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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Football Ready for 2018 Season Opener in Houston
8/29/2018 | Football
Rebels Open 2018 Campaign at NRG Stadium vs. Texas Tech
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss football is just days away from its marquee season opener at NRG Stadium in Houston, and the Rebels are excited to open the 2018 campaign against a Power 5 opponent in Texas Tech.
Playing under the lights of an NFL stadium, the Rebels will open its season with a dangerous foe out of the Big 12 Conference.
"This is a huge game for us to open up our season," quarterback Jordan Ta'amu said. "We're playing against Texas Tech, playing as a team again and playing against someone else. We're excited."
After spring practice, a summer of conditioning and lifting and nearly a month of fall camp, the Rebels are ready to finally get out and rub shoulder pads with another opponent. While the players are sure to be fired up, head coach Matt Luke and his staff are keeping the group focused on the moment in Houston.
"I think it's huge," Luke said. "We were talking today—you get 12 opportunities. You work all year for 12 opportunities, and this is one of those 12. Your whole schedule is built around those 12 games. This game is important, but so are the other 11."
Ta'amu returns for his senior season to guide an offense that looks to once again be among the best in college football. In front of Ta'amu stands an offensive line that boasts 103 combined starts. At his side is an electric junior college transfer in Scottie Phillips at running back. Out on the edge, the Nasty Wide Outs, A.J. Brown, DaMarkus Lodge and D.K. Metcalf—not to mention two freakish athletes at tight end.
But as stacked as the Rebel attack looks on paper, Luke isn't taking anything for granted until the lights are turned on in Texas this Saturday.
"You don't ever really know until you go out there, because every team is different," Luke said. "Until you turn the lights on, you don't know. But I'm really excited about Scottie, the O-Line, the receivers and Jordan. We have a lot of guys who've played a bunch of football, and that's a good thing. But until you actually go out there and do it in the first game, you never know."
On the other side of the ball, the Rebels are ready to put the 2017 season to rest and put on display their improvement for 2018. When the Landshark D takes on an explosive Red Raider offense, Luke isn't concerned about the numbers, but instead on the moxie of the group.
"I think the energy is tangible," Luke said. "I'm looking for a defense that flies around and plays hard and plays fast, I believe that is tangible. I want to see us fly around and play with energy and play fast."
The Texas Tech defense had similar struggles in 2017, but Ta'amu doesn't see a struggling group when he looks at film of the Red Raiders. Led by linebacker Dakota Allen, member of the 100-tackle club a season ago, Texas Tech will look to cause turnovers and get after the Rebel signal caller. Meanwhile, the Rebels will continue chasing space.
"Texas Tech is a good defense. They're going to go for the ball no matter what. Watching film, they have a great D-Line, great linebackers, and their job is to attack downfield. Our job is to make them run."
Ole Miss will look to make the Red Raiders run Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.
To purchase tickets for the 2018 season, visit OleMissTix.com or call 888-REB-TKTS. Follow Ole Miss Football on Twitter (@OleMissFB), Facebook and Instagram.
Playing under the lights of an NFL stadium, the Rebels will open its season with a dangerous foe out of the Big 12 Conference.
"This is a huge game for us to open up our season," quarterback Jordan Ta'amu said. "We're playing against Texas Tech, playing as a team again and playing against someone else. We're excited."
After spring practice, a summer of conditioning and lifting and nearly a month of fall camp, the Rebels are ready to finally get out and rub shoulder pads with another opponent. While the players are sure to be fired up, head coach Matt Luke and his staff are keeping the group focused on the moment in Houston.
"I think it's huge," Luke said. "We were talking today—you get 12 opportunities. You work all year for 12 opportunities, and this is one of those 12. Your whole schedule is built around those 12 games. This game is important, but so are the other 11."
Ta'amu returns for his senior season to guide an offense that looks to once again be among the best in college football. In front of Ta'amu stands an offensive line that boasts 103 combined starts. At his side is an electric junior college transfer in Scottie Phillips at running back. Out on the edge, the Nasty Wide Outs, A.J. Brown, DaMarkus Lodge and D.K. Metcalf—not to mention two freakish athletes at tight end.
But as stacked as the Rebel attack looks on paper, Luke isn't taking anything for granted until the lights are turned on in Texas this Saturday.
"You don't ever really know until you go out there, because every team is different," Luke said. "Until you turn the lights on, you don't know. But I'm really excited about Scottie, the O-Line, the receivers and Jordan. We have a lot of guys who've played a bunch of football, and that's a good thing. But until you actually go out there and do it in the first game, you never know."
On the other side of the ball, the Rebels are ready to put the 2017 season to rest and put on display their improvement for 2018. When the Landshark D takes on an explosive Red Raider offense, Luke isn't concerned about the numbers, but instead on the moxie of the group.
"I think the energy is tangible," Luke said. "I'm looking for a defense that flies around and plays hard and plays fast, I believe that is tangible. I want to see us fly around and play with energy and play fast."
The Texas Tech defense had similar struggles in 2017, but Ta'amu doesn't see a struggling group when he looks at film of the Red Raiders. Led by linebacker Dakota Allen, member of the 100-tackle club a season ago, Texas Tech will look to cause turnovers and get after the Rebel signal caller. Meanwhile, the Rebels will continue chasing space.
"Texas Tech is a good defense. They're going to go for the ball no matter what. Watching film, they have a great D-Line, great linebackers, and their job is to attack downfield. Our job is to make them run."
Ole Miss will look to make the Red Raiders run Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.
To purchase tickets for the 2018 season, visit OleMissTix.com or call 888-REB-TKTS. Follow Ole Miss Football on Twitter (@OleMissFB), Facebook and Instagram.
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