Ole Miss comes into Saturday’s Week 9 SEC matchup as the clear favorite, but Auburn has one path that could keep things uncomfortable in Oxford: the Tigers’ quarterback run game against a Rebels defense that hasn’t stopped much on the ground.
The Rebels are trying to bounce back after a loss at Texas last week, while Auburn arrives off a split two-game stretch that started with a huge upset of then top-ranked Georgia and ended with a loss to LSU. On paper, this looks like the kind of game Ole Miss should control. But the numbers point to one area where Auburn can make it interesting.
That opening comes against an Ole Miss defense that has been leaky against the run all season. The Rebels are last in the SEC in rushing yards allowed, giving up more than 161 per game.
In their loss at Texas, they surrendered 222 rushing yards. In the loss to Florida, that number climbed past 300.
Auburn’s offense has not been a powerhouse through the air, where the Tigers have 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. But Byrum Brown gives them a different kind of weapon. The dual-threat quarterback leads the team with 480 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, and his legs can change the game when Auburn finds the right lanes.
He already proved that against Georgia, when he ran for 115 yards and a score in the upset win. The next week, LSU held him to 21 net rushing yards, which says plenty about both his ceiling and Auburn’s inconsistency up front.
That inconsistency is part of the problem. Auburn ran for 192 yards against Georgia, then managed only 67 against LSU, and that was in a home game.
The other concern is pass protection. Auburn’s offensive line has given up 30 sacks in seven games, which gives Ole Miss a clear counter. If the Rebels can force Brown into long passing downs and get after him in the pocket, they can take away the Tigers’ best chance to challenge them.
Still, Auburn’s best route is obvious: lean on Brown’s legs, attack the Rebels between the tackles and on the edge, and try to keep the chains moving. If that works, Ole Miss’ biggest weakness could turn into the game’s defining storyline.
In Other News...
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Arch Mannings long-term future at Texas has become one of the most closely watched quarterback stories in the sport, and the conversation now stretches well beyond Austin. Analysts and insiders have already started floating possible landing spots if he ever decides to move on, with Ole Miss among the schools mentioned because of the Manning family ties that still carry weight in Oxford. Georgia, USC and Miami have also come up in the mix, a reminder of how quickly the recruiting and transfer markets can change around a name like his.
For now, Manning remains on Texas roster and there has been no public indication that he plans to leave, but the speculation has only grown because of the uncertainty around what comes next. Steve Sarkisian has said he wants to see improvement from the quarterback, which adds another layer to a situation already loaded with attention, expectation and outside noise. For Rebels fans, the possibility is enough to keep one eye on Texas and another on the family connection that has never really gone away. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State's Upset Chances Just Got Tied To Two Texas Stars
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Colin Simmons is the name that could swing the defensive side of it. The edge rusher is questionable because of a high ankle sprain, leaving his status unclear heading into kickoff. For Mississippi State, any sign of uncertainty around one of Texas top defensive pieces is worth watching closely, especially in a game where the Longhorns are trying to handle business and avoid any late surprises. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Just Reopened A Painful Ole Miss What-If
Lane Kiffins first season at LSU has already settled into the kind of high-stakes grind he expected, with the Tigers navigating a few challenges but still giving him reason to feel good about the job. He has said the move has fit the football culture around him, and the sense of statewide backing in Louisiana has been hard to miss as LSU turns its attention to a pivotal matchup with Alabama.
For Ole Miss fans, the more delicate part is how naturally Kiffin can now talk about life in Baton Rouge without sounding like a man carrying second thoughts. With LSU and Alabama both sitting on two losses, the game looming this week has the feel of one of those defining checkpoints that can shape a season, and it also serves as a reminder of just how quickly the Rebels old what-if can resurface whenever Kiffin gets comfortable somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]