No. 18 Ole Miss Survives Oklahoma in Defensive Battle

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The Oklahoma Sooners (4-4, 1-4) traveled to Oxford, Miss. to face the No. 18 Ole Miss Rebels (6-2, 2-2) and left in defeat on Oct. 26. The Rebels were able to pull away in the third quarter with the help of turnovers in a defensive battle, winning 26-14.

Oklahoma at Ole Miss

This game was a defensive battle, and points were hard to come by. The Sooners led at the half 14-10, but Ole Miss scored 13 points in the third quarter, taking the lead and never looking back. The Rebels shut out the Sooners in the second half, thanks in large part to their pass rush. The Rebels ended the day with 7 sacks.

Turning Point

The Rebels dominated the third quarter, outgaining the Sooners by 178 yards and scoring 13 unanswered points. The Sooners were held to one first down on three drives in the quarter.

In a game where points came at a premium, the disastrous quarter for the Sooners was too much to overcome.

What It Means

For the Rebels, it means their College Football Playoff hopes are still alive. The Rebels will most likely need to go undefeated from here on out to secure a playoff spot but thanks to this win the opportunity is still there. Ole Miss will next face Arkansas (4-3, 2-2) on Nov. 2.

The Sooners are having a disappointing season in their first year in the SEC and this loss didn't help the situation. The Sooners will next face the Maine Black Bears (4-4, 2-3 Colonial Athletic Association) at home on Nov. 2.