OXFORD — Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin compares road games to the difference between sleeping at home in your own bed and a hotel. There’s no way around it — it’s just not the same.
The Rebels have won their last two true road openers, the last loss coming at Alabama in 2021. Last season, the Rebels went on the road in Week 2 at No. 24 Tulane and defeated the Green Wave 37-20. No. 5 Ole Miss opens its 2024 road slate at Wake Forest on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on The CW.
Ole Miss (2-0) has outscored Furman and Middle Tennessee a combined 128-3.
Wake Forest (1-1) defeated North Carolina A&T in its opener but lost at home to Virginia 31-30 last weekend. Demon Deacons quarterback Hank Bachmeier, a sixth-year senior who previously started at Boise State and Louisiana Tech, has thrown for 666 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions through two games. Wake Forest’s 528.5 yards of offense per game is 13th nationally. Wake Forest is 2-0 all time against the Rebels, with the meetings coming in 2006 and 2008.
While the Rebels are veteran laden and have won games in hostile environments, Kiffin noted that this particular group has not played together yet on the road. Road games provide unique challenges, regardless of who they come against.
“You have to just weather storms when you’re on the road, and it’s just not what you’re used to,” Kiffin said. “You’re used to having, it’s not just games here at home. We scrimmage in there, we practice in there, (we) walkthrough there. And so, you’re going to a total new place you haven’t been. … People are naturally more comfortable where they’re used to. It’s like being in their house vs. a hotel. So, we just have to do a really good job preparing. Every year, every team’s different.”
The Rebels lead the nation in several offensive categories, including points per game and total yards per game. Senior quarterback Jaxson Dart set the SEC record with 24-consecutive completions last weekend against Middle Tennessee and leads the nation in passing yards, passing efficiency and total offense. Wake Forest will provide a different level of challenge, Kiffin said, and will be a good gauge of the Rebels’ progress.
Bachmeier has been one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the country in two games, as his 666 passing yards are ninth nationally. Wide receiver Donavon Greene is 16th nationally with 238 receiving yards. Kiffin said Wake Forest is the “best passing team by far” the Rebels will have gone against.
“You have a Power 4, ACC team — better than the first two opponents — and on the road,” Kiffin said. “So, I think it’s a really good measuring stick for where we’re at. Excited to see.”
The key to road games, senior wide receiver Tre Harris said, is remembering the essentials.
“We’re going to set the run game, first and foremost, and that our defense has to come out and play. Those two things are one of the biggest things, that’s not only of course for me, but for the entire team,” Harris said. “We need to go out there, pack your run game, pack your defense and go make a mark on the game early. We want to go out there, create quick three-and-outs and get the run game going as quick(ly) as possible to open up the pass game.
“ … It is a new team, this is our first road game. It’s going to be a new challenge for us. So, that’s something I’m excited for, just to see how the team handles adversity.”
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