Scouting the Ole Miss Rebels: The View from Oxford
Penn State and Ole Miss meet Saturday for a fascinating Peach Bowl matchup, one that could foreshadow a future College Football Playoff game. The teams both went 10-2, losing to the toughest teams on their schedules, and finished 10th and 11th, respectively, in the final CFP rankings.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin brings an intriguing team to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, one that will challenge the Nittany Lions on a variety of fronts. To get a better view of the Rebels, we asked John Macon Gillespie, publisher of The Grove Report on SI.com, for a pregame glimpse into the Rebels.
Question: For some Penn State fans, 10-2 with losses again to Ohio State and Michigan felt like a missed opportunity. How does Ole Miss view a 10-2 season with losses to Georgia and Alabama?
John Macon Gillespie: If the schedule hadn’t been as difficult as it was, 10-2 might be somewhat of a disappointment with this year’s talent. Given the strength of schedule, however, 10-2 was viewed as the absolute ceiling for this team with a mark of eight or nine wins appearing more likely.
It can’t be overstated that a 10-2 season in 2023 is viewed as a legitimate springboard for this team to compete for a spot in the CFP next season. It was a raging success.
Question: What kind of season did quarterback Jaxson Dart have, and how did he set the tone for Ole Miss’ deep dive into the transfer portal?
John Macon Gillespie: Speaking of things impossible to overstate, Jaxson Dart’s importance to this team will be looked back on for a long time in Oxford. After the additions of Spencer Sanders and Walker Howard in the portal last offseason, most analysts believed Dart would find a new home.
Instead, he rose to the occasion and eliminated any doubt that he was going to be QB1 this season. The locker room seemed to buy in, and he elevated his game over the course of spring and fall camp. Without Dart, a New Year’s Six bowl trip does not happen.
As far as the portal is concerned, this is a quarterback-driven game, right? Assuming Dart returns to Ole Miss next season, he will have two years of SEC experience under his belt and has proven his ability to distribute the ball effectively to those around him. Plus, his teammates genuinely seem to enjoy his presence. That can’t be said for every locker room in America.
Question: What are Ole Miss’ offensive strengths beyond Dart? Tempo is a key factor, correct?
John Macon Gillespie: Tempo is the name of the game, yes. The tempo is really opened up after the initial first down of a given drive, however, so that is crucial to the operation of this offense.
Outside of tempo, I would say that the skill players around Dart are, for the most part, underrated. The wide receiver room is sneakily good, Caden Prieskorn is a legitimate SEC talent at tight end, and Quinshon Judkins and Ulysses Bentley complement one another exceptionally well in the backfield.
Even with a few lower-scoring games this season, this offense remains, in my opinion, one of the most dangerous in the country.
Question: Penn State’s offense struggled this season with explosive plays for much of the season. How does Ole Miss defend downfield, and what’s the general defensive philosophy?
John Macon Gillespie: Against most teams not named the Georgia Bulldogs, the back half of the defense was pretty solid this season. Names like Deantre Prince and John Saunders are key ones to watch for Penn State fans, as far as the secondary is concerned.
Defensive coordinator Pete Golding did a lot this year without the luxury of multiple five stars on his side of the ball. Early returns on him at Ole Miss have been nothing but positive.
Question: Who do you expect to have breakout games for Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl?
John Macon Gillespie: I’m not sure if it would be considered “breakout” for Ole Miss fans since he’s a familiar name, but I have a gut feeling about wide receiver Dayton Wade. He’s already established that he plans to enter the NFL Draft after this season, he’s from the Atlanta area, and he’s already had some stellar games and highlight-reel catches for the Rebels this year.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he went out with a bang.
For more OIe Miss coverage from the Peach Bowl, head to The Grove Report.
More Penn State Football
Kerry Collins to serve as Penn State's honorary captain for the Peach Bowl
Key Penn State playmaker could return for the Peach Bowl
Penn State's Kalen King available for the Peach Bowl
Penn State chases bowl history in the Peach Bowl
Lane Kiffin agrees with James Franklin about college football's "terrible system"
Yes, Tom Allen says, Michael Penix Jr. scored vs. Penn State in 2020
James Franklin laments college football's "chaotic" December schedule
Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki proves a quick fit for Penn State
Nittany Lions captains take the lead in Peach Bowl opt-out decisions
AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.
