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The University of Mississippi Athletics
GAMEDAY PREVIEW: No. 11 Ole Miss at No. 2 Alabama
9/19/2015 | Football
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - ESPN's College GameDay is in Tuscaloosa to cover the highly anticipated matchup between the Ole Miss Rebels and Alabama Crimson Tide for the second year in a row.
The 2nd-ranked Crimson Tide (2-0) hosts the 11th-ranked Rebels in a primetime matchup to be aired on ESPN (8:15 p.m. CT kickoff). The Crimson Tide looks for revenge after being dropped from their No. 1 ranking in a 23-17 loss last year. The Rebels have never beaten the Crimson Tide in back-to-back games and look to win in Tuscaloosa for the first time since 1988.
"We get to open up SEC play in a great environment against one of the best programs in the nation," said Rebel head coach Hugh Freeze. "It should be a good test for us, one that our kids will be very excited for. We have an opportunity to compete at a very high level and play our best football. That's why you want to coach in this league and play in this league, so we are excited."
Alabama is 2-0 and is ranked No. 2 in both the AP and coaches polls. The Crimson Tide has victories over Wisconsin (35-17) and Middle Tennessee (37-10). Running back Derrick Henry leads the offense this season with 243 yards and six TDs. Jake Coker and Cooper Bateman have shared snaps at QB, with Coker holding an edge in production completing 30 of 47 passes for 427 yards, two TDs and an interception.
The Tide defense, led by linebacker Reggie Ragland, has held opponents to 63.0 rushing yards per game. Ragland leads the Crimson Tide with 21 total tackles.
The Rebels' offense looks to continue racking up numbers against opposing defenses. They are the first SEC team ever to score 73+ points in back-to-back games and the first team from any conference since Houston in 1968. The Rebels have eclipsed 600 yards in both games and lead the nation in scoring offense with 74.5 points per game. Ole Miss leads the SEC in scoring, total offense (634.5 ypg), red zone offense (100%), rushing offense (276.5 ypg), pass efficiency (201.3 ypg), 3rd down conversions (56.5%), 4th down conversions (100%) and total first downs (55).
The offense has been led by quarterback Chad Kelly. Kelly, the week two National Player of the Week according to the College Football Hall of Fame, currently leads the NCAA in pass efficiency (234.0) and yards per pass attempt (13.9), while also topping the SEC with six passing TDs and being responsible for 48 points.
The Rebels' offensive line, which has been without preseason All-America tackle Laremy Tunsil, will meet head on with an Alabama defense that is anchored by a strong front seven.
"They are as talented as I have ever seen," Freeze said. "They are as deep and talented as you can imagine. They have had some really good defensive squads, and this is as talented as I have ever seen one."
Offensive tackle Fahn Cooper has taken over the left tackle duties for Tunsil. He and the offensive line have led the Rebels to an SEC-best 553 yards on the ground through the first two games.
"Cooper is who we are going to go with if we don't have Tunsil," noted Freeze. "He has played very well. Anytime you go against really good teams you are going to have a lot of one-on-ones throughout the game. Some are going to go your way and some may not. You just have to play the next play and make sure you win about 70-80 percent of your one-on-ones.
"I do feel more comfortable. The more you play together the more comfortable you feel. I wish we had everybody healthy. If we had all of our guys, I would feel better. Having two weeks with the guys we have had, gives us a more comfortable feeling."
The Rebels' defense has been anchored by All-America defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche. While totaling five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, Nkemdiche has flashed his versatility his first two games. He has caught and run for a touchdown on offense, as well as tallying a blocked field goal on special teams.
This is the 63rd meeting all-time between Ole Miss and Alabama. The Crimson Tide holds a 47-10-2 series lead. Last year's win for the Rebels halted a 10-game losing skid against the Tide.
