Peach Bowl Pregame Report: Penn State Ready for Ole Miss
ATLANTA | Penn State looks to complete its second consecutive 11-win season, while Ole Miss seeks to register its first 11-win season in school history at today's Peach Bowl, which kicks off at noon ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The teams will meet for the first time in what should be a compelling Big Ten-SEC matchup.
The 2023 Penn State football season reaches its conclusion with interim coordinators on both sides of the ball, though the team's opt-outs have been minimal. Likewise, Ole Miss brings a mostly full roster to the New Year's 6 bowl game.
As kickoff approaches, here's a look at some of the key story lines for the Penn State vs. Ole Miss Peach Bowl.
RELATED: How to watch the Peach Bowl, preview, predictions
Four Penn State starters out for the Peach Bowl
Penn State will be without its All-American left tackle and two starting cornerbacks for the Peach Bowl. Olu Fashanu, who has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, is listed as "out" on the Nittany Lions' pregame availability report. So are cornerbacks Kalen King and Johnny Dixon. Fashanu and King are with the team in Atlanta. Dixon is not. Neither King nor Dixon publicly have declared for the NFL Draft. Penn State coach James Franklin said this week that he expects several young defensive backs to play vs. Ole Miss.
Defensive end Chop Robinson already had declared for the NFL Draft and opted out of the bowl game. In addition, starting left guard JB Nelson is listed as "questionable."
Which quarterback has the edge in the Peach Bowl?
Penn State's Drew Allar is making his first bowl start after throwing for 2,336 yards, 23 touchdowns and just one interception this season. The sophomore won high praise from Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin.
"I think he does a phenomenal job of taking care of the ball, first off, and commanding the offense, getting the ball in the right place," Kiffin said. "When it is not there, breaks it down, does a great job of vertical scrambling and making plays and moving the sticks. So those guys are always challenging because they're going to win a lot of games by the style that they play. They complete with the ball. They don't turn the ball over and they don't make negative plays."
For Ole Miss, quarterback Jaxson Dart is making his second bowl start, having set a school record for bowl total offense (427) in the 2022 Texas Bowl, where he also threw three interceptions. Dart is a two-year starter at Ole Miss who began his career at USC.
"Obviously, they've been able to run a ton of plays, and that's a combination of tempo, but just as much tempo as it is offensive success," Penn State coach James Franklin said of Ole Miss. "They've been successful. So they've been able to put drives together and get on the field and get off the field. I think the quarterback has done a really good job of being able to make plays with his feet, being able to make plays with his mind, and being able to make plays with his armand distribute the ball to multiple playmakers that Lane and their offensive coordinator have done a really good job of putting in really good positions to make plays."
Will Penn State and Ole Miss use communications devices for the Peach Bowl?
Though the NCAA is allowing teams in non-College Football Playoff bowls to use communications devices, neither Penn State nor Ole Miss will employ them at the Peach Bowl. The NCAA authorized a trial run for bowl teams to use in-helmet devices and other communications technology, but both teams have to agree. Kiffin said that Ole Miss chose not to use the devices.
"We decided on our side not to," Kiffin said. "Just we're used to a system in college football how it's been, and I don't necessarily with the style that we play that it would be as beneficial to us as maybe it would be to some other people."
Will the Mercedes-Benz Stadium roof be open for the Peach Bowl?
Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a roof that can be opened in good weather. However, the roof will be closed for the Peach Bowl.
"Temps are forecasted with a high in the 40's [sic], and even though Penn State fans may be comfortable in those temps, we don't open the roof when its near freezing," stadium officials said in a social media post. "Enjoy the 72 degrees inside MBS!"
The Peach Bowl is sold out, bowl officials said.
How to watch, stream the Peach Bowl
ESPN will broadcast the 56th Peach Bowl beginning at noon ET from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Mark Jones, Louis Riddick and Quint Kessenich will be on the broadcast. Streamers can catch the game on FuboTV (start your free trial).
Who's favored to win the Peach Bowl?
Penn State is a 4.5-point favorite against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl, with the over/under set at 49.5 points. FanDuel Sportsbook is offering Peach Bowl promotion. New customers receive a guaranteed $150 boost. Details here.
Key Penn State vs. Ole Miss Peach Bowl Story Lines
Penn State will be without two starting defensive players for the Peach Bowl: edge rusher Chop Robinson opted out in mid-December, while cornerback Johnny Dixon is not with the team in Atlanta.
The Nittany Lions view the Peach Bowl as an opportunity to bid a proper farewell to Manny Diaz's defense.
Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. called that Penn State defense "the most complete" he has seen this season.
Looking for an under-the-radar Penn State player? Cornerback Daequan Hardy wants to get onto some NFL scouts' radar at the Peach Bowl.
Here's an Ole Miss scouting report, direct from Oxford.
Penn State's interim offensive coordinators will ride together in the Peach Bowl. Here's how Ja'Juan Seider and Ty Howle kept that offense together in November.
