Game Primer: Ole Miss vs. Cal

			OLE MISS (2-1, 1-0 SEC) vs. CAL (3-0, 1-0 PAC-12) Saturday, Sept. 21 • 11 a.m. • Oxford, Miss. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)
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WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• This is just the second all-time meeting between Ole Miss and Cal.
• Cal won the lone meeting between the two teams 27-16 in 2017 (Berkeley, Calif.).
• Ole Miss is 98-33-3 (.743 winning pct.) in September home games (including home contests played in Memphis and Jackson), including a 73-20-2 (.779 winning percentage) mark in September games played in Oxford after vacated wins.
• The Rebels are 108-40-6 (.721 winning pct.) all-time versus non-conference opponents during the month.
• Ole Miss is 64-160-2 all-time versus ranked opponents ... Last win over ranked opponent was a 31-28 win over No. 17 Mississippi State in 2017.
• The Rebels haven't lost a non-conference home game since 2012 (Sept. 15 vs. Texas, 31-66).
• 21 Rebels have made their Ole Miss debut during the first three weeks of the season.
• The Rebels lead the conference and rank ninth in the NCAA with 9.0 tackles for loss per game ... Ole Miss has tallied at least eight tackles for loss in three straight games for the first time since a three-game stretch in 2015.
• Ole Miss is second in the nation and eighth in the NCAA in interceptions with four on the season.
• 72.6 percent of Ole Miss' total offense (841 of 1,382 yards) has come from underclassmen.
• RB Scottie Phillips ranks third in the conference in rushing yards (308).
• RB/KR Jerrion Ealy leads the SEC and is 10th natioanlly in kick return yardage (222).
• P Mac Brown is second in the SEC and seventh in the NCAA in punting average (47.4).

OLE MISS HEAD COACH MATT LUKE
Matt Luke (Ole Miss, 2000) is in his 12th season at Ole Miss and third season at the helm, taking the reins of his alma mater as the 38th head coach in program history. He was born a Rebel as his family has ties to Ole Miss that span three generations. During his 25 years as a player and coach at the collegiate level, Luke has risen through the ranks while learning from a number of successful veteran coaches. He has worked alongside national champion Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer, Duke head coach David Cutcliffe and former Ole Miss head coach Tommy Tuberville, among others. Luke, a four-year center for the Rebels (1995-98), spent five seasons as the team's co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach before being promoted to interim head coach for the 2017 season. During his first stop in Oxford (2002-05), he served four seasons coaching the Ole Miss tight ends and offensive line under Cutcliffe. Following his playing career, he served as a student assistant coach at Ole Miss in 1999, helping the Rebels to an 8-4 mark with regular-season wins against Auburn, South Carolina, LSU and Arkansas as well as a 27-25 triumph over Oklahoma in the Independence Bowl. He graduated in May 2000 with a degree in business administration. His father, Tommy, was a defensive back at Ole Miss in the 1960s while his brother, Tom, quarterbacked the Rebels from 1989-91. Tom is also on the Ole Miss football staff as assistant athletics director for player development.

CAL HEAD COACH JUSTIN WILCOX
Justin Wilcox (Oregon, 1999) is in his third year as Cal's head coach and comes into Saturday's game with a 15-13 record early into his head coaching campaign in Berkeley, California. Cal is a perfect 8-0 in regular-season non-conference games under Wilcox. Wilcox guided the Golden Bears to the Cheez-It Bowl in his second campaign in 2018 with the bowl appearance Cal's first in three seasons and first in a Pac-12 affiliated bowl since 2011. Wilcox has been on bowl staffs in 15 of his 18 seasons as a collegiate coach. Prior to taking over at Cal, Wilcox previously spent 15 seasons as an assistant coach throughout the college football landscape. He returned to Berkeley after spending three seasons as the Golden Bears' linebackers coach from 2003-05 in his first position as a full-time coach following two campaigns as a graduate assistant at Boise State (2001-02). Cal posted a 26-12 during his first stint in Berkeley with trips to the Insight, Holiday and Las Vegas bowls. He served as a defensive coordinator for the last 11 years, including his most recent stop at Wisconsin in 2016. Prior to coaching the Badgers, Wilcox was a Pac-12 defensive coordinator at Washington (2012-13) and USC (2014-15). He got a taste of SEC Football as Tennessee's defensive coordinator during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, and Wilcox's first defensive coordinator gig occurred during his second stop at Boise State (2006-09) after leaving Cal in 2005.

CAL SCOUTING REPORT
The Cal Golden Bears are off to their third consecutive 3-0 start and head into Oxford at No. 23 in both polls. Cal is coming off a 23-17 home win over North Texas. The Bears upset No. 14 Washington, 20-19, in their only road game so far in 2019. On offense, Cal averages just over 350 yards of total offense per game, with 191 yards coming on the ground and 159 through the air. Sophomore Christopher Brown, Jr. leads the Cal rushing attack with 65 carries for 324 yards and two touchdowns. His 36 carries and 197 rushing yards in the season opener vs. UC Davis were both career highs. Redshirt sophomore Chase Garbers serves as Cal's primary signal-caller and has a 9-4 career record as a starter. Garbers has thrown for 478 yards and tallied three touchdowns, compared to just one interception in the first three games of the season. Despite only 36 total receptions as a team, 10 different Golden Bear receivers have hauled in a catch this season. Senior team captain and a preseason All-American Evan Weaver leads a Cal defense that ranks fourth in the Pac-12, allowing just 313.7 yards of total offense. Weaver is fourth in the country with 13.7 tackles per game. Cornerback Camryn Bynum helps patrol the secondary for Cal and has one interception on the season. Placekicker Greg Thomas is sixth in the NCAA with seven field goals on the year and is 3-for-4 from 40 yards or more.

OLE MISS-CAL SERIES HISTORY
• This is just the second all-time meeting between Ole Miss and Cal.
• Cal won the lone meeting between the two teams 27-16 in 2017 (Berkeley, Calif.).

OLE MISS VERSUS PAC-12 OPPONENTS
Cal is the only current member of the Pac-12 conference that Ole Miss has faced (2017); however, the Rebels have faced a team associated with the league's past. Idaho was a member of the Pacific Coast Conference from 1922-59 until it dissolved amid numerous scandals. The league later re-emerged as the Pacific-8 in 1968 before expanding throughout the years, but Idaho never joined the conference again, In 2013, Ole Miss captured a 59-14 victory over the Vandals in Oxford that was vacated.

OLE MISS IN SEPTEMBER
• Ole Miss is 154-89-7 (.630 winning pct.) all-time during the month of September after vacated wins.
• Ole Miss is 98-33-3 (.743 winning pct.) in September home games (including home contests played in Memphis and
Jackson), including a 73-20-2 (.779 winning percentage) mark in September games played in Oxford after vacated
wins.
• Ole Miss is 108-40-6 (.721 winning pct.) all-time versus non-conference opponents during the month.

EALY AND OFTEN
RB Jerrion Ealy tallied 273 all-purpose yards (172 kickoff return, 95 rushing) Saturday vs. Southeastern Louisiana, the most by ever by an Ole Miss freshman in a single game and fourth-most by any Rebel in school history. Ealy's first career touchdown came on a 94-yard kickoff return during the first quarter. A few possesions later, the true freshman raced up the middle for a 30-yard TD run. He is the first Ole Miss player to tally a kickoff return and a rushing TD in the same game since Deuce McAllister accomplished that feat in 1999 vs. Arkansas. In the first half alone, Ealy accounted for 243 all-purpose yards, which would have tied for the school record for 10th all-time in a single game. Ealy finished the game with a career high in both rushing attempts (nine) and yards (95).

TACKLIN' FUEL
Ole Miss leads the SEC and ranks ninth in the NCAA with 9.0 tackles for loss per game. Ole Miss' 27 tackles for loss are the most through the first three games of the season since at least 1996. Ole Miss has also tallied at least eight tackles for loss in three straight games for the first time since a three-game stretch in 2015. The Rebels registered just four such games all of last season. Seven different Rebels have two or more TFL on the season.

MORE OF MOORE
WR Elijah Moore was, again, the most prolific receiving option for the Rebels Saturday vs. Southeastern Louisiana. Moore had the most targets (10) and receptions (7) of any Ole Miss offensive player and was very effective with the ball in his hands. 45 of his 88 total receiving yards came after the catch. Moore forced three missed tackles (second best in the SEC this week) as he continues to provide Corral with highly efficient targets. Moore's 3.48 yards per route run through the first three weeks ranks fourth among all SEC WRs with at least 10 targets.

CORRAL ACCURATE IN WIN
QB Matt Corral was on the money on throws up to 20 yards downfield in length Saturday vs. Southeastern Louisiana. On these plays, Corral completed 21-of-25 attempts for 232 yards and two TDs, to go along with a 132.0 passer rating. This has been an area in which Corral has shined in his first year as a starter. Through the first four games, Corral has completed 44-of-60 passes up to 20 yards in length for 514 yards and four TDs. His passer rating of 121.1 on these passes ranks fourth among SEC QBs with at least 20 such attempts. Corral also posted three "Big Time Throws" on Saturday, which classify as some of our highest graded throws on the Pro Football Focus grading scale. That figure ranked second in the SEC this week.

BROWN SOLID VS. SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
OL Ben Brown was the best member of the offensive line Saturday vs. Southeastern Louisiana. Brown played all 82 snaps and earned a career-high 77.4 overall grade. Brown's overall grade of 77.4 ranked second among SEC guards this week. Ole Miss gained 9.6 yards per attempt vs Southeastern Louisiana on rush attempts aimed between OL Eli Johnson and RG Brown. Brown was at his best in the run game on Saturday, earning the most positive run blocking grades of anybody on the Ole Miss team. His nine positively graded run blocks were the second most among all SEC offensive linemen this week. Brown also put forth a good showing in pass protection, allowing just two total pressures on 36 total opportunities.

A SPECIAL WEAPON
P Mac Brown ranks second in the SEC and seventh nationally in punting average (47.4). Five of Brown's 13 punts this season have been more than 50 yards. Brown, a member of the Wuerffel Trophy watch list and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee, only had six punts that surpassed 50 yards last season.

WINNING AT THE POINT OF ATTACK
DE Ryder Anderson was the most impressive player on the defensive side of the ball in Week 3, as he was another player on the team that earned a new career-high overall grade (80.6). Anderson had the best pass rushing performance of his career, tallying five total pressures (1 sack, 2 QB hits, 2 hurries) on just 24 opportunities. Anderson's pass rush win rate of 25 percent tied for sixth best among all SEC defenders this week and tied for fourth best specifically among defensive linemen.

BROTHERLY COMPANY
Ole Miss is one of only nine FBS schools in the country to have brothers on the same coaching staff as running backs coach Derrick Nix enters his 12th year at Ole Miss and Tyrone Nix is in his fifth overall season (second stint) coaching outside linebackers. If you include support staff, Matt and Tom Luke (Assistant A.D. for Player Devolpment), the Rebels are the only school in the country to have two sets of brothers on staff.
• Jeff, Brian & Greg Brohm (HC, OC, Ops) - Purdue
• Travis & Trent Greene (GAs) - Syracuse
• Thomas & Tyquan Hammock (HC & GA) - Northern Illinois
• Willy & Colton Korn (Co-OC & Def. GA) - South Alabama
• Matt & Tom Luke (HC & Player Dev.) - Ole Miss
• Joey & Kevin Lynch (AHC/OC & RB) - Ball State
• Derrick & Tyrone Nix (RB & OLB) - Ole Miss
• Jake & Zac Spavital (HC & DC) - Texas State
• Matt & Luke Wells (HC & TE/IR) - Texas Tech
• Kyle & Freddie Whittingham (HC & TE) - Utah

THE MACINTYRE EFFECT
When Mike MacIntyre was hired in December 2018, he was tasked with improving an Ole Miss defense that ranked towards the bottom of the SEC and NCAA in several defensive categories last season. The two-time national coach of the year hasn't disappointed through the first three games of the 2019 campaign. To open the season, the Rebels registered back-to-back solid defensive performances. In their season opener, the Rebels' defense allowed just 13 points at Memphis, the fewest allowed by a Rebel defense unit since 2016 when Ole Miss beat Wofford 38-13. One week later, the Rebel defense was just as stingy, holding Arkansas to just 10 points and 61 yards rushing, the fewest allowed by an Ole Miss defense since the Rebels allowed three points and just 58 yards vs. A&M on Oct. 24, 2015. The Rebels followed that up with just 66 rushing yards allowed vs. Southeastern Louisiana. It marked the first time an Ole Miss defense has allowed less than 100 yards rushing in back-to-back games since 2015 (Florida and New Mexico State).

LANDSHARK CHAIN GETS PASSED AROUND
When the Ole Miss defense forces a turnover, they get rewarded with the Landshark Chain. After forcing four turnovers vs. Southeastern Louisiana, the Landshark Chain was constantly roaming the sidelines on Saturday. Jon Haynes, Donta Evans, and Myles Hartsfield all tallied interceptions, while Isaiah Woullard recorded a fumble recovery on special teams.

SCOTTIE TODDY
After a late-season injury hampered RB Scottie Phillips in 2018, the second-year Rebel running back is hoping to regain his early season magic from last year. Phillips ranks first in the SEC in rushing touchdowns (four) and third in rushing yards per game (102.7). Phillips has recorded at least one rushing TD in all three of the Rebels' games to start the season.

NO FLY ZONE
DB Jalen Julius saw six targets come his way Saturday vs. Southeastern Louisiana and allowed a very modest three catches for 37 yards. Julius successfully broke up two passes in coverage, which is a new career-high, tying his total from the entire 2018 season, and was the second highest tally among all SEC defenders this week. Julius was also a contributor in run defense. Three of his five total tackles came against the run, including a tackle for loss.

125 SEASONS OF OLE MISS FOOTBALL
This year is the 125th season of football at Ole Miss and the third under head coach Matt Luke. The Rebels boast an all-time record of 640-525-35 (.548 winning percentage) after vacated wins. Ole Miss did not field teams in 1897 due to an epidemic of yellow fever, and also in 1943 when football was abolished at all Mississippi state-supported institutions by the Board of Trustees.

LUKE'S WEEKLY RADIO SHOW ON TUESDAYS
RebTalk, the official weekly radio show of Ole Miss Athletics, is moving to a new day and location for this season. Beginning Aug. 27, RebTalk will be broadcast each Tuesday this fall at Bouré in downtown Oxford from 7-8 p.m. The show, which is hosted by the "Voice of the Rebels" David Kellum and includes special guests, will air live on the Ole Miss IMG Sports Network. Ole Miss Football head coach Matt Luke and select players will join the broadcast each Tuesday throughout the season.

FIRST-TIME STARTERS
Nine Rebels have made their first career starts during the first three weeks of the 2019 season: (Offense) Matt Corral (QB), Dontario Drummond (WR), Michael Howard (OL), Eli Johnson (OL), Jonathan Mingo (WR), Royce Newman (OL); (Defense) Jon Haynes (DB), Lakia Henry (ILB), Sam Williams (OLB).

DEBUTS
Twenty-three players have made their Ole Miss debut so far this season: Nick Broeker (OL), Ashanti Cistrunk (DB), Spencer Cole (P), Snoop Conner (RB), LeDarrius Cox (DE), Jalen Cunningham (OL), Vernon Dash (OLB), Dontario Drummond (WR), Jerrion Ealy (RB), A.J. Finley (DB), Demarcus Gregory (WR), Casey Griffith (K), Jon Haynes (DB), Lakia Henry (OLB), Jonathan Hess (TE), Jadon Jackson (WR), Jalen Jordan (DB), Patrick Lucas, Jr. (NT), Jonathan Mingo (WR), D'Vaughn Pennamon (TE), Deantre Prince (DB), Jay Stanley (DB), Sam Williams (OLB).

MAC BROWN RAISES NEARLY 70K FOR ALS
When he was in seventh grade, Ole Miss punter Mac Brown had a modest goal of raising $500 for a childhood friend's dad who had been diagnosed with ALS. Along with a group of neighborhood friends, Brown started a lemonade stand, Awesome Lemonade Stand, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, to help his friend's family. Eight years later, that $500 goal has ballooned to nearly $70,000 raised by Brown and his friends for ALS research. The Awesome Lemonade Stand is held on a late day in June and this year's fundraiser raised more than $17,000 alone.

HEAD COACHING EXPERIENCE
After the 2018 campaign, Matt Luke found himself in the market for both an offensive and defensive coordinator, and he delivered in a big way. Mike MacIntyre, a two-time national coach of the year and coaching veteran with nearly three decades of experience, will take over the reigns as the Rebels' defensive coordinator while Rich Rodriguez, considered one of the most innovative offensive minds in college football, will serve as Ole Miss' offensive coordinator. Ole Miss is one of only two teams in the nation, along with Alabama, to have three coaches with Power 5 head coaching experience.

CHUCKY MULLINS COURAGE AWARD
In the spring, senior DE Austrian Robinson became the 29th different Rebel to be awarded the Chucky Mullins Courage Award, which goes to a standout defensive player each year. The award honors the late Chucky Mullins, who had his Ole Miss career come to an end during the 1989 Homecoming game against Vanderbilt when he was paralyzed after making a tackle. After returning to his studies at Ole Miss, Mullins passed away May 6, 1991. Robinson wears the No. 38 jersey in Mullins' honor this season.

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Players Mentioned

Ryder Anderson

Nick Broeker

Ben Brown

Mac Brown

Ashanti Cistrunk

Spencer Cole

Snoop Conner

Matt Corral

LeDarrius Cox

Jalen Cunningham

Dontario Drummond

Jerrion Ealy

Donta Evans

AJ Finley

Casey Griffith

Myles Hartsfield

Jon Haynes

Lakia Henry

Jonathan Hess

Michael Howard

Jadon Jackson

Eli Johnson

Jalen Jordan

Jalen Julius

Patrick Lucas Jr.

Jonathan Mingo

Elijah Moore

Royce Newman

D'Vaughn Pennamon

Scottie Phillips

Deantre Prince

Austrian Robinson

Jay Stanley

Sam Williams

Isaiah Woullard

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