OXFORD — No. 5 Ole Miss hosts Georgia Southern Saturday at 6:45 p.m. Here are four keys to a Rebels win.

 

Keep stopping the run

Ole Miss has the best run defense in college football, surrendering just 33.3 yards per game through three contests. Georgia Southern already struggles to run the ball, averaging just 107 yards per game (109th nationally). The Eagles want to throw the ball around, but making them one-dimensional from the start is only going to benefit the Rebels. The more predictable the opposition has to be, the better.

 

Run the ball

Georgia Southern has one of the worst rush defenses in college football, ranking 131st with 236.7 yards per game allowed. The Eagles have also given up the second-most rushing touchdowns nationally (10). Ole Miss has found its running game in a big way the last two games behind senior Henry Parrish Jr., who has 298 rushing yards and six touchdowns combined the last two weeks. The Rebels are 12th nationally (fourth in the SEC) at 257.7 yards per game on the ground. The run game opens up the play-action passing game and allows the Rebels’ offense to operate at its most efficient.

 

Win in the return game

Georgia Southern is sixth nationally and tied for seventh nationally in kick return defense and punt return defense, respectively. Ole Miss’ Micah Davis is tied for 31st nationally at 10 yards per punt return. The Rebels have only returned two kicks all season — not giving up a touchdown will do that — so there haven’t been many chances on that front. Winning the field position battle is always crucial.

 

Start fast

Ole Miss loves starting the ball on offense and, in 2024, it’s proved fruitful — Ole Miss has scored points on every one of its opening drives this season. The Rebels are outscoring teams 61-3 in the first quarter this year. Jumping out to early leads forces the opposing offense to throw the ball. That allows Ole Miss’ fearsome pass rush to pin its ears back.