Ole Miss: 2026 Sugar Bowl Champions

 

NEW ORLEANS -- Lucas Carneiro kicked a 47-yard field goal in the closing seconds, and the Ole Miss Rebels defeated the Georgia Bulldogs, 39-34, in the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday night, securing a berth in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Ole Miss: 2025 Gator Bowl Champions

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- — Jaxson Dart's final college pass was a 69-yard touchdown that got him chewed out by coach Lane Kiffin on the sideline.

It's one the quarterback will never forget.

Dart threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns in his final start for Ole Miss, leading the 16th-ranked Rebels to a 52-20 romp over Duke in the Gator Bowl on Thursday night.

Dart connected with Jordan Watkins seven times for 180 yards and two scores, including the longest pass play of the night with 1:27 to play. Kiffin ripped him for it afterward.

“I love him except for the last play when he checks to a pass play he’s not supposed to do,” Kiffin said. “He's got to learn a little better class there.”

Dart added 43 yards rushing, leaving EverBank Stadium with grass and dirt stains all over his red and white uniform.

The senior never considered opting out of the bowl game. Instead, he helped the Rebels (10-3) make history. With the victory, Ole Miss notched double-digit wins in consecutive years for the second time in program history and the first since 1959-60.

“This place changed my life," Dart said. "It was the best decision that I made. Just the relationships that I built with everybody here will last a lifetime.”

Ulysses Bentley IV, another senior playing his last college game, ran for 70 yards and two scores for the Rebels. Isaiah Hamilton returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter. All of them got to celebrate with sideline dunks on a portable basketball hoop adorned with Duke logos.

This ACC-SEC postseason matchup was never close. It wasn’t expected to be, either. Ole Miss was a 17 1/2-point favorite, according to , mostly because the Blue Devils (9-4) were without quarterback Maalik Murphy and running back Star Thomas. Both entered the transfer portal after Duke’s regular-season finale.

Third-year sophomore Henry Belin IV made his second career start and was harassed all night. Belin completed 25 of 44 passes for 236 yards, with two touchdowns and the interception. He was sacked three times.

Belin’s TD passes were two of the team's few highlights. Sahmir Hagans' 99-yard kickoff return — off a cross-field lateral, no less — was another.

One of Ole Miss’ few miscues came when Kiffin called for a trick play on fourth down. Kicker Caden Davis’ pass got picked off in the end zone, and Dart took nearly every snap the rest of the way.

“I think the thing that jumped out today is a special quarterback who played special," Duke coach Manny Diaz said.

The takeaway

Duke: The Blue Devils won't put too much stock into the loss, not with Belin getting a rare start and more offensive help on the way.

Ole Miss: The Rebels had most of their starters play in the bowl, a testament to how they feel about Dart and Kiffin. CB Jadon Canady and RT Micah Pettus, both starters, entered the transfer portal. And LB and leading tackler Chris Paul Jr. opted out to prepare for the draft process.

Key injuries

Duke cornerback Terry Moore, who intercepted the kicker’s pass on the trick play, left the game in the first half and ended up in the locker room. Ole Miss offensive lineman Eli Acker injured his right knee on an extra point in the second period and was helped off the field.

Chewed-up field

The field at EverBank Stadium was far from pristine. The center section of grass was mostly chewed up, looking more like a community sandlot than the bright-green sod that usually seems pulled from a resort golf course. The Jaguars hosted Tennessee in an NFL game four days earlier, leaving little time to get the turf in its best shape. Overnight temperatures in the 40s didn’t help regrowth, either.

Up next

Duke awaits the arrival of former Tulane QB Darian Mensah, who will reportedly get $8 million in NIL funding over two years to play for the Blue Devils.

Ole Miss will turn to highly touted left-handed QB Austin Simmons, a redshirt freshman from Miami. Simmons enrolled two years early and spent the last two seasons watching and learning from Dart.

Ole Miss: 2023 Peach Bowl Champions

The Ole Miss Rebels are Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl champions, and they have secured 11 wins in a single season for the first time in school history after taking down the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday.

During the trophy presentation after the game, it would be easy to reflect on a historic season and breathe a sigh of relief following an emotional game. That happened, sure, but Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has other things in mind, and he made sure to let those in attendance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium know it.

"This is pretty cool, and we're just getting started," Kiffin said. "This was a big-time game on a big-time stage against a great opponent and great program. It took everybody today. I thought our players played amazing. Our coaches did a great job, and, by far, our fans showed up today."

With so much talent off of this year's roster returning for 2024 (and adding one of the top transfer portal classes in the country), it's hard not to be optimistic about the future in Oxford. This season was wildly successful for the Rebels, but if anything, it should serve as a springboard into next year.

While the Southeastern Conference is expanding to 16 teams in 2024 with the addition of the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners, the College Football Playoff is also set to expand to 12 teams, a field that would have included Ole Miss this year, had this format already been in place.

Kiffin and his staff called a masterful game on Saturday, and they knew they had to pull out some stops to take down a stout Penn State team led by a formidable defense. The head coach, however, didn't take the credit. Instead, he gave it to his assistants and players.

"That's not me," Kiffin said. "That's our coaching staff putting together a great game plan, making some clutch calls, but it always comes down to the players. We trust our players. We're very aggressive how we call games in all areas, and our players showed up today, and our players made the plays.

"To do something that's never been done before, to get to 11 wins in such a great program with so many great players who have come before us and played here, for this group to come together for one common theme of being great, I'm just honored and blessed to coach these guys."

This year marked history for Ole Miss, but if Lane Kiffin has anything to say about it, the history will continue in 2024 and beyond, and this Peach Bowl win could be the catalyst that starts it all.

Ole Miss: 2021 Outback Bowl Champions

TAMPA, Fla. — Lane Kiffin ended his first season as Ole Miss coach with an exclamation point.

Ole Miss held off a late Indiana comeback to win the Outback Bowl, 26-20 on Saturday. The Rebels led by as many as 14 points before No. 11 Indiana (6-2) came back to tie the score, but quarterback Matt Corral led the Rebels on a quick scoring drive with under five minutes left to regain the lead. The defense forced a late turnover on downs to end the Hoosiers' late rally try.

Ole Miss finishes the season 5-5.

Here are five takeaways from the Rebels' win.

Where’s this defense been?

Ole Miss entered the game allowing more yards per game than any FBS team. This wasn’t a defense that looked comfortable slowing down winless Vanderbilt, let alone a top-25 opponent. But the Rebels did just that Saturday, holding Indiana to 20 points and 4.3 yards per play.

"I think we really limited explosive plays and made them drive the length of the field,"  Kiffin said. "We forced a long field goal and did a good job that way."

Sure, Indiana started a backup quarterback. But that same backup quarterback scored 14 points against Wisconsin, which owned the nation’s No. 1 total defense.

Ole Miss held Indiana to a paltry 141 yards and three points in the first half and intercepted one pass in the red zone to end a Hoosiers scoring threat. Though the tackle-for-loss and sack numbers weren’t high, the Rebels supplied consistent pressure off the edge, especially from senior Sam Williams. 

Oh, that defense

Ole Miss allowed more than 100 points across nine fourth quarters this season. Naturally, Indiana started scoring in bundles in the fourth quarter of this one. Ole Miss led by 14 points when the third quarter ended. By the time there were six minutes left in the game, the score was tied.

The Ole Miss defense still deserves some credit for playing the best three quarters it had all season to start the game. But for a team that has struggled to finish games all season, this was the worst possible scenario for a game to end.

Until it wasn't. The defense got the stop when it needed to in the final minutes, going back to the way it played in the first three quarters just like Kiffin advised them to in the huddle before the drive began.

"That's what we wanted," linebacker Jacquez Jones said after his 13-tackle performance. "We knew it was going to come down to us. That's what we wanted and I feel like we got. Big Sam (Williams), Ced (Johnson), all them boys rushing the quarterback, they couldn't block them boys."

No weapons, no problem

Corral played Saturday without most of his favorite targets. Wide receivers Elijah Moore and Braylon Sanders, tight end Kenny Yeboah and running back Jerrion Ealy all missed Saturday for various reasons. But Corral still managed to spread the ball well, picking apart the Indiana drop-eight zone and completing passes to eight different receivers. 

"We said 'Look around the country,' " Kiffin said. "'There are some teams that are stepping up with players out and there are teams that are making excuses.' We wanted to be that team that stepped up. It was awesome to see."

Corral struggled against drop-eight zone early in the season, particularly against Arkansas when he threw six interceptions. But Saturday, Corral used his check down options and short, timing throws to navigate the zone properly and slice without mistakes through an Indiana defense that led college football in interceptions this season.

Getting creative

Everyone notices when backup quarterback John Rhys Plumlee plays slot receiver. Plumlee caught five passes for 73 yards, ran once for four yards and completed a 4-yard pass.

But Ole Miss used a number of other converted or less-heralded players in creative ways Saturday, and all season. Converted running back Tylan Knight forced a third-quarter fumble and tight ends Casey Kelly and Chase Rogers caught nine passes after catching two combined in the first nine games. 

"These are guys that haven't played a lot, just like John at receiver, and they want to play more," Kiffin said. "Now they get a chance to play and they made plays today. It was awesome to see."

Fix the kicking

Kicker Luke Logan had one of his better games on the year, hitting two first-half field goals. But those field goals were from 26 and 24 yards out. He got another try from 37 yards to put Ole Miss up two scores in the fourth quarter but he couldn’t connect. Logan didn’t make a kick longer than 40 yards in either of the last two seasons despite being Ole Miss’ primary kicker.

Logan is a senior who can come back because of the NCAA’s eligibility rules for 2020-21. But Ole Miss needs an upgrade at that position if it wants to feel comfortable with leads.

Ole Miss Rebels: 2016 Sugar Bowl Champions

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chad Kelly threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns — three to Laquon Treadwell — and No. 16 Mississippi beat No. 13 Oklahoma State 48-20 in the Sugar Bowl on Friday night.

Ole Miss (10-3) jumped out to a 34-6 lead by halftime, cruising up and down the field against an overwhelmed Oklahoma State defense. The onslaught was punctuated late in the second quarter when left tackle Laremy Tunsil had a 2-yard touchdown run on a trick play after a lateral from Kelly.

Oklahoma State (10-3) lost its final three games after 10 straight wins. The Cowboys fell into a 41-6 hole midway through the third quarter and never mounted a legitimate challenge.

Mason Rudolph was 18 of 31 for 179 yards for Oklahoma State. Ole Miss outgained Oklahoma State 554-366 in total yards.

Ole Miss: 2013 Music City Bowl Champions

Georgia Tech mounted a fourth quarter rally, but Ole Miss held on for an 25-17 win in the Music City Bowl.

The Rebels got off to a solid start, driving 75 yards for a touchdown on the opening possession of the game. Although Georgia Tech answered right back with a touchdown of its own, the first three quarters belonged to the Rebels. Ole Miss held a 13-7 lead at halftime and extended the advantage to 23-7 heading into the fourth quarter.

It appeared Ole Miss was well on its way another bowl win, but Georgia Tech made things interesting. The Yellow Jackets drove down for a field goal to open the fourth quarter, their first points since their opening drive. D.J. White then intercepted Bo Wallace on Ole Miss' third play, giving the ball right back to Georgia Tech. Vad Lee and the offense took advantage with Lee hitting Darren Waller for a 72-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive. Ole Miss' 16-point lead was cut to six in the span of five plays.

The defenses traded game-changing plays during the rest of the fourth quarter. The Rebels drove deep into Georgia Tech territory with a chance to make it a two-score game. The Yellow Jackets held strong in the red zone, however, and blocked Andrew Ritter's field-goal attempt. Ritter had a field goal and extra point blocked and missed a 29-yard field goal.

Ole Miss' defense came up with a big play of its own, forcing a fumble on Georgia Tech's next possession which resulted in a safety. Wallace hit Laquon Treadwell for 27 yards to convert a crucial 3rd-and-13 on the ensuing possession. The Rebels milked the clock to 37 seconds and intercepted Lee to end the game.

With the win, Ole Miss finishes the season 8-5 and extended its bowl winning streak to six games. Georgia Tech ends the year 7-6.

Box Score Hero: Donte Moncrief led the way for Ole Miss, hauling in six passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. Bo Wallace threw for 256 yards and set the single-season Ole Miss record for completions.

Rankings Ramifications: Neither team will crack the final polls.

But Did They Cover?

Mississippi State opened as a 4-point favorite and were able to cover.

Ole Miss: 2012-13 SEC Champions

Keep an eye out for Marshall Henderson and the Mississippi Rebels in March Madness, as they punched an auto-bid ticket into the NCAA Tournament by defeating the Florida Gators, 66-63, in the SEC Tournament championship.

At halftime, with Florida leading by 12 and Henderson limited to just three points, it seemed like the Gators had everything wrapped up. Ole Miss and Henderson weren't going to go down so easily, however, as they won their second-ever SEC Tournament and their first since 1981.

Ole Miss started out the half making 8-12 from the floor while the Gators were just 3-12 as Ole Miss took its first lead of the game. Henderson, the SEC's leading scorer and all-around thorn in opponents' sides, also heated up, scoring 18 of his 21 in the second half.

Henderson, who has dragged the Rebels through the SEC Tournament, emphatically answered any questions about whether Ole Miss would make the NCAA tournament, after many of the latest brackets from various experts had the Rebels squarely on the bubble.

Senior guard Mike Rosario led the Gators with 18 but after a hot start, the Gators' shooting cooled in the second half as they shot just 38 percent overall. The Gators got complacent and settled for the long ball too often, shooting 30 three-point attempts compared to just 28 two-point attempts.

Ole Miss has been a second-half team throughout the SEC Tournament, scoring 38 against Vanderbilt and 40 against Missouri. Senior forward Murphy Holloway led the Rebels with 23 points off of 11-14 shooting to go with 10 rebounds, three steals and two big blocks.

Ole Miss: 2013 BBVA Compass Bowl Champions

Ole Miss crushes Pitt 38-17 in Compass Bowl Written by Associated Press Jan. 04

clarionledger.com

BIRMINGHAM — Bo Wallace threw three touchdown passes and Ole Miss beat Pittsburgh 38-17 in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Saturday to complete an impressive turnaround under first-year coach Hugh Freeze.

Ole Miss (7-6) took a five-win improvement over its 2-10 finish in 2011.

Pitt (6-7) struggled on offense as leading rusher Ray Graham was held out with a hamstring injury he suffered in bowl practice. The Panthers fell behind in the opening minutes after quarterback Tino Sunseri threw his first interception since Sept. 15 and trailed the remainder of the game.

Wallace's 13-yard touchdown pass to Ja-Mess Logan gave the Rebels the 7-0 lead. Wallace added first-half touchdown passes to Randall Mackey, for 27 yards, and Vince Sanders, for 18 yards.

Pitt, under first-year coach Paul Chryst, was making its third straight appearance in the bowl. The Panthers lost to SMU in last year's game.

The Panthers played their last game as a Big East team. They are moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season.

Wallace, chosen the game's MVP, completed 22 of 32 passes for 151 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Ole Miss backup quarterback Barry Brunetti had a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and freshman running back I'Tavius Mathers added a 62-yard scoring run midway through the fourth quarter to cap the rout.

Pitt stayed close early with Devin Street's 10-yard pass from Sunseri in the second quarter. That was Pitt's only touchdown until Sunseri threw a 16-yard scoring pass to Mike Shanahan with only 2:23 remaining.

Sunseri completed 16 of 32 passes for 185 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Pitt had only one turnover in its last seven games of the regular season. It shared the nation's lead with only eight turnovers for the season.

Sunseri's streak of 271 passes without an interception, the nation's longest, ended on his second throw of the Panthers' opening drive. Senquez Golson's interception, returned 17 yards to the Pitt 23, set up Wallace's touchdown pass to Logan. It was only Sunseri's third interception of the season and his first since the team's third game against Virginia Tech.

Sunseri lost a fumble early in the second quarter for the Panthers' second turnover.

Wallace completed his first eight passes, including two for touchdowns but his hot streak ended with two second-quarter interceptions.

Kevin Harper kicked a 47-yard field goal, his longest of the season, for Pitt in the second quarter. Bryson Rose kicked a 31-yard field goal for Ole Miss and missed from 44 and 48 yards.

Pitt said Graham, the team leader with 1,042 yards rushing, suffered the hamstring injury in bowl practice.

Rushel Shell and freshman Malcolm Crockett, who had only 32 yards rushing in the regular season, shared the carries. Shell led the Panthers with 25 carries for 79 yards. Crockett added five carries for 18 yards.

Mathers led the Rebels with 96 yards rushing on only six carries. Jaylen Walton had 10 carries for 56 yards.

A strong turnout by Ole Miss fans within driving range of Birmingham pushed attendance to 59,135, easily a bowl record. The previous high was 42,610 for the 2010 game between South Carolina and Connecticut.

BBVA Compass Bowl Winners

Jan. 5, 2013 — Ole Miss 38, Pittsburgh 17

Jan. 7, 2012 — SMU 28, Pittsburgh 6

Jan. 8, 2011 — Pitsburgh 27, Kentucky 10

Jan. 2, 2010 — Connecticut 20, South Carolina 7

Dec. 29, 2008 — Rutgers 29, N.C. State 23

Dec. 22, 2007 — Cincinnati 31, Southern Miss. 21

Dec. 23, 2006 — South Florida 24, East Carolina 7

Mac is back and Austin heads south

As I left the Walter Pyramid after we swept Irvine, the winds of change were blowing, and they were strong. This morning, I wake up to the news that Greg McMackin, the defensive coordinator for the Hawaii Warriors, is now the head coach. On the other side of the country, Kent Austin, the head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

I'm thinking to myself...could this be the end of the January from hell for the Warriors? And how will the Roughriders adapt to not having their head coach who led them to their first Grey Cup title in nearly two decade call the shots? Stay tuned...