Oct 32 min read

Ole Miss Looks to Rebound on the Road Against South Carolina

No. 12 Ole Miss (4-1, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) will head to play South Carolina (3-1, 1-1) at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., at 3:30 p.m. EST on Oct. 5.

The Rebels started the season strong but are coming off a shocking 20-17 loss to Kentucky (3-2, 1-2) in Oxford, Miss., on Sept. 28. While South Carolina enters the game well-rested after a bye week.

The Stakes

Rebounding from a disappointing home loss is crucial for Ole Miss to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive as their SEC schedule continues. The Rebels began the season with strong performances but struggled last week, converting only one third down and lost the turnover battle. For the Gamecocks and head coach Shane Beamer, a win would give them some much needed momentum before back-to-back road games against No. 1 Alabama (4-0, 1-0) and No. 19 Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1).

Key Players: Ole Miss

Ole Miss has featured one of the best offenses in college football this season. Quarterback Jaxson Dart has played a huge part for the Rebels offense. He leads the country in passing yards this season and has 13 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions. Wide receiver Tre Harris has also excelled, leading the country in receiving yards while averaging over 16 yards per reception with 5 touchdown catches. For Ole Miss to get back into the win column, Dart and Harris will need to have big performances.

Key Players: South Carolina

South Carolina has played well defensively, allowing only one opponent to score more than 20 points this season. Defensive back Nick Emmanwori leads the Gamecocks in tackles with 24 and has 2 interceptions, including one pick six. He will be up against a potent passing attack and will need to have a good game to give South Carolina a chance. Defensive end Kyle Kennard is tied for the most sacks in the SEC and will need to get pressure on Dart and limit his time in the pocket.

Trends to Watch

Under head coach Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss has had impressive offenses. This season, the Rebels have the most total offensive yards in the country and second most passing yards per game. However, they cannot afford to play sloppy against an aggressive South Carolina defense. The Gamecocks are fourth in the SEC in sacks this season, with all three teams ahead of them having played one more game. South Carolina showed they can compete with ranked opponents, particularly at home, with their heart breaking 36-33 loss to No. 13 LSU (4-1, 1-0) on Sept. 14.