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The No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels are set to visit Austin, Texas, on Saturday night to face the No. 19 Texas Longhorns in a ranked conference clash that carries significant College Football Playoff weight. The Rebels enter the game riding a two-game winning streak after defeating Vanderbilt and No. 22 Missouri. Meanwhile, the Longhorns are aiming to halt a two-game skid following losses to Oklahoma and No. 20 Florida.
Texas will be shorthanded, missing key contributors in edge rusher Colin Simmons and running back Hollywood Smothers. Additionally, the team may be considering a change at quarterback, as backup KJ Lacey Jr. has reportedly taken more first-team reps than usual ahead of Arch Manning during practice this week.
ESPN's College GameDay, broadcasting from Salt Lake City, Utah, for the No. 10 Utah vs. No. 14 Houston matchup, still dedicated a segment to the Ole Miss-Texas contest. Analysts Desmond Howard, Rece Davis, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit, and guest picker Dalton Kincaid offered their predictions.
Key Analysis
Desmond Howard, the Michigan alumnus and former Heisman Trophy winner, sided with Ole Miss, citing Texas' defensive vulnerability without Colin Simmons. "Defensively, without Colin Simmons, I don't see how they can stop Trinidad Chambliss. I'm going with Ole Miss," Howard stated. Nick Saban, on the other hand, backed Texas, noting that both head coaches previously served on his Alabama staff. "Texas, with their back against the wall, they're going to respond the right way. I'm going with Texas," Saban said. Pat McAfee called the game a coin flip but ultimately chose Ole Miss, expressing confidence in quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. "I'm gonna go with Trinidad Chambliss getting a huge win down in Austin," McAfee remarked. Dalton Kincaid, a former Utah Ute and current Buffalo Bills tight end, also picked Ole Miss, praising Chambliss as one of college football's best quarterbacks. "I think Trinidad Chambliss is one of the, if not the best, quarterbacks in college football, so I believe they go in there and take down Texas," Kincaid said. With three of four pickers favoring Ole Miss, the teams will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT to determine if the analysts' predictions hold true.