Week 4 Preview: Florida Gators (3-0, 1-0) v. Ole Miss Rebels (3-0, 1-0)
Updated: 10 hours ago
The Swamp is set for a shootout between one of the nation’s best teams and the upstart Gators.
By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst and Host of The Gator Lowdown with Loren Meadows
The Florida defense will have its hands full with Ole Miss on Saturday (Chris Spears photo)
Florida is set to welcome the Ole Miss Rebels in a high stakes matchup between two of the nation’s best skill players in quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Jadan Baugh. While both players have no issue running head on into the smoke, this game is an opportunity for both programs to judge themselves on their ability to come up big and get back to it again. A month ago this game was a simple blip on the screen between a trip to The Plains and Kiffin back to the Grove. Now season long implications lay at the doorstep of two programs literally tied together in history and a number of team and individual goals at stake.
Sumrall's message after Auburn: no bad wins. 🐊
Ole Miss Offense
Key Players: #6 QB Trinidad Chambliss (6-0, 210, 5th Yr.), #5 RB Kewan Lacy (5-11, 220, Jr.), #1 WR Deuce Alexander (6-0, 180, Sr.), #0 WR Johntay Cooke (5-11, 185 Sr./Syracuse), #11 WR Horatio Fields (6-2, 205, 5thYr./Auburn), #3 WR Caleb Cunningham (6-1, 215, So.) #4 TE Caleb Odom (6-5, 245, Jr.), #9 TE Luke Hasz (6-2, 240, Sr.) #75 OL Patrick Kutas (6-6, 315, 5th Yr.)
Matchups To Watch: Trinidad Chambliss v. Florida Secondary, Ole Miss Offensive Line v. Florida Defensive Line
Everyone knows the order of the day. Make life tough for arguably the best player in college football. The story of Trinidad Chambliss from GLIAC start to SEC celebrity has been more than chronicled and looks like it is headed for a storybook ending in New York City. The play of Chambliss and the connection he has with his top pass catchers are what have propelled Ole Miss to the top of the SEC hierarchy. The Ole Miss receivers have experience and speed that would give the Gator relay teams a run for their money. For a defense that has been inconsistent this season a matchup with the likes of Deuce Alexander, Horatio Fields, Johntay Cooke, and tight ends Luke Hasz and Caleb Odom will more than keep Brad White’s guys up at night.
Ole Miss also has a running game that features the best back south of the Mason-Dixon not named Jadan Baugh in Kewan Lacy and if healthy he has breakaway speed and can be equally as effective in the passing game. Lacy is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game and if he cannot go then Ole Miss will look to LSU transfer JT Lindsey who played well in relief of Lacy against his former team last week.
Florida will be up against arguably the best offense it will see all year and certainly the best quarterback. Chambliss has played in big games since 2024 and is no stranger to the postseason or what is necessary to get there. Florida will be dialed in to make life hard and continue the havoc they created at Auburn on the way to seven sacks. Florida is 5th in the SEC in sacks and 2nd in takeaways while holding opponents to less than 100 yards rushing per game. While Ole Miss can throw it all over a one-dimensional offense still allows the Gators to turn it loose when they are in control at the line of scrimmage.
Ole Miss Defense
Key Players: #52 DT Will Echoles (6-3, 315, Jr.), #4 LB Suntarine Perkins (6-1, 220, Sr.), #5 DE Kam Franklin (6-5, 300, Jr.), #49 LB Tah’J Butler (6-1, 235, Jr./Georgia Tech), #11 LB Keaton Thomas (6-1, 235, Jr./Baylor), #12 LB Luke Ferreli (6-3, 230, Jr./Cal) #7 DB Sharif Denson (5-11, 195, Sr./Florida)
Matchups To Watch: Florida Offensive Line v. Echoles, Florida Receivers v. Ole Miss Secondary
Florida will need to lean on an Ole Miss defense that, while talented, has underperformed early, yielding close to 159 rushing yards per game which is last in the SEC. While Echoles and Perkins are one on one matchup nightmares, the play of the front seven lends many to think that Jadan Baugh could continue his early season tear. If Florida can establish the run on a consistent basis there should be yards to be had. That is not to say that Ole Miss doesn’t have some dudes. Transfers Tah’j Butler and Keaton Thomas are the top three tacklers for Ole Miss with Keaton third behind Echoles, and Franklin in tackles for loss. Many believe Echoles is the best defensive lineman in the country and the trio of linebackers provide ample support at the second level.
A familiar face will return to the Ole Miss secondary after a two week absence. Sharif Denson who began his career at Florida had a seven tackle performance in his Ole Miss debut and will return to a secondary that has improved over the last two contests. Florida quarterback Aaron Philo has been nearly flawless in his command of the offense and if Eric Singleton can go on Saturday, it gives Florida one more weapon for offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to scheme around. Ole Miss has been susceptible to explosive plays at times so look for Philo to grab a couple of quick strikes if the opportunity presents itself.
The Skinny: This one has had me thinking ever since Florida opened as a 2.5-point favorite over a team that sits 17 spots ahead of them in the polls. I have learned over the years that it is dangerous to bet against Vegas and it takes a lot of money to keep the lights on in Clark County so someone knows something. From an X and O’s standpoint Jon Sumrall will have his team ready for what will be the most electric game of his tenure at Florida. Offensively the Gators have been great and defensively have been good enough with a few head scratching moments mixed in. Ole Miss was a play away from playing for a national title last season and the man that makes it all go has championship pedigree and is playing the best ball of his career. This is a game where Florida could play its best ball and it may still fall short of the mark. If you put the rosters side by side, you might think Florida should be favored by close to seven. Unfortunately games are played for a reason and while Florida is improved, I believe Ole Miss to be the more seasoned, capable program right now. Florida will show up and play hard, but I believe the day will belong to Ole Miss, which would put itself in the driver’s seat for its first trip to Atlanta. While there are no moral victories, the final score may show that this is not the Florida of the last four years but it will also note that Chambliss is the best player in the country. Ole Miss will feast on an underachieving Florida secondary and despite a great offensive effort Ole Miss leaves the Swamp victorious.
Prediction: Ole Miss 38 Florida 35
This is why they play the games!
Ole Miss has the incomparable QB star byt a defense with a propensity for missed tackles and inconsistent coverage. That spells lots of scoring by both offenses, each blessed with an outstanding coordinator. However, the Ole Miss defensive front is likely shredded by our bruising Jadan Baugh and his fast back-up Duke Clark. I think our defense bottles up the Rebels’ ground atrack, rendering Chambliss one-dimensional. Aaron Philo will find plenty of open receivers. And our deafening Swamp Magic proves a difference-maker. Florida 38, Ole Miss 31.
Loren, how could you! 🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊