Oct 18, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) passes in opposition to the Georgia Bulldogs in the course of the first half of the sport at Sanford Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Dale Zanine-Imagn Photos Considered one of school soccer’s high offensive minds meets one in all its high defensive strategists when No. 8 Ole Miss takes on Thirteenth-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Head coach Lane Kiffin has his Rebels (6-1, 3-1 Southeastern Convention) ranked No. 8 in whole offense within the nation.
“They have some guys who they like to simply throw the ball up high to,” Sooners defensive again Reggie Powers III stated. “So we have to be detailed in our approach and to ensure our eyes are in the fitting spot as a result of they do quite a lot of issues and motions and stuff like that to try to get us to look some place else, so we have simply received to ensure we’re locked in on our keys after which we’ll be good.”
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has thrown for 1,549 yards and eight touchdowns with only one interception.
The Rebels have allowed simply seven sacks this season, tied for fifteenth nationally within the class.
“They’ve completed an amazing job of preserving the quarterback upright and preserving him clear,” Sooners coach Brent Venables stated.
The protection for Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1), with Venables calling the performs, has been dominant this season, coming into the sport main the nation in whole protection (213 yards allowed per recreation) and sacks per recreation (4.0).
“It is phenomenal prep — a movie research of indicators,” Kiffin stated of Venables’ protection. “They do an amazing job of that. For those who research folks very well, you will have sufficient confidence as a coach to go after these. … They have a very good bead on the performs which are coming after they’re known as and so they do an amazing job of going and taking these away.”
Kiffin praised the Sooners’ attacking mindset defensively, even when Oklahoma is forward.
“He simply by no means lets up,” Kiffin stated of Venables. “That is not essentially at all times how defensive coaches name it (however) perhaps just a little extra some offensive coaches try this.
“I believe he is taking that mindset and actually knocks folks out.”
The Sooners additionally lead the nation with 10.7 tackles for loss per recreation.
Ole Miss is averaging greater than 300 yards via the air per recreation, whereas Oklahoma hasn’t allowed greater than 220 in a recreation this season.
The Rebels are additionally coping with rumors connecting Kiffin to the now-open job at Florida after Billy Napier was fired over the weekend.
“That is nothing that I can management personally, so it is like, ‘I am the place my ft is,'” offensive deal with Jayden Williams stated. “You simply let all them speak about that. On the finish of the day, he is nonetheless within the constructing. He is nonetheless the coach.”
Each groups come into the sport with one loss.
Oklahoma fell to Texas, 23-6, on Oct. 11 earlier than bouncing again with a 26-7 win at South Carolina final week.
Ole Miss is coming off a 43-35 loss at Georgia final week.
For the Sooners, Saturday’s recreation is the primary of 5 straight in opposition to groups at present ranked within the high 25.
The sport would be the Rebels’ first ever at Oklahoma. Mississippi has gained the 2 earlier conferences between the applications, together with final season’s 26-14 win in Oxford.
–Subject Degree Media
