Ole Miss Football held the majority of the lead as the Rebels cruised to a 5-0 record against Kentucky. The Rebels’ Jaxson Dart got the start and proved he can undoubtedly go with the best of SEC football, especially Will Levis who is ESPN’s Todd McShay’s third best quarterback on his mock board for the 2023 NFL Draft. The Utah native transferred during the offseason from USC, with the Rebels’ Lane Kiffin taking a chance on the four star recruit, which delivered yesterday.
Ole Miss Football cruises to 5-0 after win over Kentucky
Ole Miss Football and offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss Jr. jumpstarted the game to an automatic 14-0 lead. They got off to a hot start with featured running back Quinshon Judkins ruthlessly rushing for a 48 yard touchdown. The SEC Co-Freshman of the Week finished the game with 7.1 yards per carry and 100 plus rushing yards for the third time this very season.
Kentucky’s defense, meanwhile, was able to stop Dart and Judkins in the second quarter, taking full advantage of the fact that they rank 17th in allowing 272.0 yards per game. The Wildcats secured the ball back with great field positioning to send Chris Rodriguez Jr. to the end zone for the only touchdown of the first half. The extra point field goal was no good by Matthew Ruffolo.
The 53 yard field goal attempted by Jonathan Cruz was good. The score through two quarters was 16-6. Ole Miss even at one point scored two points by getting to Kentucky QB Will Levis for a safety. In the third quarter, Kentucky altered the game plan and allowed Levis to connect to Jordan Dingle for one of his only passing touchdowns of the game, finishing with a 75% completion percentage and 179 .5 rating.
Sure, Levis is one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC by completing 68 percent of his passes and throwing a mere four interceptions this season, but against Ole Miss, he struggled even in front of scouts as Levis simply could not throw the ball downfield accurately and resort to intermediate routes instead that we’re at most times screen passes or on the flat.
Levis had to play better as time wound down. The defense was picking up the measly remnants by intercepting and deflecting the ball in such critical possessions. The Kentucky.defense allowed Levis back on the field for one final possession, but that ensued in a fumble to seal the victory for the underdog favorite, Ole Miss Rebels.