OXFORD – The last time Ole Miss played in Athens, Georgia was a night most Rebels defenders would rather forget.
Then-No. 10 Ole Miss fell to No. 1 Georgia 52-17 in 2023 in a game where Georgia racked up 611 yards of offense, including 300 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. That game led Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin and defensive coordinator Pete Golding to acquire elite defensive players in the following transfer portal cycle. The endeavor paid off, as Ole Miss defeated Georgia 28-10 in Oxford last season. The Bulldogs had just 245 total offensive yards, with 59 of those on the ground on just 1.8 yards per carry in 2024.
The Bulldogs aren’t quite as prolific on the ground in 2025 as they were two seasons ago – they averaged 191.2 yards rushing yards per game in 2023 compared to 185.5 through six games this year – though it’s nearly 45% of their offensive yardage. Can Ole Miss hold up against the run on the road this season at Sanford Stadium? Here is a look at how Georgia’s running game matches up with the Rebels’ rush defense.
No. 5 Ole Miss (6-0, 3-0 SEC) plays at No. 9 Georgia (5-1, 3-1) Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
Run vs. run
Ole Miss’ run defense has been a bit of an adventure this season. Through the first four games, the Rebels were giving up 190.5 yards per game on the ground. That average is down to 92 yards per game over the last two contests and now sits at 157.7 overall, tied for 95th nationally. Washington State ran for 127 yards against Ole Miss last weekend; the Cougars entered the game averaging about 78 yards per game on the ground.
Ole Miss has allowed 28 rushes of at least 10 yards, which is tied for 74th nationally, per CFBStats.com. Georgia is tied for 49th nationally with 33 rushes of 10 yards or more. Just under 48% of Georgia’s total rushing yardage this season (542 of 1,140) has come off the tight end on either the right or left side, according to Pro Football Focus. The Bulldogs have also scored nine touchdowns off such runs.
Nearly a third of leading rusher Chauncey Bowens’ (315 yards) carries – 18 of 60 – have come off the tight end on the left side. Bowens has forced 12 missed tackles and has 11 rushes of 10 yards or more, and second-leading rusher Nate Frazier (277 yards) has forced 11 missed tackles. Ole Miss has missed 26 tackles in the run game, according to PFF. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton has 242 rushing yards this season; per PFF, 96 of those have come on scrambles. He has nine rushes of at least 10 yards.
In their 2023 matchup, Georgia scorched Ole Miss up the middle in the run game. Of their 300 yards, 146 of the Bulldogs’ yards came on either side of the center on nearly 12.2 yards per carry. Georgia had seven runs of at least 10 yards in the game, according to PFF.
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