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When the final whistle blows, the scoreboard doesn't always tell the full story. For No. 12 Ole Miss, the upcoming matchup against Auburn is less about the margin of victory and more about addressing the weaknesses that surfaced in their recent outing. The Rebels must demonstrate growth in areas that box scores often overlook.
Auburn enters the game with a split personality: two weeks ago, they stunned top-ranked Georgia on the road, 27-24, but last week they suffered a 38-10 home defeat to LSU. That inconsistency makes the Tigers a dangerous opponent—one capable of exploiting Ole Miss's vulnerabilities if the Rebels aren't careful.
Key Areas for Improvement
Against Texas, Ole Miss turned the ball over three times, with two interceptions from quarterback Trinidad Chambliss proving costly. One came on a fourth-down-and-goal play where a screen pass fell incomplete due to poor placement. The Rebels also struggled to run the ball, managing just 130 yards on 30 carries (3.8 yards per attempt), and the absence of injured running back Kewan Lacy exacerbated the issue. Defensively, Ole Miss allowed Texas quarterback Arch Manning to connect on long passes of 43 and 50 yards to wide receiver Ryan Wingo, the latter for a touchdown, highlighting tackling and consistency problems that head coach Pete Golding has publicly criticized.
These flaws must be rectified regardless of the final score against Auburn. In fact, the Rebels' chances of winning hinge on their ability to improve in these critical areas. A victory would be nice, but a clean, confident performance would give fans reason to believe the team can finish the season strong.
Looking Ahead
This game serves as a tune-up before Ole Miss hosts Georgia, and it's a must-win for the Rebels' College Football Playoff hopes. A 9-3 record could be enough, but it won't be easy. Golding expects his team to finish 5-0 from here on out. Despite injuries to key players like Lacy and cornerback Edwin Joseph, the Rebels have depth—particularly at running back—to weather the storm. They must return to championship-level football this Saturday, because the coming weeks will define their season. While some may fixate on the final score, the real measure of success will be how much Ole Miss improves in the areas that matter most.