Rebels Have Huge Challenge Facing Tulane QB Michael Pratt
Last week, the No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels kept Mercer quarterback Carter Peevy in check, but this week is an entirely different animal.
The No. 24 Tulane Green Wave boast one of the better quarterbacks in the country in Michael Pratt, who went 14-for-15 for 294 yards and four touchdowns with a Football Bowl Subdivision-best quarterback rating of 345.97.
"The quarterback basically played as well as you can on air last week, one incompletion," head coach Lane Kiffin said Monday. "He's very savvy, veteran, sharp, accurate, really good player."
Peevy started 11-for-17 for 89 yards in the first half, but out of the break, defensive coordinator Pete Golding made the necessary adjustments. In the second half, Peevy was 5 of 12 for 49 yards and an interception.
With 12:59 to go in the third quarter, Peevy intended a shallow throw to the right of the Bears' formation that safety Daijahn Anthony picked off and returned 19 yards to set up Ole Miss' sixth touchdown drive of the game.
Pratt on the other hand was efficient and explosive. While Peevy only had one 20-yard pickup through the air, Pratt had seven — half of his total completions. Pratt also accounted for two of the Green Wave's 10-plus-yard runs, finishing as the second-leading rusher with 39 yards on 11 attempts.
Cornerback Zamari Walton said Tulane has an "explosive offense" that starts with Pratt.
"He does a good job facilitating the field with his teammates," Walton said.
The Boca Raton, Florida, native is a far cry from what he was two years ago when Ole Miss faced him. In the Rebels' 61-21 victory, they kept Pratt in check as he completed 10-of-18 passes for 166 yards and two scores.
Kiffin understands the changing nature of a college football team from one year to the next between recruiting and the transfer portal, so he knows he's not getting the same Pratt the Rebels saw in 2021.
"Every year is different for every team, and two years ago certainly mean nothing," Kiffin said. "Much different team now that's had a lot of success after last year's [11] wins and playing at a really high level."
Kiffin and Golding will see get a firsthand look at what Pratt and the Green Wave are about at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in New Orleans. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 as the Rebels are currently 7.5-point favorites, according to SI Sportsbook.
