Ole Miss has already shown it can build leads. The question now is whether Pete Golding’s defense can help the Rebels keep them.
That issue will be front and center this weekend at Vanderbilt, especially after Ole Miss spent two weeks away from live game action following its 52-28 loss at Florida. With that extra time, Golding and his staff have had a chance to take a hard look at what has gone wrong when the Rebels have tried to finish games.
The problem has shown up more than once. Ole Miss has twice watched a multi-score advantage slip away, only to survive because the offense bailed it out late.
The first scare came in the opener against Louisville. The Rebels were up 38-24 with 6:43 left in the fourth quarter, but the Cardinals marched 75 yards for a touchdown, then got the ball back after an Ole Miss three-and-out and tied the game at 31 with 1:38 remaining. Trinidad Chambliss then led the Rebels to the Louisville 31-yard line, setting up Lucas Carneiro’s 48-yard field goal as time expired.
That sequence left Ole Miss’s defense responsible for 14 points on consecutive drives, turning a comfortable finish into a frantic one. Some chalked it up to early-season rust, but the same script played out two weeks later against LSU - only with a bigger cushion at the start.
Against the Tigers, Ole Miss led 24-7 at halftime before LSU rallied to tie it at 24 with 11:21 left in the fourth quarter. Chambliss answered again, driving the Rebels downfield and punching in a 14-yard touchdown run before converting a two-point try to make it 32-24. LSU still wasn’t done, pushing the ball 69 yards to the Ole Miss six-yard line before Jaylon Braxton sealed the game with an interception in the end zone.
So far, Ole Miss has proven it can go toe-to-toe with good teams. What it has not done consistently is close the door. That makes this trip to Vanderbilt a real test for whether the Rebels can finally clean up late-game execution and finish off conference opponents the way they should.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Faces A Real Offensive Question Before Vanderbilt
Ole Miss heads into its matchup with Vanderbilt with a little more to sort through than a typical SEC Saturday, even with the Rebels carrying the stronger recent history in the series. The kickoff time has shifted, but the bigger adjustment may be on offense, where this years group is being measured against last seasons unit with TeamRankings data showing a mix of familiar strengths and some notable changes in how the Rebels are moving the ball.
Kewan Lacys limited availability in recent games has added another layer to the conversation, especially with the rushing game not producing at the same level. For a team that has leaned on offensive consistency to set the tone, the question is whether Ole Miss can clean that up quickly enough to avoid carrying an unfinished feel into a conference game that still matters beyond the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Gets A Massive Jared Curtis Boost For Ole Miss
A big piece of Vanderbilts game plan is back on the table for Saturdays matchup with No. 9 Ole Miss. Five-star freshman quarterback Jared Curtis is expected to return after missing the previous game with an injury, giving the Commodores a dual-threat presence they have leaned on early in the season. Curtis has already shown why he arrived with so much hype, even if the first stretch of his college career has come with the usual growing pains in decision-making.
For Vanderbilt, the timing matters. Ole Miss brings a defense that will be tested differently with Curtis under center, especially if the Commodores can pair his return with a steady run game and keep the Rebels from dictating the terms of the matchup. It gives Vanderbilt a better chance to stress Ole Miss in ways it could not the last time out, and it makes this one a little more interesting than a routine SEC trip. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Curtis Is Back In The SEC Spotlight Georgia Never Lost Sight Of
Jared Curtis is expected to be back under center for Vanderbilt when it meets Ole Miss, a welcome development after he sat out the previous game with an undisclosed injury. The quarterback has been the focal point of the Commodores offense for much of the season, and his presence changes the feel of this matchup for a Rebels defense that now has to prepare for a more familiar, more dangerous version of Vanderbilt.
Curtis has played in the first four games of the season and has put together a mixed but productive start, throwing for 746 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 133 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. For Ole Miss, the assignment is less about the numbers than the threat he creates when he is healthy, which is why his return adds another layer to a conference game already carrying plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]