OXFORD – It might not be where No. 14 Ole Miss envisioned when its highly anticipated 2024 season began, but the Rebels are going bowling for the fifth straight year.
Coming off the program’s first 11-win season, Ole Miss (9-3, 5-3 SEC) entered 2024 with hopes of making it to the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff field. While a lot of things went right for the Rebels this year – a win over then-No.3 and eventual SEC champion Georgia was one of the biggest moments in modern team history – a trio of blemishes on an otherwise strong record had them as the third team out of the playoff behind Alabama and Miami.
Ole Miss will instead spend this holiday in Jacksonville, where the Rebels will play Duke (9-3, 5-3 ACC) in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2 at 6:30 p.m. It is Ole Miss’ fourth appearance in the Gator Bowl and first-ever matchup with the Blue Devils.
Here is a quick look at how Ole Miss matches up with the Blue Devils.
Note: There will likely be player opt outs not yet known at press time, so this preview is based on who the teams had available in the regular season.
Duke offense vs. Ole Miss defense
The Blue Devils average 26.8 points per game, which is 73rd nationally. Quarterback Maalik Murphy has just under 3,000 passing yards and is fourth in the ACC with 26 touchdown passes, though his 12 interceptions are tied for the most in the conference. His efficiency rating of 133.53 is 72nd nationally and 11th in the ACC. Duke’s pass blocking vs. Ole Miss’ pass rush figures to be a premiere matchup – the Blue Devils are tied for 12th nationally with just 12 sacks allowed, while Ole Miss leads the nation with 52 sacks. The Rebels lead the nation with 9.7 tackles-for-loss per game; Duke gives up an average of 5.67 tackles-for-loss per game, which is tied for 74th nationally.
Duke is 125th nationally in rushing yards per game at 96.5, though running back Star Thomas is eighth in the ACC with 871 rushing yards. The Rebels boast the nation’s No. 2 run defense, giving up 83.5 yards per game. Jordan Moore and Eli Pancol each have at least 700 yards receiving and a combined 16 touchdown catches. Ole Miss is 39th nationally in passing efficiency defense and has allowed just 11 touchdown passes.
Ole Miss offense vs. Duke defense
The Rebels are seventh nationally at 37.5 points per game, which also leads the SEC. Senior quarterback Jaxson Dart is fourth in the FBS with 3,875 passing yards and is second in passing efficiency. His 25 touchdown passes are tied for third in the conference, and he leads the league in both yards per attempt and yards per completion. Since senior running back Henry Parrish Jr. was lost for the season with an injury, the Rebels’ running game has been inconsistent. Still, the Rebels are averaging 176 rushing yards in the three games since Parrish was hurt.
Wide receiver Tre Harris and his team-leading 1,030 yards have already declared NFL Draft intentions, but the cupboard is hardly bare in the Rebels’ receiving room. Sophomore Cayden Lee has 817 yards, senior Jordan Watkins has 726 yards and senior Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. has 521 yards.
Duke gives up 22.17 points per game, which is tied for 42nd nationally. The Blue Devils are 20th in passing efficiency defense and are 71st in rushing yards allowed per game (149.5). Like Ole Miss, Duke’s defense lives in opposing backfields – the Blue Devils are tied for third nationally with 40 sacks and are second behind the Rebels with 9.2 tackles-for-loss per game. Ole Miss gives up an average of six tackles-for-loss per game, which is tied for 91st nationally.
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