Becoming the first Southeastern Conference football team to score 70 or more points in back-to-back games hasn’t fazed Ole Miss.
Instead, the Rebels are taking their good start in stride.
The first two weeks won’t have any bearing this week when No. 15 Ole Miss (2-0) faces No. 2 Alabama (2-0) in the SEC opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
While the Rebels have impressed against Tennessee-Martin (76-3) and Fresno State (73-21), coach Hugh Freeze is aware his team will have to take it up another notch to beat Alabama for a second-straight year for the first time in program history.
“We get to open up SEC play in a great environment against one of the best programs in the nation,” Freeze said. “It should be a good test, one our kids will be very excited for. We have an opportunity to compete at a very high level and play our best football. That’s why you coach in this league and play in the league, so we are excited.”
Ole Miss scored 28 first-quarter points against Fresno State. Former East Mississippi Community College standout Chad Kelly (20 of 25 for 346 yards, four touchdowns) threw three touchdowns passes and rushed for another score in the first quarter. In two games, Kelly is 29 of 40 for 557 yards with six touchdowns and one interception.
While the start has been promising, Freeze isn’t sure where his team is entering league play.
“I can’t really tell (if the team is ready for SEC play),” Freeze said. “I think we have a confident football team that believes we can win. I believe we can win. I also know you can lose these games because you are playing really good teams. That’s why I don’t make too much of one game, win or lose. It’s the opportunity to compete at a high level.
“I don’t know if we are ready, but I know that we can go and compete and our kids are ready.”
Freeze admits he has been surprised at the early efficiency of the offense.
“Chad (Kelly) played extremely well (against Fresno State), scoring touchdowns on every drive he was in the game,” Freeze said. “I thought the receivers played very well and made very few mistakes. I thought the offensive line needs to clean up a few things because there were a few problems with our defensive alignments and different movements.
“Defensively, we have to improve. We gave up too many explosive plays for the second week in a row, which is something you can’t do. Most of it was because we weren’t aligned right.”
With Arkansas being upset by Toledo and Auburn being taken to the wire by Football Championship Subdivision member Jacksonville State, Freeze was pleased with his team’s attention to detail.
“Players are being preached to only focus on one game at a time,” Freeze said. “I don’t talk about any opponent besides the one we have that week. I can’t afford to look ahead. Our coaches listen to what I’m saying and hopefully the team does the same. It’s about us preparing ourselves to be the best we can be on that given Saturday.
“If we play the best we can play but it’s not good enough, I guess that’s OK, too, but I don’t like it. No one does. That is part of life in this conference. You just want to have that laser focus to make sure you’re preparing to be the best you can be.”
Any element of surprise for Ole Miss was eliminated when it knocked off then-No. 1 Alabama 23-17 on Oct. 4, 2014, in Oxford. That victory paved the way for a brief appearance in the College Football Playoff standings and later a New Year’s Six bowl berth.
“The victory over Alabama was emotional,” Freeze said. “It showed our kids what this program is capable of becoming. Now this is another opportunity and another step in the process.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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