GAMEDAY PREVIEW: No. 10 Ole Miss vs. Memphis

Sept. 27, 2014

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TV Network: Fox Sports Net | Ole Miss Radio Network: (Sirius 126, XM 191)

Wednesday Blog: Memphis Not Fazed by Big Stage

Thursday Blog: Freeze Stresses Focus, Attention Ahead of Memphis

Saturday Blog: Three and Out: Keys to Ole Miss-Memphis

OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss is 3-0 for the second straight year, seeking its first 4-0 start since 1970, as the Rebels host the Memphis Tigers at 6:30 p.m. The matchup is a final tuneup for Ole Miss ahead of a five-game stretch where the Rebels play four top-20 teams starting with No. 2 Alabama on Oct. 4.

The game itself is part of a weekend celebrating the life and influence of former Ole Miss football player Chucky Mullins that also included the dedication of Chucky Mullins Drive and his posthumous induction into the M-Club Hall of Fame.

"I'm extremely impressed with the job that Justin (Fuente) has done (at Memphis) in a short amount of time," head coach Hugh Freeze said. "They've played with tremendous passion and physical football. He's upgraded the talent level significantly from the last time I had an experience with him when I was at Arkansas State. It's certainly going to be a game that we're going to have to play very, very well to win. It will be a good challenge for us. We need that at this point in the season."

The Rebels have risen to No. 10 in the Associated Press poll, its first time ranked in the top 10 since 2009 and just the second time 1970.

Senior quarterback Bo Wallace has paced the nation's 15th-best scoring offense (44.0 ppg), as he ranks among the nation's leaders in completion percentage, pass efficiency, passing offense and total offense.

"I want to be as consistent as I've been over the last couple of games," Wallace said. "I feel good. My arm strength is better than it's been in a really long time. I feel good. I'm just placing balls. I feel really accurate. I have to take it game by game."

The Ole Miss defense has been stingy, allowing just 10.3 points per game, which leads the SEC and ranks third nationally, and opportunistic, forcing nine turnovers, including eight interceptions, which is tied for the nation's lead.

"I've said from the beginning that I thought these guys are different and their mentality is different, that they want to do well," defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said. "They've worked extremely hard and they're not into letting things slip and move in the wrong direction. I think they're hungry to play this week. I'm proud of where we are right now, but I think it's important to get better each and every day you go out to practice and each and every game."

Memphis has started the season 2-1, its best start since 2004, with wins over Austin Peay (63-0) and Middle Tennessee (36-17) and a 42-35 loss at No. 11 UCLA. The Tigers rank 13th nationally in scoring offense (44.7 ppg), and it starts with sophomore quarterback Paxton Lynch who is averaging 255.3 passing yards per game.

Defensively, Memphis ranks top-15 nationally in tackles for loss and sacks, led by senior linebacker Tank Jakes, who leads the nation in tackles for loss and ranks eighth in sacks.

"The quarterback (Lynch) is playing really well," Freeze said. "Defensively they're very aggressive. They tackle extremely well. They get off the field on third down, which is a critical area that you have to be really good at, and they are. They've gone toe-to-toe with one of the nation's best at their place. If their quarterback keeps playing solid, their defense is good enough to keep them in every game. That's what they've done."

After a five-year break, Ole Miss and Memphis renew their rivalry, the first meeting as part of a four-year contract between the two schools. The city of Memphis has been important to Ole Miss because of its media market and recruiting area but it also carries importance for the team's 12 players from the greater Memphis area.

"I would have to say for the kids, in both programs, I don't know that it would feel like a rivalry," Freeze said. "I don't think that matters. Both teams will be emotional because of our proximity and fan bases and all of those things. I don't know that the kids are familiar enough with the history of it to consider it that way."

This marks the 60th meeting all-time between the Mid-South rivals, the Rebels' most frequent rivalry with any school not currently or formerly in the SEC. Ole Miss holds a 47-10-2 lead in the series and has won the last five meetings dating back to 2005, most recently in 2009.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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