Ole Miss is 3-1 and, for the first time all month, off. The bye week lands right after three ranked opponents in 21 days and a 52-28 loss at Florida — and honestly, it could not have come at a better time. Two weeks to fix a leaky run defense, get tired legs back, and hand young players real developmental reps before the schedule turns brutal, with Vanderbilt, Missouri, Georgia, Texas and the Egg Bowl all still out there. Here’s where the Rebels stand, football first. Hotty Toddy.
On the Latest Locked On Ole Miss
On today’s bye-week show, I made the case that Saturday wasn’t an exposure — it was an empty gas tank. Three ranked games in 21 days, two decided by a score, the third on the road, caught up to a defense that was on the field nearly 37 minutes. “That’s not a talent problem. That’s a gas tank problem. And the calendar built it.” The thing I’m angriest about is special teams: Florida averaged 37.8 yards per kickoff return to our 17.0, flipping the field every single time we cut the lead back to one score. And it’s time to accept what this offense actually is — a pass-to-run team throwing it 57% of the time, and winning that way. The bye isn’t a break. It’s a developmental window this team needs more than it needs a Saturday.
Ole Miss embarrassed at Florida, and the bye week is full of questions
Sat., Sept. 26 · last 48 hours.
Florida ran it 53 times for 302 yards and hung 52 points on the Rebels in Gainesville, dropping Ole Miss to 3-1 (1-1 SEC) in its first true road test of the season. The Gators pulled away late as a tired defense wore down. The two-week break arrives at exactly the right time. (On3)
Run defense defines the blowout loss at Florida
Sun., Sept. 27 · last 24 hours.
Florida piled up 302 rushing yards and six scores at 5.7 a carry, with Jadan Baugh going for 142 and three touchdowns and backup Duke Clark adding 126 on just 12 totes. Ole Miss came in allowing an SEC-worst 159 rushing yards a game. The open date can’t come soon enough. (Sports Illustrated)
Ole Miss tumbles to No. 9 in the AP Top 25
Sun., Sept. 27 · last 24 hours.
The Rebels fell five spots, from No. 4 to No. 9, in the new AP Top 25 after the 52-28 defeat, while Florida jumped to No. 8. Ole Miss stays ranked and in the playoff conversation, but the loss cost real ground with a demanding stretch of the schedule still ahead. (Sports Illustrated)
Golding after an “old-fashioned butt whooping”
Sun., Sept. 27 · last 24 hours.
Pete Golding didn’t spin it, calling the game “an old-fashioned butt whooping.” He wants the frustration to stick — “that burning in your gut to go fix something” — and pointed to sharper preparation across all three phases. The bye is his window to demand it before the schedule turns nasty. (Sports Illustrated)
Fresh off the Field: the official numbers from Gainesville
Sun., Sept. 27 · last 24 hours.
Trinidad Chambliss went 25-of-34 for 298 yards and reached 100 career total touchdowns; Deuce Alexander hauled in seven catches for 134 yards, his second 100-yard day of the year. Linebacker Keaton Thomas led the defense with 11 tackles. The passing game held up. Everything around it did not. (Ole Miss Athletics)
What’s good and what’s bad for Ole Miss at the bye
Sun., Sept. 27 · last 24 hours.
The good: Chambliss is still playing like a star and the résumé is rebuildable. The bad: without Kewan Lacy the backs managed just 73 yards on 19 carries, and the run defense is leaking. With Texas and Georgia still on the slate, the margin for another slip is thin. (Yahoo Sports)
Men’s basketball finalizes the 2026-27 schedule
Tue., Sept. 22.
Chris Beard’s group locked in its slate: exhibitions against Alabama (Oct. 15) and UAB (Oct. 27), a Maui Invitational trip (Nov. 23-25) with Clemson on the docket, and a Virginia Tech date in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Dec. 1. Seven home games headline the non-conference build. (Ole Miss Athletics)
Volleyball sweeps Alabama in the SEC opener
Sun., Sept. 27 · last 24 hours.
The Rebels opened league play with a 3-0 sweep in Tuscaloosa (25-17, 25-19, 25-23), holding Alabama to a negative hitting percentage — their first time doing that to an SEC opponent since 2017. Melia Johnson paced the attack with 13 kills as Ole Miss moved to 7-5, 1-0 in the SEC. (Ole Miss Athletics)
Soccer falls at home to No. 3 Vanderbilt
Thu., Sept. 24.
Ole Miss dropped a 4-0 decision to third-ranked Vanderbilt at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, out-shot 16-7 on the night. Goalkeeper Taylor Prigge made three saves. The Rebels slipped to 0-3 in SEC play and will look to regroup as the conference schedule rolls on. (Ole Miss Athletics)
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