Nov 18, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Louisiana Monroe Warhawks quarterback Jiya Wright (18) runs the ball as Mississippi Rebels defensive back Ladarius Tennison (13) makes the tackle during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Jaxson Dart, No. 13 Ole Miss too strong for UL Monroe

Jaxson Dart passed for 310 yards and three touchdowns to lift No. 13 Ole Miss to a 35-3 win over UL Monroe in a non-conference game Saturday afternoon in Oxford, Miss.

Dart threw all of his touchdown passes during a third-quarter blitz that enabled the Rebels (9-2) to finish 7-0 at home. They visit Mississippi State on Thanksgiving night to complete the regular season.

Jiva Wright passed for just 56 yards and the Warhawks (2-9) totaled just 258 yards.

The Rebels led just 7-3 at halftime before taking control by scoring touchdowns on their first three third-quarter possessions.

Their first possession ended with Dart’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Tre Harris.

The Warhawks reached the Ole Miss 40 before turning the ball over when Wright threw an incompletion on fourth-and-2. That led to Dart’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Caden Prieskorn for a 21-3 lead.

Dart threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Dayton Wade, who finished with seven catches for 108 yards, to push the lead to 28-3 at the end of the third quarter.

Spencer Sanders relieved Dart and threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Cayden Lee to complete the scoring midway through the fourth quarter.

Ole Miss received the opening kickoff and drove into scoring range, but Caden Davis was wide right on a 50-yard field-goal attempt.

The Rebels turned the ball over on downs at their 28 when Quinshon Judkins was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-2, but the Warhawks lost eight yards on three plays and punted.

Ulysses Bentley IV’s 14-yard touchdown run gave Ole Miss a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Rebels missed another scoring opportunity early in the second quarter when Dart threw an incomplete pass on fourth and 2 at the ULM 12.

Braxton Guilbeau kicked a 26-yard field goal as time expired to trim the lead to 7-3 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half of a football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

No. 13 Ole Miss has healthy respect for Auburn

The oddsmakers say No. 13 Ole Miss is a 6 1/2-point favorite Saturday night at Auburn for their Southeastern Conference matchup.

Rebels coach Lane Kiffin is wary.

“I think we’ve, as a program, won once there in 20 years,” he said. “New challenge to go try win on the road there. This year, like a lot of years, they’re a different team at home.”

The numbers back Kiffin up. The Tigers (3-3, 0-3) are 2-1 in Jordan-Hare Stadium this year, with the loss a 27-20 squeaker to No. 1 Georgia, which required a late touchdown to escape with a win.

Conversely, Auburn is 1-2 on the road, with the only win a 14-10 nailbiter at Cal. Last week, the Tigers were routed 48-18 at then-No. 22 LSU, falling behind 17-0 in the first quarter and allowing 563 total yards for the game.

Auburn came within 3 rushing yards by LSU’s Logan Diggs of permitting a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver. LSU gained an average of more than 8 1/2 yards every snap in administering its second-most lopsided beatdown of Auburn since the series began 122 years ago.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said a slow start really affected the game’s texture.

“We looked like zombies a bit on the sideline after that, and it kind of snowballed,” he said. “I didn’t think we showed up with the right energy and drive and competitive spirit. And that lies in my lap. And that’s disappointing.”

The Tigers’ problems went beyond defense in Baton Rouge. They managed just 18 points and 293 total yards against an LSU defense that has been torched for big numbers by Florida State, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Missouri. Auburn has only managed to top 100 passing yards against a Power 5 opponent once.

But Freeze said not to expect major changes on offense and also said that both Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford would get action at quarterback on Saturday.

“We consider everything and everybody,” Freeze said.

The Rebels (5-1, 2-1) have no such problems under center, where Jaxson Dart is completing 64.1 percent of his passes through six games for 1,638 yards with 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He’s also on pace to rush for more than 600 yards.

Dart’s contributions to a 27-20 win two weeks ago over Arkansas were modest — 153 yards, one touchdown and 33 rushing yards — but he committed no turnovers. That was crucial because the defense came up with two big interceptions that helped secure a win.

But Dart might have to play minus his leading receiver this week. Jordan Watkins, who has 36 catches for 536 yards in six games, was injured in practice during the bye week last week. The specific injury has not been disclosed, and Kiffin didn’t have much to say about it on Monday.

“We anticipate him playing,” the coach said. “That’s all I got.”

Auburn holds a 35-12 lead in the all-time series, including a 17-3 mark at home. Ole Miss took a 48-34 win last year in Oxford.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; During pregame of the game between the Tulane Green Wave and the Mississippi Rebels at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

No. 20 Ole Miss pulls away from No. 24 Tulane, 37-20

Jaxson Dart threw two touchdown passes, Quinshon Judkins rushed for a touchdown and No. 20 Ole Miss held off No. 24 Tulane, 37-20, in a nonconference game Saturday in New Orleans.

Dart completed 17 of 27 passes for 267 yards and helped Ole Miss (2-0) come back from a 17-7 second-quarter deficit.

Tulane (1-1) played without starting quarterback Michael Pratt, who suffered a knee injury in a season-opening win against South Alabama a week earlier.

Third-year sophomore Kai Horton made his second career start in Pratt’s place and completed 15 of 37 passes for 231 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Judkins’ 9-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter pulled Ole Miss even at 17 at the end of the period.

Deantre Prince’s interception of Horton gave the Rebels the ball at the Green Wave 20, setting up Caden Davis’ tiebreaking 27-yard field with 12:50 left in the game.

Tulane turned the ball over at the Ole Miss 30 when Horton’s apparent 2-yard gain on fourth-and-2 was changed to a 1-yard gain on review.

The Rebels faced a fourth-and-4 on the next possession when Dart threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Michael Trigg for a 27-17 lead with 4:28 left.

Valentino Ambrosio’s 26-yard field goal pulled the Green Wave within seven points, but Davis kicked a 56-yard FG and Jared Ivey picked up Horton’s fumble and ran 26 yards for a touchdown with 1:25 remaining.

Dart completed passes on the first three plays of the game, the last of which was a 31-yard touchdown to Tre Harris.

Tulane answered on the ensuing possession as Makhi Hughes completed a 75-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run that left the score tied at seven at the end of the first quarter.

The Green Wave took advantage of Jha’Quan Jackson’s 36-yard punt return when Ambrosio kicked a 44-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Jackson caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Horton to extend the lead to 17-7 later in the quarter.

Davis’ 37-yard field goal trimmed the lead to 17-10 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Tyler Shough (12) falls into the end zone for a touchdown as Mississippi Rebels safety Isheem Young (1) /defends during the first quarter in the 2022 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Shough, Texas Tech take down Ole Miss in Texas Bowl

Tyler Shough ran for two touchdowns and passed for another as Texas Tech defeated Ole Miss 42-25 in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night in Houston.

Shough completed 24 of 39 passes for 242 yards and rushed 25 times for 111 yards as the Red Raiders (8-5) won their fourth consecutive game.

Jaxson Dart passed for 361 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions and rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown to lead the Rebels (8-5), who lost their fourth straight.

The Red Raiders led 26-7 at halftime, but Dart threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Watkins on Ole Miss’ first possession of the third quarter. The score remained 26-13 through the end of the period.

Early in the fourth quarter, Shough threw a 36-yard pass to Jerand Bradley to set up SaRodorick Thompson’s 1-yard touchdown run that increased the lead to 32-13.

Texas Tech’s Trey Wolff kicked his third field goal, a 26-yarder, to increase the lead to 35-13 with 9:36 left.

Dart ran 9 yards for a touchdown and threw a 19-yard scoring pass to Malik Heath, who had eight catches for 137 yards, to trim the deficit to 10 with 3:10 left.

The Rebels tried an onside kick, but the Red Raiders’ Loic Fouonji, who also caught seven passes for 100 yards, returned it 44 yards for a touchdown.

Slough ran 2 yards for a TD that gave Texas Tech an early 7-0 lead.

Zach Evans ran 8 yards for a tying touchdown before Wolff’s 42-yard field goal gave the Red Raiders a 10-7 edge at the end of the first quarter.

Marquis Waters intercepted Dart, setting Texas Tech up at the Ole Miss 9 in the second quarter. On fourth-and-goal at the 2, Slough ran for a touchdown and a 17-7 lead.

Wolff added a 32-yard field goal before Dadrion Taylor-Demerson recovered Dart’s fumble at the Ole Miss 37.

Five plays later, Slough threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Bradley to increase the lead to 19 points heading to halftime.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Jadon Haselwood (9) runs after a catch in the second quarter against the Ole Miss Rebels at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Raheim Sanders, Arkansas topple No. 14 Ole Miss

Raheim Sanders set career highs with 232 rushing yards and three touchdowns as the Arkansas Razorbacks became bowl-eligible Saturday night, downing No. 14 Ole Miss 42-27 in Fayetteville, Ark.

Sanders, who carried the ball 24 times, topped his previous high of 175 yards and two scores set on Oct. 15 in a 52-35 win over BYU.

After missing last week’s home loss against No. 7 LSU, quarterback KJ Jefferson returned and went 17 of 22 passing for 168 yards and three scores. Matt Landers caught two touchdown passes, and Ketron Jackson Jr. had the other.

Linebacker Drew Sanders had a fumble recovery and an interception for Arkansas (6-5, 3-4 Southeastern Conference).

For Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3), Jaxson Dart was 21-for-36 for 240 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Malik Heath had 140 yards and a score on nine receptions.

Running back Quinshon Judkins totaled a season-best 214 yards on 24 carries. That gave the true freshman 1,385 yards — a single-season program record.

Zach Evans had a career-high 207 yards on 17 carries. Ole Miss produced 703 yards of offense, including 463 on the ground.

With Jefferson back under center, the Razorbacks perked up on offense on their second possession and went 69 yards on seven plays before the junior hit Landers for an 8-yard score at 8:28 of the first quarter.

On its next possession, the Arkansas offense went 73 yards for a score. Jefferson lobbed a perfect pass that Landers caught over his shoulder for a 23-yard TD.

The Rebels’ offense came to life on the ensuing series, with Dart finding Heath for a 53-yard gain. Jonathan Cruz put the visitors on the board with two minutes left in the quarter by curling in a 45-yard field goal.

In the first minute of the second quarter, Jackson won a one-on-one battle and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass for a 21-3 lead. Cruz later drilled a 32-yard field goal.

Sanders, who had 153 yards rushing yards in the first half, scored twice inside the last 2:20 to put the home side ahead 35-6 at the break.

His 68-yard touchdown run in the third quarter eclipsed his career highs, while Judkins, Evans and Heath tallied for Ole Miss in the fourth for the final margin.

–Field Level Media

Nov 12, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) passes the ball during warm up prior to the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama survives Ole Miss to return to win column

Will Reichard kicked two of his three field goals in the fourth quarter, Alabama’s defense stopped Ole Miss in the red zone late, and the No. 9 Crimson Tide held on for a 30-24 victory over the No. 11 Rebels in Oxford, Mississippi, on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide (8-2, 5-2 SEC) trailed 10-0 but fought back behind Bryce Young’s touchdowns to Cameron Latu, Jermaine Burton and Ja’Corey Brooks.

Ole Miss drove to the Alabama 14-yard-line, but on 4th-and-16 from the 20, defensive back Brian Branch broke up a pass in the end zone intended for Jonathan Mingo to seal the win with 46 seconds left.

The victory delivered the SEC West crown to LSU, which defeated Alabama and Ole Miss to earn a trip to Atlanta for the conference championship game.

Young was 21 of 33 for 209 yards and crafted his first 3-TD game since Sept. 24 against Vanderbilt when he tossed four. Jase McClellan rushed for 84 yards on 19 carries.

Jaxson Dart was 18 of 31 for 212 yards with a TD to Mingo. Malik Heath caught six passes for 123 yards, while Quinshon Judkins ran for 135 yards on 25 carries and tallied twice, giving him a school-record 15 rushing TDs in a season.

After Judkins shoved his way in for a score in the first quarter, the Rebels’ offense moved 32 yards to set up Jonathan Cruz’s 22-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead.

Young put the Crimson Tide on the board at 8:55 by firing a 19-yard strike to Burton. But Otis Reese’s fumble recovery at midfield led to another Ole Miss score, as Judkins — from the wildcat formation — punched it in from a yard out for a 17-7 lead.

Alabama’s Terrion Arnold recovered a fumble at the Rebels 23, and Young found Latu for an 8-yard score with eight seconds left for a 17-14 Ole Miss halftime lead.

After Reichard tied it with a 39-yard field goal, Dart zipped a 3-yard ball to Mingo for a 24-17 advantage at 7:28. Young rolled out and tossed a 5-yarder to Brooks to knot the contest at 24 after three quarters.

Reichard connected again, from 23 yards, the visitors’ first lead with 11:19 left and added another from 49.

–Field Level Media

Oct 29, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA;  Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Jaylon Jones (17) tackles Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) in the first half at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

No. 15 Ole Miss prevails in offensive slugfest with Texas A&M

Jaxson Dart fired three touchdown passes, Quinshon Judkins ran for a career-high 205 yards and No. 15 Ole Miss beat slumping Texas A&M 31-28 Saturday night in College Station, Texas.

Dart finished 13 of 20 for 140 passing yards and totaled 95 yards on 17 carries. Dayton Wade, Casey Kelly and Jonathan Mingo snared receiving scores as the Rebels (8-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) beat the Aggies for the second straight season.

Judkins, who turned 19 Saturday, carried 34 times and produced a crucial score in the fourth quarter, giving him 13 TDs — the most ever by an Ole Miss freshman.

For Texas A&M, true freshman Conner Weigman was 28-for-44 for 338 yards in his first career start. He threw TDs to Moose Muhammad III (eight catches, 112 yards), Evan Stewart, Noah Thomas and Devon Achane. Achane rushed for 138 yards on 25 carries.

The Aggies (3-5, 1-4) lost their fourth straight game in a season for the first time since 2005 as a member of the Big 12.

On the first series, Ole Miss ran six straight rushing plays before letting Dart throw. When he did, he found Wade for an 18-yard score with 13:02 left in the opening quarter.

But on fourth down, Weigman tossed a short score to Muhammad. On the next drive, Stewart made a leaping, one-handed grab from 15 yards out for a 14-7 lead.

Both teams failed on fourth-down conversions before Ole Miss successfully gambled again on a fourth-and-4 with a fake punt on its own 15. Jonathan Cruz booted a 46-yard field goal to make it 14-10.

In the third, Dart’s 56-yard pass to Mingo and a third-down face mask penalty led to the quarterback’s 1-yard TD throw to Kelly. The epic series went 94 yards on 13 plays.

Ole Miss built a two-score lead when Dart flipped a 2-yard TD to Mingo on a rub route for a 24-14 advantage.

After another failed fourth-down conversion by the Rebels, Weigman tossed a 2-yarder to Thomas with 9:11 left. But Judkins ripped off a 61-yard run and scored three plays later to counter it.

After Achane’s 7-yard catch cut it to 31-28, the Aggies got one more possession but turned it over on downs with 16 seconds left.

–Field Level Media