Ole Miss took a hit in the AP Top 25 after getting rolled by Florida, sliding five spots from No. 4 to No. 9 following Saturday afternoon’s 52-28 loss in Gainesville. Florida, meanwhile, moved up to No. 8 after the win.
The Rebels’ first true road test under Pete Golding turned ugly fast on defense. Ole Miss had no answers for the Gators’ ground game, with Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark both topping 100 rushing yards. Florida came out with an eight-play touchdown drive to open the game, and that set the tone for a day in which the Rebels never found a way to slow the run.
The numbers on the ground were especially rough for Ole Miss, which gave up more than 300 total rushing yards. That made the Rebels look even shakier than a run defense that finished 12th in the SEC last season. Ole Miss did make a point of addressing linebacker depth in the portal, bringing in Clemson’s Luke Ferrelli and Baylor’s Keaton Thomas, but neither addition was enough to stop Baugh and Clark in the Swamp.
There were issues beyond the run game, too. Florida quarterback Aaron Philo completed just eight passes ahead of the line of scrimmage on the way to the 52-point output, and while Ole Miss held the Gators to fewer than 200 passing yards, the secondary still had its moments of stress when Florida did throw.
Joenel Aguero left early after a helmet-to-helmet hit and was ejected for targeting, forcing reserve safety Andy Jaffe into action. Florida transfer Sharif Denson also saw plenty of balls come his way, and that included a pass interference call near the goal line.
Offensively, Trinidad Chambliss continued to look like the Rebels’ best version of himself this season, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the breakdowns on the other side of the ball.
Ole Miss now heads into the bye week with a lot to sort out before its road trip to Vanderbilt on October 10th.
In Other News...
Florida May Have Made A Huge Impression On Elite WR Target
Easton Royals trip to Gainesville came at a good time for Florida, and the No. 1 thing the Gators could show him was the kind of offense that can sell itself. The five-star wide receiver was on campus for Floridas game against Ole Miss, a 52-28 win that gave him a front-row look at an attack that is putting up points and, just as importantly for a receiver, helping its quarterback develop.
Royal has already been committed to Texas, but he is still weighing his options with the Early Signing Period approaching, and Florida clearly left an impression. His interest in the Gators appears tied to the kind of production and quarterback growth he saw in person, with LSU also staying in the mix as the chase for one of the nations top pass catchers continues. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Heads Into Missouri With Undefeated Start Suddenly Under Pressure
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Trinidad Chambliss Had Fans Talking After This Classy Postgame Moment
After Floridas 52-28 win over Ole Miss, one of the nights most talked-about moments came long after the final whistle. Trinidad Chambliss, who put together a strong outing of his own with 298 passing yards and three total touchdowns, stayed on the field and waited respectfully while Florida coach Jon Sumrall finished a live postgame interview before stepping in to offer a handshake and congratulations.
It was a small gesture, but the kind that tends to travel fast because it says something about a players presence beyond the box score. Ole Miss is 3-1 and heading into a bye week before turning its attention to Vanderbilt, and Chambliss has already drawn praise from coach Pete Golding for his leadership and character, which only made the postgame scene resonate even more with fans watching closely. [Read more 🡒]