No. 9 Ole Miss got back on the field after the bye week and wasted little time showing what the reset had been for. With Kewan Lacy back in the lineup, the Rebels went to Nashville looking to sharpen things up in SEC play and move to 4-1, while Vanderbilt hoped a return from quarterback Jared Curtis would help it chase its first conference win.
The setup mattered for both teams. Ole Miss had spent the off week trying to regroup after the loss to Florida, and that meant extra time for defensive coordinator Golding and his staff to clean up a performance that had gone sideways.
Lacy, out with a right shoulder injury, also had a chance to get ready for his return. On the other side, Vanderbilt entered the day trying to snap back from consecutive road losses and protect its ten-game home winning streak at FirstBank Stadium.
Florida had exposed Ole Miss badly on the ground, rushing for more than 300 yards at six yards per carry while controlling the ball nearly 15 minutes longer. That left the Rebels with a clear area to fix, and this matchup gave Golding’s defense a chance to answer. Vanderbilt’s offense had also been struggling, especially with Berlowitz at quarterback, though Curtis’ return gave the Commodores a different look.
The game opened with both teams trading short possessions. Ole Miss moved a little, then stalled after a short completion from Trinidad to Odom and punted on fourth-and-1. Vanderbilt’s first drive ended just as quickly, with a run stopped at the line of scrimmage by Franklin and Echoles, then a short completion from Curtis before a three-and-out and another punt.
Ole Miss then found a rhythm. Chambliss hit Fields and Alexander for quick first downs, Lacy added a run to keep the chains moving, and a pass interference penalty set the Rebels up at the Vanderbilt 10. Trinidad Chambliss finished the drive himself, taking it in from 10 yards out for a rushing touchdown.
Vanderbilt answered with a push of its own. Curtis found Sherrill for a quick first down, then connected with Thomas to move the Commodores to the Ole Miss 26.
A holding call slowed things down, but Curtis later hit Spence to reach the Ole Miss 5. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a sack by Perkins, Vanderbilt had to settle for a field goal.
In Other News...
ManningCast Keeps Ole Miss Tied To A National Football Spotlight
Jim Nantz is set for his first appearance on the ManningCast during Monday Night Football, adding another familiar voice to a broadcast that has become one of the NFLs most-watched side attractions. Peyton Manning personally invited Nantz to join the ESPN2 telecast for the Bills-Rams game, giving the alternate feed another notable crossover moment while the regular game broadcast runs on ABC and ESPN.
For Ole Miss fans, it is another reminder of how closely the Manning family keeps the program connected to the biggest stages in football. The ManningCast has already turned into a national showcase for Peyton and Eli Manning, and Nantzs stop by the show only extends that reach, especially with his own schedule already carrying him through a CBS NFL game on Sunday before he heads into Monday night. [Read more 🡒]