Ole Miss Football Provides Surprising Update on Pair of Starters Ahead of Oklahoma

The Ole Miss Rebels (6-1, 3-1 SEC) will take the field in Norman on Saturday for a Top-25 SEC matchup against No. 13 Oklahoma in a showdown that will have significant College Football Playoff implications.

After suffering the program's first loss of the season in Week 8, Lane Kiffin and the Rebels will look to bounce back against the Sooners this weekend.

"[Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables] has done an awesome job whenever he’s led the defense. Every year but one they’ve had Top 10 finishes, which is just a phenomenal job of how hard he gets them to play," Kiffin said on Monday.

"They’ve got great players now that he’s had a couple of years to get these guys in there and get them trained and coached. They’re playing well and better than any defense in the country. Have basically shut everybody down. Phenomenal."

Now, heading into Week 9 against the Sooners, Ole Miss has listed multiple players on the initial SEC Availability Report - including starting tight end Dae'Quan Wright.

The SEC Availability Report: Wednesday Edition

Oklahoma
Out:
OL Troy Everett
OL Jacob Sexton
OL Jake Taylor

Doubtful:
WR Keontez Lewis

Questionable:
RB Jovantae Barnes
DB Gentry Williams
OL Derek Simmons
OL Logan Howland

Ole Miss Rebels Football: Deuce Alexander. — Courtesy of Ole Miss Rebels Football.

Ole Miss
Questionable:
TE Dae’Quan Wright
WR Deuce Alexander
OL Terez Davis

Probable:
S Ladarian Clardy

Brent Venables' Take: Oklahoma Gearing Up for a Dogfight

“Got a really explosive, well-coached Ole Miss team coming in here that lost a heartbreaker last week on the road at Georgia,” Venables said. “Coach Kiffin’s done a great job… got them right back to where they were a year ago.”

“It looks like he’s played the game before he even gets to game day in what he wants his guys to do,” Venables added. “They’re well-coached and really sound. They’ve got good balance running the ball.

"He knows the value of a three-, four-yard run. It goes a long way by the time the fourth quarter gets there. Those body blows in the first half really start to create a lot of explosive plays. He’s done it for a long time at a really, really high level.”

More Ole Miss News:

ESPN Releases FPI Top-25 Rankings Following Week 8 With Ole Miss Football Moving Up

Report: Ole Miss Football's Lane Kiffin a ‘Top Candidate' for Florida Gators Job

Paul Finebaum Predicts Ole Miss Football's Lane Kiffin Would Win Title With Florida

Join the Community:

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and Ole Miss Rebels On SI: @OleMissOnSI for all coverage surrounding the Ole Miss program.