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No. 9 Ole Miss, Florida Will Face Off in The Swamp

No. 9 Ole Miss will face off against Southeastern Conference foe Florida at noon EST on Nov. 23 as it travels to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. The Rebels (8-2, 4-2 SEC) look to get their ninth win this season while going up against the Gators (5-5, 3-4). Ole Miss looks to continue its run toward the College Football Playoff. Florida, on the other hand, looks to secure bowl eligibility with their sixth win this season, a mark many pundits did not think they'd make.

What's at Stake?

The Rebels are looking for their third double-digit win season under head coach Lane Kiffin and their first CFP appearance. Kiffin proved he could get over the hump and win "big games" when the Rebels defeated No. 0 Georgia (8-2, 5-2) on Nov. 9 in Oxford, Miss. Coming off a bye week, Kiffin and the Rebels now need to prove they can avoid a "letdown" game against a capable Florida team. The Rebels still have an outside shot of making the SEC Championship, but the main goal is securing a berth in the CFP. Regarding the latter, the Rebels are in the driver's seat, needing only to win out to secure their spot. This puts huge implications on this game.

The Florida Gators and head coach Billy Napier are only one game away from bowl eligibility despite the adversity they've faced over the season. Plagued with multiple quarterback injuries and questions about his job security, Napier has turned a corner and seemingly has this team on the right track. With its daunting schedule and injuries, going bowling would be a huge accomplishment for Florida. In their last outing, the Gators upset the LSU Tigers (6-4, 3-3) and look to do the same against the Rebels.

Key Players: Florida

DJ Lagway, Quarterback

Lagway is an incredibly talented true freshman with a cannon for an arm and the athleticism to extend plays. Lagway threw for 226 yards, 1 touchdown and no interceptions in the Gators' victory over LSU. According to PFF.com, Lagway is the best deep passer in the country with a grade of 99.4 on passes over 20 yards. Lagway took over as starting QB after Graham Mertz tore his ACL against No. 11 Tennessee (8-2, 5-2) and has lived up to his five-star status when healthy. Lagway was injured against Georgia and missed the game against No. 3 Texas (9-1, 5-1), but has rebounded and is healthy for this matchup.

Shemar James, Linebacker

James provided consistent pressure on LSU QB Garrett Nussmier. His performance against the Tigers earned him the SEC Defensive Player of the Week Award. James will need a similar performance against QB Jaxson Dart and the Rebels' high-flying offense.

Key Players: Ole Miss

Jaxson Dart, Quarterback

Dart is the heart and soul of this Rebels' offense. He leaves everything on the field and plays with a passion that demands camaraderie from his teammates. Dart threw for 199 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, adding 50 yards on the ground against Georgia. Dart leads the SEC in passing yards, completion percentage and passing TDs. While his stats are impressive, his leadership is even more so.

Princely Umanmielen, Defensive End

Umanmielen has made a huge impact on the defensive line for the Rebels after transferring in from Florida. This is his first game against his former team and he looks to disrupt Lagway and the Gators' offense like he did against Georgia where he recorded 2 sacks.

Trends to Watch

There is a reason Ole Miss comes into this game as an 11.5-point favorite. The Rebels lead the Gators in nearly every statistical category. That being said, the Gators are vastly improved from where they were at the start of the season. This game will come down to who wants it more. On paper, the Rebels are the clear favorites. But from what the Gators have shown over the last few weeks, they shouldn't be counted out.