2023 Ole Miss Rebels football team explained
The 2023 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Rebels were led by Lane Kiffin in his fourth season as their head coach.[1]
The Ole Miss football team played their home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. This was the final year for the SEC West and East divisions, as the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma joined the SEC from the Big 12 in 2024, and the SEC's divisional format was done away with, making the SEC Conference a 16-team battle in 2024.[2]
The Rebels were predicted to finish 4th in the SEC West behind Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M. They started out 3-0 with a win over #23 Tulane on the road, but suffered their first loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide by a score of 24-10. They rebounded by defeating their arch-rival #13 LSU 55-49 in front of 66,703 (the largest crowd to ever watch a football game in the state of Mississippi).
The Rebels eventually won every subsequent game in the month of October and reached an 8-1 record and a #9 ranking in the first College Football Playoff rankings. This led to a Top 10 showdown with #2 Georgia, the two-time defending national champion, in Athens. ESPN's College GameDay broadcast their show on the University of Georgia's campus. The Rebels would lose 52-17; this would be the 2nd and final loss of the season for the team.
Wins over ULM and arch-rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl allowed the Rebels to claim another 10-win regular season, just the second in their history after the 2021 season. While it looked as though the Rebels would unfortunately get left out of a New Year's Six bowl and would be sent to the Citrus Bowl, they did receive a New Year's Six bowl berth after Alabama was selected to be in the College Football Playoff over Florida State (which sent the undefeated Seminoles to the Orange Bowl and thus opened up a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl for Ole Miss). The Rebels would be selected to play Penn State in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl. Despite being 5.5 point underdogs, Ole Miss won 38-25 in front of 71,230 fans from both teams, which was the 2nd-largest attendance of any bowl in the 2023 season following the Rose Bowl (96,371).
Following their win in the Peach Bowl against Penn State, the Rebels achieved their first 11-win season in program history.[3] It was also the first time in 52 years that the Rebels finished a season with two-or-fewer losses.[4]
Offseason
NFL Draft
See main article: 2023 NFL draft.
Four Rebels were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Transfers
Outgoing
Incoming
[5] [6]
Preseason
SEC Media Poll
The 2023 SEC media poll was released on July 21, 2023. The Rebels were predicted to finish fourth in the Western Division.
Media poll (Western) |
1 | Alabama | 1,899 (165) |
2 | LSU | 1,838 (117) |
3 | Texas A&M | 1,144 (1) |
4 | Ole Miss | 1,128 |
5 | Arkansas | 958 (3) |
6 | Auburn | 685 (4) |
7 | Mississippi State | 496 (1) | |
Media poll (SEC Championship) |
1 | Georgia | 181 |
2 | Alabama | 62 |
3 | LSU | 31 |
4 | Tennessee | 5 |
Vanderbilt | 5 |
5 | Arkansas | 2 |
Auburn | 2 |
6 | Texas A&M | 1 |
Mississippi State | 1 |
South Carolina | 1 | |
Schedule
Ole Miss and the SEC announced the 2023 football schedule on September 20, 2022.[7] [8] The 2023 Rebels' schedule consisted of 7 home games and 5 away games for the regular season. Ole Miss hosted four SEC conference opponents Arkansas (rivalry), LSU (Magnolia Bowl), Texas A&M and Vanderbilt (rivalry) at home and traveled to four SEC opponents, Alabama (rivalry), Auburn (rivalry), Georgia and Mississippi State (Egg Bowl) to close out the SEC regular season on the road. Ole Miss was not scheduled to play SEC East opponents Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee in the 2023 regular season. The Rebel's bye week came during week 7 (on October 14, 2023).
Ole Miss's out of conference opponents represented the American, ACC, SoCon and the Sun Belt conferences. The Rebels hosted three non–conference games which were against Georgia Tech from the ACC, Louisiana–Monroe from the Sun Belt and Mercer from the SoCon (FCS) and traveled to rival Tulane from the American.
[9]
‡New Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Attendance Record
Game summaries
No. 20 (FCS) Mercer
See also: 2023 Mercer Bears football team.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Mercer | Ole Miss |
---|
First downs | 15 | 32 |
Total yards | 235 | 667 |
Passing yards | 142 | 524 |
Rushes/yards | 37/93 | 33/143 |
Penalties/yards | 7/50 | 7/65 |
Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
Time of possession | 35:10 | 24:50 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Mercer | Passing | Carter Peevy | 16/29, 138 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Carter Peevy | 7 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Devron Harper | 4 receptions, 47 yards |
Ole Miss | Passing | | 18/23, 334 yards, 4 TD |
Rushing | | 13 carries, 60 yards, 2 TD |
Receiving | | 6 receptions, 133 yards, 4 TD | |
At No. 24 Tulane
See also: 2023 Tulane Green Wave football team and Ole Miss–Tulane football rivalry.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Ole Miss | Tulane |
---|
First downs | 18 | 19 |
Total yards | 363 | 342 |
Passing yards | 274 | 231 |
Rushes/yards | 35/89 | 45/111 |
Penalties/yards | 5/51 | 2/10 |
Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
Time of possession | 25:15 | 34:45 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 17/27, 267 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Quinshon Judkins | 18 carries, 48 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | | 7 receptions, 106 yards |
Tulane | Passing | Kai Horton | 15/37, 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | | 23 carries, 92 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Lawrence Keys III | 5 receptions, 94 yards | |
Georgia Tech
See also: 2023 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Georgia Tech | Ole Miss |
---|
First downs | 26 | 19 |
Total yards | 474 | 550 |
Passing yards | 307 | 251 |
Rushes/yards | 47/167 | 37/299 |
Penalties/yards | 0/0 | 5/40 |
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Time of possession | 39:17 | 20:43 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Georgia Tech | Passing | | 28/41, 307 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | | 19 carries, 72 yards |
Receiving | | 5 receptions, 97 yards, 1 TD |
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 10/18, 251 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Jaxson Dart | 14 carries, 136 yards, 2 TD |
Receiving | Jordan Watkins | 4 receptions, 119 yards, 1 TD | |
At No. 13 Alabama
See also: 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Alabama–Ole Miss football rivalry.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Ole Miss | Alabama |
---|
First downs | 17 | 20 |
Total yards | 301 | 356 |
Passing yards | 245 | 225 |
Rushes/yards | 29/56 | 45/131 |
Penalties/yards | 8/69 | 6/60 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 25:37 | 34:23 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 20/35, 244 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Quinshon Judkins | 13 carries, 56 yards |
Receiving | Dayton Wade | 5 receptions, 88 yards |
Alabama | Passing | Jalen Milroe | 17/21, 225 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Jase McClellan | 17 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Jalen Hale | 2 receptions, 63 yards, 1 TD | |
No. 13 LSU
See also: 2023 LSU Tigers football team and Magnolia Bowl.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
*New Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Attendance Record
Statistics | LSU | Ole Miss |
---|
First downs | 33 | 32 |
Total yards | 637 |
|
Passing yards | 414 | 389 |
Rushes/yards | 37/223 | 49/317 |
Penalties/yards | 6/35 | 11/121 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 29:17 | 30:43 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
LSU | Passing | | 27/36, 414 yards, 4 TD |
Rushing | | 19 carries, 101 yards, 2 TD |
Receiving | | 8 receptions, 124 yards, 3 TD |
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 26/39, 389 yards, 4 TD |
Rushing | Quinshon Judkins | 33 carries, 177 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Tre Harris | 8 receptions, 153 yards, 1 TD | |
*The most total yards any LSU football team has allowed in a single game.
Arkansas
See also: 2023 Arkansas Razorbacks football team and Arkansas–Ole Miss football rivalry.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Arkansas | Ole Miss |
---|
First downs | 17 | 21 |
Total yards | 286 | 349 |
Passing yards | 250 | 153 |
Rushes/yards | 29/36 | 45/196 |
Penalties/yards | 10/70 | 5/44 |
Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
Time of possession | 32:32 | 27:28 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Arkansas | Passing | | 25/39, 250 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | | 8 carries, 15 yards |
Receiving | Ty Washington | 7 receptions, 90 yards, 2 TD |
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 16/25, 153 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Ulysses Bentley IV | 13 carries, 94 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Jordan Watkins | 7 receptions, 86 yards | |
At Auburn
See also: 2023 Auburn Tigers football team and Auburn–Ole Miss football rivalry.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Ole Miss | Auburn |
---|
First downs | 21 | 10 |
Total yards | 425 | 275 |
Passing yards | 202 | 122 |
Rushes/yards | 56/223 | 39/153 |
Penalties/yards | 10/66 | 7/66 |
Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
Time of possession | 34:05 | 25:55 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 10/17, 202 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Quinshon Judkins | 21 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Tre Harris | 4 receptions, 102 yards |
Auburn | Passing | | 9/13, 100 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | | 15 carries, 91 yards, 2 TD |
Receiving | Jarquez Hunter | 3 receptions, 54 yards | |
Vanderbilt
See also: 2023 Vanderbilt Commodores football team and Ole Miss–Vanderbilt football rivalry.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Vanderbilt | Ole Miss |
---|
First downs | 12 | 23 |
Total yards | 229 | 431 |
Passing yards | 60 | 254 |
Rushes/yards | 44/169 | 40/177 |
Penalties/yards | 4/32 | 6/46 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 32:59 | 27:01 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Vanderbilt | Passing | Walter Taylor | 4/12, 38 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Walter Taylor | 20 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Junior Sherrill | 2 receptions, 28 yards |
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 19/28, 240 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Quinshon Judkins | 17 carries, 124 yards, 2 TD |
Receiving | Dayton Wade | 8 receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD | |
Texas A&M
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Texas A&M | Ole Miss |
---|
First downs | 30 | 26 |
Total yards | 457 | 518 |
Passing yards | 305 | 387 |
Rushes/yards | 36/152 | 33/131 |
Penalties/yards | 9/73 | 8/61 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 35:37 | 24:23 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Texas A&M | Passing | | 31/42, 305 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Amari Daniels | 12 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Jahdae Walker | 8 receptions, 100 yards |
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 24/33, 387 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Quinshon Judkins | 23 carries, 102 yards, 3 TD |
Receiving | Tre Harris | 11 receptions, 213 yards, 1 TD | |
At No. 2 Georgia
See also: 2023 Georgia Bulldogs football team.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Ole Miss | Georgia |
---|
First downs | 18 | 25 |
Total yards | 352 | 611 |
Passing yards | 173 | 311 |
Rushes/yards | 45/179 | 35/300 |
Penalties/yards | 9/68 | 5/55 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Time of possession | 29:03 | 30:57 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 10/17, 112 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Quinshon Judkins | 22 carries, 75 yards, 2 TD |
Receiving | | 2 receptions, 48 yards |
Georgia | Passing | | 18/25, 306 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | | 9 carries, 127 yards, 2 TD |
Receiving | | 4 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD | |
Louisiana–Monroe
See also: 2023 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Louisiana–Monroe | Ole Miss |
---|
First downs | 19 | 27 |
Total yards | 258 | 498 |
Passing yards | 66 | 371 |
Rushes/yards | 46/192 | 37/127 |
Penalties/yards | 7/65 | 8/81 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 34:04 | 25:56 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | | 7/19, 56 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Hunter Smith | 17 carries, 74 yards |
Receiving | Tyrone Howell | 3 receptions, 34 yards |
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 24/31, 310 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Quinshon Judkins | 18 carries, 65 yards |
Receiving | Dayton Wade | 7 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD | |
At Mississippi State
See also: 2023 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team and Egg Bowl.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Ole Miss | Mississippi State |
---|
First downs | 22 | 16 |
Total yards | 307 | 303 |
Passing yards | 96 | 207 |
Rushes/yards | 49/211 | 28/96 |
Penalties/yards | 6/30 | 4/56 |
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Time of possession | 31:57 | 28:03 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 14/26, 96 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Quinshon Judkins | 28 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Caden Prieskorn | 4 receptions, 38 yards, 1 TD |
Mississippi State | Passing | | 25/39, 207 yards |
Rushing | | 12 carries, 39 yards |
Receiving | Zavion Thomas | 6 receptions, 88 yards | |
Vs. No. 10 Penn State
See also: 2023 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and 2023 Peach Bowl.
Uniform Combination |
Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
Statistics | Ole Miss | Penn State |
---|
First downs | 30 | 21 |
Total yards | 540 | 510 |
Passing yards | 394 | 343 |
Rushes/yards | 47/146 | 28/167 |
Penalties/yards | 5/26 | 6/50 |
Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
Time of possession | 33:38 | 26:22 | |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 25/40, 379 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Quinshon Judkins | 34 carries, 106 yards |
Receiving | Caden Prieskorn | 10 receptions, 136 yards, 2 TD |
Penn State | Passing | | 19/39, 295 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | | 10 carries, 51 yards |
Receiving | | 5 receptions, 127 yards | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Beat . One Man To . 2023-11-27 . Handing out Ole Miss football's postseason grade for 2023 . 2023-11-27 . Red Cup Rebellion . en.
- Web site: 2023-11-23 . Long division: West vs. East becomes one big fight in 2024 Arkansas Democrat Gazette . 2023-11-27 . www.arkansasonline.com . en.
- Web site: Ole Miss best seasons: Rebels clinch first 11-win season with Peach Bowl win vs. Penn State. Skiver. Kevin. Clarion Ledger. December 30, 2023. December 30, 2023.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_Ole_Miss_Rebels_football_team
- Web site: 2023 Ole Miss Football Transfer Portal . ON3 . en.
- Web site: Ole Miss Rebels 2023 College Football Transfer Portal . 247Sports . en.
- Web site: 2023 SEC football schedule by team.... CBSSports.com. Barrett. Sallee. February 14, 2023. September 20, 2022.
- Web site: Ole Miss football’s 2023 schedule is complete: See the full list of opponents, dates. Mississippi Clarion Ledger. Nick. Suss. February 14, 2023. September 20, 2022.
- Web site: 2023 Ole Miss Rebels Football Schedule. FB Schedules.com. February 14, 2023.