STARKVILLE — Jeff Lebby faced his friend and former mentor Josh Heupel earlier this month when Mississippi State played Tennessee. But while the Bulldogs’ head coach has plenty of respect for Lane Kiffin, his team’s meeting with rival Ole Miss is likely to be far less cordial.
Now in his first year at MSU, Lebby was Kiffin’s offensive coordinator with the Rebels in 2020 and 2021, and Ole Miss had the best total offense in the Southeastern Conference in both years. Kiffin, a well-known social media troll, poked fun at Lebby and the Bulldogs when MSU hired Lebby last year, and at SEC Media Days in July, Lebby called Kiffin’s actions “a little childish” while reiterating his respect and admiration for his former boss.
“We’ve traded texts throughout the season and had communication,” Lebby said Monday. “But no, not this week. He’ll continue to find ways to have fun on social. That’s who he’s always been and who he’ll always be.”
It will be a tall task in front of the Bulldogs (2-9, 0-7 SEC) as they head to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford on Friday to try to avoid their first winless season in conference play in 22 years. The No. 15 Rebels (8-3, 4-3) allow the fewest rushing yards per game in the conference, so MSU’s best offensive player of late, running back Davon Booth, might have a harder time finding holes.
Booth had 124 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries in Saturday’s loss to Missouri, including three runs that covered more than 20 yards.
“I hold myself to a high standard,” Booth said. “I have to give thanks to the guys up front for making way for me.”
The Bulldogs’ defense remains at the bottom of the SEC in most categories but did show up in moments of brilliance against the Tigers, particularly early in the game. Zakari Tillman recorded MSU’s first sack in a conference game since September, and Missouri managed minus-3 yards on its first six offensive plays.
“I didn’t like that they were on the field as long as they were,” Lebby said. “But you’ve seen spurts of us playing good team defense. We have not been able to sustain (it). I put that partially on us offensively not being able to continue to hold momentum at times. We found ways to create it at times, and then we don’t keep it.”
Scouting Ole Miss
The Rebels brought in arguably the top transfer portal class last offseason after winning a program-record 11 games in 2023, and they were viewed as a College Football Playoff contender for most of the year. All eight of their wins have come by double digits, but Ole Miss has lost three one-score games, including this past Saturday at Florida.
Jaxson Dart is in his third year as the Rebels’ starting quarterback, and although he had problems taking care of the ball against the Gators, he is still one of the most accomplished passers in college football, with a completion rate just under 70 percent and 24 touchdowns against six interceptions.
“His toughness, without a doubt (stands out),” Lebby said. “He can do a lot of things, but the way this guy plays with incredible toughness inspires their football team. The guys play incredibly hard for him as a leader, and that’s what it’s all about. He can make all the throws, he can make things happen with his feet, but to me, it’s how he does what he does to create inspiration for the guys around him. That’s a quarterback’s job.”
Lead running back Henry Parrish Jr. has missed the last two games, but Dart is a capable runner as well, and Ole Miss also had Matt Jones and Ulysses Bentley IV. Dart’s favorite target is one of college football’s best receivers, Tre Harris, who has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in just eight games this year. Harris, too, has battled injuries, and his only catch in the Florida game went for a 43-yard touchdown.
The pass rush numbers for the Rebels’ defense jump straight off the page. Suntarine Perkins and Princely Umanmielen each have 10-plus sacks, and players like Chris Paul Jr., Walter Nolen, Jared Ivey and JJ Pegues have also lived in opposing offensive backfields. The secondary is equally strong — Trey Amos and John Saunders Jr. each have three interceptions, and Amos and Jadon Canady lead the SEC in pass breakups with 12 and 11, respectively.
“I don’t think there’s a question that they’re the most talented roster we will have played all season long,” Lebby said. “It’s on the tape. You know exactly what it is from a personnel standpoint. We have to find ways to finish in a great body position. We have to strain and fight like heck to create air in the run game, and then we have to be able to give (Michael Van Buren) just enough time.”
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