Ole Miss wide receiver Jonathan Mingo walks off the field after Ole Miss's loss to Texas Tech in the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss wide receiver Jonathan Mingo walks off the field after Ole Miss’s loss to Texas Tech in the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Another season is in the books for Ole Miss football, albeit not the way the Rebels would have wanted it to end.
The Rebels dropped five out of their last six games on the year, culminating with an 8-5 record for the once No. 7 team in the country. Even with Lane Kiffin’s contract situation handled for him to stay in Oxford, it still seemed as if the Rebels weren’t able to focus on their opposition.
To preface this matchup, both teams honored the late Mike Leach, head coach at Mississippi State the past three seasons and formerly the head coach of the Red Raiders from 2000-2009.
The Rebels donned helmet stickers that spelled out “Mike” with a cowbell that included a pirate sticker replacing the “I”, and the Red Raiders responded with a pirate helmet sticker of their own.
Additionally, the Red Raider offense lined up in Leach’s patented Air Raid formation.
As for the game itself, it looked very similar to the last quarter of the Rebels’ season.
The Red Raiders brought immense pressure to quarterback Jaxson Dart and prevented the Rebels’ offensive line from creating any push up front.
Tech intercepted Dart three times and twice in the first half, while the Rebels’ powerful ground game struggled to generate much in the first half before returning to their normal in the second half. In fact, the Rebels had 588 yards of total offense at the final whistle, out gaining Tech by 74 yards.
Defensively, the Rebels weren’t all that bad in the first half.
Taking into consideration that for a large portion of the first half, Texas Tech’s average starting field position was at midfield intoOle Miss territory.
One play in particular that stood out to me was soon-to-be transfer portal player Miles Battle, a receiver turned defensive back, hustled down Red Raider running back Cameron Valdez to knock the ball out the back of the endzone just before Valdez scored.
Not one player opted out of the game however “meaningless” some people would deem it to be, something that is very hard to do when there are multiple NFL-caliber talents on a team.
While the loss, and pretty much the entire back end of the season, leaves much to be desired for Ole Miss, it is important to remember many predicted the Rebels to be 6-6 and fighting just to get in a bowl this year.
Yes, there was a bit of a fall-off after the Alabama game in terms of quality in whatever aspect one would look at, this team proved many people wrong. And with Dart and Quinshon Judkins returning for sure next year along with incoming players from high school and the portal, Kiffin will have a hell of a squad in 2023.
Ole Miss running back Quinson Judkins, followed by wide receiver Jalen Knox, runs onto the field at NRG Stadium before kickoff at the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Two fans watch as the Ole Miss football team arrives at NRG Stadium prior to the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
The Ole Miss football team arrives at NRG Stadium prior to the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
A fan cheers and waves a pompom as the Ole Miss football team arrives at NRG Stadium prior to the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
The Ole Miss football team added stickers honoring Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss tight end Jonathan Hess points toward cheering Ole Miss fans prior to kickoff at the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
A member of the Ole Miss band cheers during the band’s pre-game show at the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin runs onto the field at NRG Stadium before kickoff at the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
A tortilla thrown by a Texas Tech fan is retrieved from one of the endzones during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
An Ole Miss fan dances during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss running back Zach Evens cross the goal line for Ole Miss’s first touchdown of the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss running back Zach Evans celebrates after a touchdown catch by wide receiver Jordan Watkins during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Texas Tech defensive back Adrian Frye goes up against Ole Miss offensive lineman Micah Pettus during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
An Ole Miss fan cheers during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
An Ole Miss fan participates in an on-field competition against a Texas Tech fan during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
The Ole Miss defense celebrates after a stop by defensive tackle KD Hill during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart rushes for a first down during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss tight end Jonathan Hess looks up at the scoreboard during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins rushes up the middle during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
An Ole Miss fan looks on anxiously during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
The Ole Miss defensive line stops a run by Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss wide receiver Jordan Watkins catches a pass for a touchdown during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss safety Ladarius Tennison tackles Texas Tech punt returner Myles Price during during the 3rd quarter of the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. A targeting penalty was called on Tennison after the play. Photo by HG Biggs.
Two Ole Miss fans express their frustration after the targeting penalty called on Ladarius Tennison during the 3rd quarter of the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
An Ole Miss fan holds up a dollar bill and gestures toward the referee after the targeting penalty called on Ladarius Tennison during the 3rd quarter of the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Referee Stuart Mullins uses the instant replay screen to review a penalty call during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss football head coach Lane Kiffin confronts an official during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss safety Tysheem Young and cornerback Miles Battle celebrate after a defensive play by Battle during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is helped off the field after flipping into the endzone for a touchdown during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss backup quarterback Luke Altmyer drops back to throw a pass for a two point attempt after a touchdown during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss football head coach Lane Kiffin confronts two officials during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss wide receiver Dayton Wade fumbles the ball near the goal line in the fourth quarter of the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. The fumble was recovered by Texas Tech. Photo by HG Biggs.
Texas Tech defensive back Tyler Owens intercepts a pass by Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart intended for wide receiver Jonathan Mingo during the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss Manager of Athletics Photography Josh McCoy contemplates the events of the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss wide receiver Jonathan Mingo walks off the field after Ole Miss’s loss to Texas Tech in the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin leaves the field at NRG Stadium after Ole Miss fell 42-25 to Texas Tech in the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart leaves the field at NRG Stadium after Ole Miss fell 42-25 to Texas Tech in the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart walks off the field after Ole Miss’s loss to Texas Tech in the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo by HG Biggs.
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Ian Sparks
