No. 9 Ole Miss gets a homecoming matchup in Oxford on Saturday, and the timing lines up neatly with a reunion of sorts. The Rebels will see former players Austin Simmons, Cayden Lee and Chris Graves Jr. across the field, while Kewan Lacy is set for his first game against his former school.
It’s only the ninth meeting between Ole Miss and Missouri, and the Rebels have just one win in the series, a victory that dates all the way back to 1974.
On paper, this one brings together one of the SEC’s more balanced offenses and a defense that has been vulnerable in the run game. Simmons and Lee have formed a dangerous connection for the Tigers, with Lee sitting fifth in the country in receiving yards at 616. Missouri has also leaned on the ground game, even after losing Heisman candidate Ahmad Hardy, with Jamal Roberts ranking second nationally with 828 rushing yards.
That rushing production sets up a major test for an Ole Miss defense that has struggled badly against the run. The Rebels will need cleaner tackling and sharper assignment football if they want to slow Missouri down.
The Tigers have also brought pressure on defense, tying for third in the SEC with 18 sacks. Ole Miss, though, has protected the quarterback well, allowing just 5 sacks, the fewest in the conference. Missouri has given up only 6 sacks itself, so this shapes up as a game where mistakes up front could matter quickly.
For Ole Miss, the expectation is simple: build on last week’s defensive performance and hope Kewan Lacy is healthy enough to shoulder the load. Against one of the more complete teams the Rebels will face this season, it looks like a true all-hands-on-deck spot.
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