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2023 Alabama Football Early Opponent Preview | Game 4: Ole Miss
Get your popcorn ready.
Jimbo Fisher and Kirby Smart broke the Nick Saban former-assistant curse in 2021-22. Many believed Lane Kiffin and his high-powered offense would be the first to achieve the feat — but after three tries, he's still winless against his old boss.
After nearly pulling the upset in Oxford last season, Kiffin and Ole Miss will give it another go at Bryant Denny Stadium on Sept. 23.
Offense
Any Lane Kiffin led team is going to be electric on the offensive side of the football. It all begins with RB Quinshon Judkins, who exploded onto the scene as a true freshman in 2022-23 — totaling 1,699 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns. He set the Ole Miss program record in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. A native of Pike Road, Ala. — Alabama and Auburn have to be upset with themselves for letting Judkins get away from the state.
QB Jaxson Dart had a solid first season in Oxford a year ago, throwing for 2,974 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 614 more. It's not a guarantee however that he maintains his starting position in 2023-24 — the Rebels added Spencer Sanders from Oklahoma State and Walker Howard from LSU in the transfer portal. That's a lot of quarterback depth — could the Crimson Tide perhaps borrow one of them?
The quarterback position shouldn't be a problem — wide receiver might. Ole Miss lost both of its top two pass catchers from 2022-23 — Malik Heath (60 REC, 971 YDS, 5 TDs) and Jonathan Mingo (51 REC, 861 YDS, 6 TDs).
Offensive line will be a strength with plenty of returning talent up front.
Defense
Defense has been an issue for Ole Miss over the last several years. The Rebels made a splash hiring former Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding for the same position. Golding's familiarity with Saban's system and techniques should help Ole Miss improve its defensive performance in 2023-24.
The best unit on the defense will likely be the guys on the line. Seniors Jared Ivey, Cedric Johnson and JJ Pegues return up front for the Rebels — Joshua Harris transferred in from NC State.
CB Deantre Prince will be a big part of Ole Miss' pass defense.
Schedule
The Rebels began the 2022-23 season 7-0 before finishing 1-5 — including losing their final four contests. It's likely that Ole Miss will enter Tuscaloosa 3-0 after playing Mercer, Tulane and Georgia Tech prior to the clash at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
On the other hand, the Crimson Tide has a meeting with Texas in Week 2 — a game that could get interesting. Alabama will be returning home to play the Rebels after a date with South Florida in Tampa on Sept. 16.
Outlook
As usual, the Rebels will go as far as their defense takes them. Ole Miss allowed 35 PPG in the last seven games of the season in 2022-23. If the Rebels play competent defense and Jaxson Dart takes the next step at quarterback, Ole Miss could compete in what will be a tough SEC West.
Prediction
Alabama 38, Ole Miss 30
Alabama vs. Ole Miss
The Game
Date: Sept. 23
Time: TBD
TV: TBD
Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium | Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Series: Alabama leads 54-10-2
Last meeting: One week after the Crimson Tide's overtime loss at LSU, Bryce Young finished 21 of 33 for 209 yards and three touchdowns as Alabama held on for a 30-24 victory after the defense made three key stops in the fourth quarter. The game-clinching play was on an incomplete pass into the end zone during the final minute.
“It was a tough night in a lot of ways, but it was a great night for us because I think we took a step in the right direction,” Nick Saban said.
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The Team
The Coach: Lane Kiffin (Three years at MISS: 23-13 | 11-year career: 85-47)
Offensive Coordinator: John David Baker / Charlie Weis Jr.
Defensive Coordinator: Pete Golding
2022 Record: 8-5 (4-4 SEC)
2022 Rankings: Total Offense: No. 8 | Total Defense: No. 75
Returning Starters: 16 (9 Offense | 7 Defense)
Alabama Athletics
Players to Watch: RB Quinshon Judkins, G Jeremy James, T Michah Pettus, TE Caden Priekorn, WR Zakhari Franklin, LB Khari Coleman, DE Cedric Johnson, QB Jaxson Dart
Top Newcomer: The only knock on MLB Monty Montgomery may be that he's a bit undersized at 5-11, 220 pounds. At Louisville last season, the transfer had 70 tackles including 11 for a loss and six sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions. It makes sense for new defensive coordinator Pete Golding to anchor the defense around him as he's a physical veteran looking to improve his draft stock.
Biggest Questions: There aren't many, but topping the list is cornerback, where the Rebels have one starter returning, senior Deantre Prince, who is coming off his best season. The coaches brought in five transfers at the position to compete an try and shore up the depth chart including Zamari Walton out of Georgia Tech, John Sander from Miami, and Deshawn Gaddie from North Texas. Keep an eye on the latter, who had 148 total tackles, including two for a loss, two interceptions, 21 passes defended, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in four seasons with the Mean Green. Overall, Ole Miss is an underrated team, with a potentially outstanding offense, that should only improve as the season progresses.
The School
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Founded: 1844
Enrollment: Approximately 20,000
Nickname: Rebels
Colors: Cardinal Red and Navy Blue
Mascot: Tony the Landshark (formerly Colonel Reb)
The Program
Coaching Changes During Saban Era: Four
Last Time Beat Alabama: 2015, when the Rebels won their second straight against Alabama, 43-37 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Last Time Won Division: None
Last Time Won SEC Championship: 1963
National Championships (3): 1959, 1960, 1962
Playoff Appearances: None
SEC Championships (6): 1947, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1962, 1963
Bowl Appearances: 24–15
Last Time Didn’t Play in a Bowl: 2019
Heisman Trophies: None
Consensus All-Americans During Saban Era (3): OT Michael Oher (2008), DB Senquez Golson (2014), WR Elijah Moore (2020)
First-Round NFL Picks During Saban Era (6): The most recent was TE Evan Engram in 2017 — No. 23 overall by the New York Giants.
Ole Miss Athletics
2023 NFL Draft: Four selections led by wide receiver Jonathan Mingo, who went in the second round to the Carolina Panthers.
Last Four Recruiting Class Rankings: No. 23 in 2023, No. 23 in 2022, No. 17 in 2021, No. 24 in 2020
The Schedule
Sept. 2: vs. Mercer
Sept. 9: at Tulane
Sept. 16: vs. Georgia Tech
Sept. 23: at Alabama
Sept. 30: vs. LSU
Oct. 7: vs. Arkansas
Oct. 21: at Auburn
Oct. 28: vs. Vanderbilt
Nov. 4: vs. Texas A&M
Nov. 11: at Georgia
Nov. 18: vs. UL Monroe
Nov. 23: at Mississippi State
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Did You Know?
When Alabama visited No. 11 Ole Miss in 2022, the Crimson Tide was ranked ninth in the AP Top 25. It was Alabama's lowest ranking against the Rebels since Nick Saban's first season in Tuscaloosa in 2007. The Crimson Tide had been ranked No. 1 or 2 by one of the polls when playing the Rebels for 11 straight years. During that span, Ole Miss finished the season ranked just three times. Ole Miss hasn't been ranked above No. 10 in the final Association Press poll since 1969.
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This is the fourth story in series previewing Alabama's opponents.
See Also:
2023 Alabama Football Early Opponent Preview | Game 3: South Florida
2023 Alabama Football Early Opponent Preview | Game 2: Texas
2023 Alabama Football Early Opponent Preview | Game 1: Middle Tennessee State
