Pete Golding’s Ole Miss team keeps walking into big games without much of a chance to catch its breath. The Rebels have already faced four ranked opponents, beaten three of them, and built one of the strongest resumes in the country. Now comes another test, this one in Austin against a Texas team that has taken a sharp fall from No. 1 to No. 19 after back-to-back losses.
A few weeks ago, this trip looked like Ole Miss’ shot to take down the nation’s top team. That picture has changed fast.
On paper, the Rebels are the more comfortable side entering the matchup, but the assignment is still a difficult one in Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Ole Miss has a real chance to put the final blow on Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns, yet Texas still has enough talent to make this one messy.
The clearest edge for Ole Miss starts up front. The Rebels have surrendered only five sacks this season, while Texas has given up 17.
That number puts the focus squarely on how the Ole Miss front seven can affect Arch Manning and disrupt whatever Sarkisian wants to script early. The Texas offensive line has been shaky enough to give the Rebels a real opening to hit the quarterback quickly and repeatedly.
Blake Purchase is the name to watch in the pass rush. He leads Ole Miss with 3.5 sacks, and he could add to that total here.
Still, the way Texas has struggled to block inside means Will Echoles could be in line for a big afternoon as well. On the other side, Colin Simmons already has 10.5 sacks, but he may not get many chances to matter if the Ole Miss line controls the action the way it has all season.
That front has earned Golding’s praise, with Patrick Kutas, Connor Howes and Terez Davis all drawing notice for their work in the trenches. Trinidad Chambliss has also shown the kind of escape ability that can turn pressure into frustration for a defense.
There’s a real possibility he never gets touched by a Texas rusher. If he does go down, Ole Miss would probably prefer it to happen after a big play, maybe even a touchdown.
Deuce Alexander is another Rebel who should be in line for a rebound. He hasn’t often been the kind of receiver who beats himself, but his last outing against Missouri was a rough one.
Alexander finished with just three catches for 20 yards and had a hard time securing the ball, with passes bouncing off his hands more than sticking. Even so, Caleb Cunningham and the revived Ole Miss run game were there to cover for him.
That kind of support matters, but Alexander’s level of play suggests he can bounce back in a hurry. Expect him to give Texas’ secondary problems and put the Missouri performance behind him.
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Kevin Durant led Houston with a strong performance, while the late sequence belonged to Amen Thompson after he blocked Victor Wembanyamas last-second shot attempt to seal it. For Texas fans, it was the kind of matchup that fed the old in-state rivalry energy in a new arena, and the kind of ending that will keep people talking long after the final horn. [Read more 🡒]