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As Texas shifts its focus from Florida to Ole Miss, the Rebels arrive in Austin with a squad that demands attention. Head coach Pete Golding has quickly established himself as a rising name in the coaching ranks, and he brings a team brimming with NFL-caliber talent.
At the heart of Ole Miss's offense is quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, widely regarded as one of the nation's elite signal-callers. Chambliss took over the starting role last season and immediately made an impact, guiding the Rebels to a College Football Playoff Semifinal. Alongside him, running back Kewan Lacy is considered a top-five talent at his position, while wide receiver Deuce Alexander offers elite traits that defenses must account for.
The offensive line, though experienced, has had its share of struggles this season. However, the unit continues to improve and remains a veteran group. While this Ole Miss offense may not quite match last season's production, it still ranks among the best Texas will face all year. If the Longhorns cannot contain Chambliss and company, their offense will be forced to keep pace—something they have yet to accomplish this season.
Defensive Turnaround
On the defensive side, Ole Miss stumbled out of the gate, surrendering 38 points to Louisville, 24 to LSU (mostly in the fourth quarter), and 52 to Florida on the road. But over the past two weeks, the Rebels have allowed just 20 points total, including a mere 3 points to Missouri last week. Defensive tackle Will Echoles anchors a remarkably talented unit and is considered one of the best at his position nationally. The bye weeks appear to have provided the answers Ole Miss needed, and Texas's struggling offense will face a taller order than Florida or LSU did.
Overall Outlook
With Texas's playoff hopes on life support, this matchup is far from ideal. As good as the Longhorns' defense has been, holding Chambliss and the Rebels in check for an entire game seems unlikely. The Texas offense will need to trade punches throughout the contest if the Longhorns are to snap their skid—a feat they have not managed this season. Still, a win here could provide a profound confidence boost. Ole Miss is one of just four SEC teams with one loss (no team is undefeated), so a victory, especially with the offense clicking, might jolt this Texas team to life. The challenge is daunting, but a win could mark a turning point for the Longhorns.
Originally reported by yahoo.