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The University of Mississippi Athletics
GAMEDAY PREVIEW: No. 22 Ole Miss vs. No. 15 LSU
11/21/2015 | Football
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OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss and LSU meet for the second consecutive year as ranked opponents today (2:30 p.m. CT, CBS) in one of college football's most prestigious rivalry games.
The No. 22 Ole Miss Rebels (7-3, 4-2 SEC) come off a bye week and look to rebound after their heart-breaking overtime loss to Arkansas. Ole Miss dropped last year's game at LSU 10-7 on a late fourth-quarter touchdown. Rebel head coach Hugh Freeze understands the emotions and implications of this game, and looks for his players to use that to their advantage.
"I think most of them handle it the right way," said Freeze. "It's a build-up to it, and then you have to handle those emotions as the game starts. All those go away in the first few minutes. You do want them to understand the history and importance of games like this that you play in. It is one of the reasons why you come here, to play in these next two contests. We'll take the approach of embracing, getting them educated and building up the emotion to it."
The Rebels will go toe-to-toe against a physical LSU team. The No. 15 Tigers (7-2, 4-2 SEC) dropped their last two games, both against SEC foes Alabama and Arkansas. Arkansas, Ole Miss and LSU are tied for second in the SEC West with 4-2 records. Alabama leads with a 5-1 mark.
"On any given Saturday, anyone's depth chart in this conference on this side (SEC West) for sure is good enough if you have the right game plan, get some momentum and get a break your way," said Freeze. "The talent is good enough on every team to beat you. I think it has proven out to be that way, and I don't think it is going to change anytime soon."
The Landshark defense will look to stop an LSU offense that averages 253 yards per game on the ground. They are led by sophomore running back Leonard Fournette, who leads the nation with 163.8 rushing yards per game and is third in the country with 17 touchdown runs. The Bayou Bengal signal caller Brandon Harris brings balance to his offense with the passing game. He will look for his wide receivers Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural.
"I think (Harris) is solid," said Freeze. "He throws the deep ball extremely well. He has tremendously athletic receivers to throw it to. It presents a challenge to manage stopping the running game and not giving up the explosive plays that he has the capabilities of making. He's athletic too. He can run. We recruited him hard. We were impressed with him then, and we continue to be."
The high-powered Ole Miss offense will match up against an LSU defense that allowed 300 yards rushing to Arkansas last week. All-American Laremy Tunsil and the offensive line will look to provide protection for quarterback Chad Kelly, who leads the SEC in passing, total offense, passing touchdowns, points responsible for and completion percentage. Kelly holds the Ole Miss single-season record with seven 300-yard passing games. He will look toward Biletnikoff Award semifinalist Laquon Treadwell (VOTE HERE), who tops the SEC in receiving yards and catches. Treadwell is close to breaking Ole Miss single-season records, needing only 10 catches and 134 receiving yards to set the mark in each category.
Ole Miss' head coach from 2005-07, Ed Orgeron, returns to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium as LSU's defensive line coach. LSU defensive end Lewis Neal leads the Tigers with seven sacks this season.
"Ed was a really good defensive coach," noted Freeze. "I know he will have his defensive line ready. He is an excellent coach that will have his defensive line ready."
Ole Miss will have its defensive line ready as well. Junior defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche holds down the front for the Landshark defense. The Hornung Award finalist (VOTE HERE) and two-time SEC Player of the Week provides pressure that helps the rest of the defense. Ole Miss ranks 15th nationally in tackles for loss and 24th in interceptions.
Ole Miss will honor 20 student-athletes in their final game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. With a bowl appearance this season, the Ole Miss senior class will be the first to go bowling in four straight years since the 2000 seniors. They have reached the highest national ranking since 1964 with a No. 3 appearance in the College Football Playoff poll and AP poll. The senior class also led the Rebels to being nationally ranked for 27 straight weeks, the longest streak since 1957-62.
This series dates back to 1894. LSU leads the series 59-40-4 and hold a 9-7-1 advantage when playing in Oxford. The Tigers have a 4-3 edge in the series since the Magnolia Bowl trophy was introduced in 2008.
