is coming.
The Rebels may also be short-handed in a major way. Star running back Kewan Lacy is likely not going to play because of a shoulder injury, and that changes the feel of the matchup immediately. Lacy has been central to the offense, with 191 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 39 carries, good for 4.9 yards per rush.
If he had been available, this would have shaped up as one of the better backfield matchups around. Lacy and Florida’s Jadan Baugh are both viewed as two of the best running backs in the country. Lacy also did damage against the Gators last season, piling up 224 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Still, Klatt pointed to Trinidad Chambliss as a player who could swing the game for Ole Miss. Chambliss has been one of the best quarterbacks in college football so far this season, and with Lacy unlikely to go, the Rebels may need even more from him against a Florida defense that will have its hands full.
Florida got a reminder of that danger last week when Byrum Brown went off against the Gators, throwing for 271 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while adding 65 yards and a score on the ground. Klatt’s point is that Chambliss can be even more dangerous, and if Lacy sits, Ole Miss may have to lean on him to deliver again.
Pete Golding appears to understand the same warning. Earlier this week, the Ole Miss head coach told his team it would be a mistake to treat LSU like their Super Bowl and then let all the work from training camp go to waste with a loss to Florida the next week.
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Ole Miss has its own availability concerns, with running back Kewan Lacy also questionable as he deals with a shoulder issue and works through limited practice reps. The SEC availability report shows several other Rebels in questionable or out status as well, adding another layer of uncertainty to a matchup that already carries plenty of weight for both teams. [Read more 🡒]
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For Florida, that kind of contribution matters just as much as a splashy stat line, especially with a tight end room made up of several transfers. Dippre has stood out for the way his blocking has shown up on multiple touchdowns, and his willingness to put team production ahead of personal numbers has made him a quiet but important piece of what the Gators are trying to do offensively. [Read more 🡒]