OXFORD − Ole Miss football is fresh off an open week and is set to face Oklahoma for the second time in program history.
The No. 18 Rebels (5-2, 1-2 SEC) will play the Sooners (4-3, 1-3) on Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN). Lane Kiffin’s Rebels are heavy favorites over the Sooners, who have lost two straight SEC games.
Tight end Caden Prieskorn slipped free for a pitch-and-catch combination with quarterback Jaxson Dart. It was enough to retake the lead. Ole Miss kicker Caden Davis’ missed extra point was no good.
The Sooners will get the ball to start the second half.
Jackson Arnold made a terrific play to give Oklahoma the lead heading into halftime. Arnold avoided rushers in a collapsing pocket and found Jacob Jordan in the corner of the endzone for a last-second touchdown pass. It’s OU’s first lead.
Facing a fourth-and-1 from the OU five, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin dialed up an intricate play. It didn’t work. With defensive lineman JJ Pegues in the backfield, quarterback Jaxson Dart faked a handoff to him and gave it to receiver Juice Wells on an end-around. Wells was stopped for a three-yard loss.
The Rebels got the ball back after a chaotic sequence. Immediately after a two-fumble play, Ole Miss defensive end Jared Ivey sacked OU quarterback Jackson Arnold for 11 yards while ripping the ball out. Sooners take over at the OU 37.
Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul made a nice play that turned into a poor one. Paul scooped up a Taylor Tatum fumble but had the ball raked out of his hands on his short return. OU retook possession at the OU 48-yard line.
Ole Miss narrowly avoided giving OU a huge break. Oklahoma punted to Ole Miss returner Micah Davis, who was looking into the sun. Davis went on the run to catch the punt and missed it as a ran to his left. Cornerback Chris Graves recovered the ball at the Ole Miss 15-yard line.
An animal generated something both Ole Miss and OU fans could cheer for. During a timeout, a squirrel fan on the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
OU took advantage of penalties to tie the game. The Rebels have racked up three penalties for 45 yards. All three have been 15-yard personal fouls.
Oklahoma’s promising first drive came up short. OU coach Brent Venables opted for a bold move by attempting a fourth-and-1 conversion from Ole Miss’ 2-yard line. Quarterback Jackson Arnold faked a draw play and threw a slant for Brenen Thompson. Jadon Canady broke it up.
If Ole Miss’ offense keeps it up, this game will quickly be out of reach. Rebels’ quarterback Jaxson Dart led a six-play, 75-yard drive on the first possession of the game. Running back Henry Parrish, who started, eluded a couple Sooners and pushed his pile of tacklers in the endzone for a nine-yard score.
No surprise on the status of the nation’s leading receiver. Harris was listed as questionable all week and was listed as a game-time decision 90 minutes before kick.
Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Bob Wischusen and Louis Riddick will call the game from the booth at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, with Kris Budden reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Ole Miss 24, Oklahoma 10: Ole Miss hosts a floundering opponent in need of answers. They will be tough to find in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Rebels’ defense, led by linebacker Chris Paul and a ferocious defensive front, should hold Oklahoma’s offense at bay.
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Thursday:
Ole Miss football injury report: Who’s in, out vs. Oklahoma
AccuWeather projects the weather to be 70 degrees and sunny at kickoff.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
Launching all New Sports News Portal. Advert
