Game Primer: Ole Miss at Kentucky

			OLE MISS (0-1, 0-1 SEC) at KENTUCKY (0-1, 0-1 SEC) Saturday, Oct. 3 • 3 p.m. CT • Lexington, Ky. Kroger Field
Watch • Live Stats • Listen Ole Miss Game Notes (PDF) • Kentucky Game Notes (PDF) • SEC Game Notes (PDF)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• Ole Miss and Kentucky will be meeting for the 44th time in a series that dates back to 1944.
• The Rebels lead the all-time series vs. the Wildcats 27-14-1 ... The original record is 28-14-1 but Ole Miss vacated a win in 2010 due to NCAA ruling.
• Kentucky holds an 11-10-1 edge in games played in Lexington, Kentucky.
• This is the third straight meeting between the two teams in Lexington.
• The home team has won the four of the last five contests in the series.
• Lane Kiffin is in his first season on the sidelines at Ole Miss and ninth overall as a head coach.
• Eight different Rebels started their first game in an Ole Miss uniform Saturday vs. Florida: Nick Broeker (OL), A.J. Finley (FS), Jakorey Hawkins (CB), KD Hill (NT), Jeremy James (OL), Reece McIntyre (OL), Tavius Robinson (Buck), Kenny Yeboah (TE).
• Ole Miss ranks sixth in the country in total offense (613.0 ypg) and third in passing yards per game (443.0 ypg).
• The Rebels lead the nation in third down conversion percentage (.643).
• Ole Miss is second in the NCAA in net punting (49.0 ypp).
• Eleven Rebels (Ryder Anderson, Mac Brown, Jared Farlow, Jaylon Jones, Luke Logan, Royce Newman, Hal Northern, D'Vaughn Pennamon, Jack Propst, MoMo Sanogo, Kenny Yeboah) have earned their degrees and are eligible for the 2020 season.
• QB Matt Corral leads the SEC and is ranked sixth nationally in passing efficiency (203.5).

OLE MISS HEAD COACH LANE KIFFIN
Lane Kiffin (Fresno State, 1998) is in his first season at Ole Miss, taking the reins for the Rebels as the 39th head coach in program history. Kiffin, who won two Conference USA titles in three seasons at Florida Atlantic, has more than 10 years of head coaching experience, including eight years at the NCAA level where he has posted an all-time record of 61-35. In December 2016, Kiffin took over an FAU program that had won a total of nine combined games over the previous three seasons. Kiffin proceeded to take the Owls to new heights over the last three years, including two conference titles and two 10-win seasons. In his head coaching stops at USC, Tennessee and FAU, Kiffin has shown a propensity in helping turn programs around. In his first season at all three locations, Kiffin's team improved in win differential (+3.33), scoring (+10.2), passing (+34.5 ypg) and rushing (+51.3 ypg). Kiffin graduated from Fresno State in 1998 after playing quarterback for three seasons (1994-96) for the Bulldogs. He began his coaching career as a student assistant at Fresno State under Pat Hill in 1997 and 1998. He moved on to Colorado State in 1999 as a graduate assistant. He spent the 2000 season as defensive quality control assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars under Tom Coughlin.

KENTUCKY HEAD COACH MARK STOOPS
Mark Stoops (Iowa, 1989) is in his eighth year as the Kentucky head coach after successful stops at Arizona and Florida State as defensive coordinator. Stoops is 44-45 over those eight seasons in Lexington. After inheriting a program that had produced a 2-10 record the season before his arrival, Stoops has markedly improved the team's performance. Stoops has led the Wildcats to four straight winning seasons and fourth consecutive postseason appearances. Stoops is only the second coach in Kentucky history to take his team to four straight bowls, and UK's 32 wins over the last four seasons are the most in a four-year span since Paul "Bear" Bryant piloted the Wildcats in 1950-53.

WILDCAT SCOUTING REPORT
Kentucky is 0-1 to start the 2020 season after a 29-13 loss at No. 8 Auburn. The Wildcats are coming off an 8-5 2019 campaign, their fourth consecutive winning season that also saw them earn a berth in their fourth straight bowl game. Kentucky returns a deep and veteran squad highlighted by one of the nation's top offensive lines with two preseason All-America selections, center Drake Jackson and tackle Darian Kinnard. On offense, the Wildcats will rely on a veteran running attack that tallied three straight games of at least 400 yards rushing, culminated in a school-record 517-yard rushing performance against Louisville in the 2019 regular season finale. Senior QB Terry Wilson returns after missing a majority of the 2019 season due to injury. Wilson completed 24-of-37 passes for 239 yards against Auburn last weekend. He also paced the UK rushing attack with 13 carries. Wilson's favorite target during the season opener was senior wideout Josh Ali. Ali, a preseason All-SEC selection by Phil Steele, hauled in nine catches for 98 yards against the Tigers. On defense, Kentucky limited No. 8 Auburn to just 324 total yards of offense. Five different Wildcats registered five total tackles, including linebacker DeAndre Sqaure. Square started every game in 2019 for Kentucky and is the Wildcats' leading returner in tackles. On special teams, the Wildcats have a weapon in Max Duffy, the 2019 Ray Guy Award winner and All-American. Duffy currently leads the country with 53 yards per punt.

OLE MISS-KENTUCKY SERIES HISTORY
• Ole Miss and Kentucky will be meeting for the 44th time in a series that dates back to 1944.
• The Rebels lead the all-time series vs. the Wildcats 27-14-1.
• The original series record is 28-14-1, but Ole Miss vacated a win in 2010 due to NCAA ruling.
• Kentucky holds a n11-10-1 edge in games played in Lexington, Kentucky.
• This is the third straight meeting between the two teams in Lexington.
• The home team has won the four of the last five contests in the series.
• This will be just the second time Lane Kiffin has faced a Kentucky team ... Kiffin beat the Wildcats 30-24 in an overtime contest in 2009 as the head coach at Tennessee.

FIRST-TIME STARTERS
Eight different Rebels started their first game in an Ole Miss uniform Saturday vs. Florida: Nick Broeker (OL), A.J. Finley (FS), Jakorey Hawkins (CB), KD Hill (NT), Jeremy James (OL), Reece McIntyre (OL), Tavius Robinson (Buck), Kenny Yeboah (TE). QB John Rhys Plumlee, who started eight games at quarterback in 2019, registered his first career start at wide receiver.

REBEL DEBUTS
Eight different Rebels made their Ole Miss debut vs. Florida: Daylen Gill (LB), Cedric Johnson (OLB), Deane Leonard (DB), Henry Parrish Jr. (RB), Jamar Richardson (DB), Tavius Robinson (OLB), Chase Rogers (TE), Kenny Yeboah (TE).

MOORE OF THE SAME
After leading Ole Miss in every statistical receiving category in 2019, WR Elijah Moore continued his assault on the Ole Miss record books with a 10-catch, 227-yard performance against Florida in the season opener. The 227 yards are the most by a Rebel against an SEC opponent and the second-most ever in a single game in program history. It was also the most receiving yards by an individual player against Florida since 2014 when Amari Cooper tallied 201 receiving yards against the Gators. Ironically enough, Lane Kiffin was Alabama's offensive coordinator that season. Moore is the only receiver in the NCAA this season to record 200-or-more yards receiving in a single game. Despite playing less games than most receivers, Moore ranks No. 13 in the NCAA with eight catches of 10 yards or more.

BIG TARGET
In his first game in an Ole Miss uniform, transfer TE Kenny Yeboah tallied five catches for 91 yards and one touchdown. The 91 receiving yards bested his career-high mark of 73 yards set at Temple in 2017. It was the most yards and catches by an Ole Miss tight end since 2017 when Evan Engram hauled in six catches for 102 yards against Vanderbilt.

CAN'T CORRAL HIM
Starting in just his fifth career game, QB Matt Corral set career marks for yards (395), passing touchdowns (3) and completions (22) in Saturday's game vs. No. 5 Florida. The 395 passing yards by Corral were 15th most in school history in a single game. Corral leads the SEC in passing efficiency (203.5) and passing yards per completion (17.95). Corral is the only quarterback this season to register two passes of 50 yards-or-greater in the same game.

SPECIAL WEAPON
Punter Mac Brown, a preseason All-SEC selection, put his big leg on display Saturday vs. Florida. The senior from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, tallied three punts including a long of 54 yards. Brown's 49.0 yards per punt average ranks No. 4 in the NCAA.

STRONGER TOGETHER INITIATIVE
During the 2020-21 academic year, college and university athletics programs in Mississippi will incorporate a special logo on their uniforms, equipment, warm-up gear or bags. The logo will serve as a visual representation of the state's schools coming together and will feature school-specific branding with the words "Stronger Together" inside the outline of Mississippi. Alcorn State, Blue Mountain College, Delta State, Jackson State, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Millsaps College, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State, Rust College, Tougaloo College and William Carey University are among the schools that will take part in the "Stronger Together" initiative.

MAC BROWN RAISES OVER 100K FOR ALS RESEARCH
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 over $100,000 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 $30,000 alone.

CHUCKY MULLINS COURAGE AWARD
DB Jaylon Jones became the 30th 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. Jones wears the No. 38 jersey in Mullins' honor this season.

COVID CAUSES ATTENDANCE CHANGES
As established by the State of Mississippi's latest executive orders, Ole Miss home football games will be at 25 percent capacity in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to begin the 2020 season. Ole Miss' attendance plan is based on guidelines from the state and the Southeastern Conference in response to COVID-19. Key components include face covering requirements throughout the stadium, social distancing between households and no tailgating on campus.

KIFFIN'S WEEKLY RADIO SHOW ON THURSDAYS
RebTalk, the official weekly radio show of Ole Miss Athletics, is moving to a new day and location for this season. RebTalk will be broadcast each Thursday this fall at Bouré in downtown Oxford from 6-7 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 Lane Kiffin and select players will join the broadcast each Thursday throughout the season.

SEC CREATES COUNCIL ON RACIAL EQUITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Southeastern Conference recently announced the creation of the SEC Council on Racial Equity and Social Justice, a league-wide body consisting of a diverse group of student-athletes, administrators, coaches and SEC staff. LB MoMo Sanogo and punter Mac Brown will represent Ole Miss on the council that will identify resources, outline strategies and assist with implementation of efforts that, when taken together, will promote racial equity and social justice. The council will also foster diversity, helping overcome racism and pursuing non-discrimination in intercollegiate athletics.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Ole Miss leads the nation in third down conversion percentage (.643), team passing efficiency (209.43) and passing yards per completion (18.46 ypc).
• The Rebels' .727 completion percentage leads the SEC and is ranked No. 5 nationally.
• The Rebels' 443.0 yards passing per game rank No. 3 in the NCAA.
• Four different Rebels made their first career starts on offense for the Rebels Saturday vs. Florida: [Nick Broeker (OL), Jeremy James (OL), Reece McIntyre (OL), Kenny Yeboah (TE)]
• Three offensive players made their Ole Miss debut vs. Florida: [Henry Parrish Jr. (RB), Chase Rogers (TE), Kenny Yeboah (TE)].
• In its season opener against the Gators Ole Miss tallied 600 total yards and 400 passing yards in an SEC game for the first time since 1969.
• WR Elijah Moore leads the nation in receiving yards per game (227.0.)
• Besides receiving yards per game, Moore also ranks top-3 in the SEC in all-purpose yards (227.0) and receptions per game (10.0).
• Moore's 227 receiving yards vs. Florida were the second-most in school history in a single game and the most by any receiver in the NCAA this season.
• Moore is the only receiver in the NCAA this season to record 200 or more yards receiving in a single game.
• TE Kennny Yeboah set career highs in yards (91) and receptions (5) in his Ole Miss debut on Saturday.
• QB Matt Corral threw for 395 yards and three touchdowns vs. Florida, both career highs.
• WR Dontario Drummond's two touchdowns on the season rank second in the SEC and No. 14 in the NCAA.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Four different Rebels made their first career starts on defense Saturday vs. Florida: [A.J. Finley (FS), Jakorey Hawkins (CB), KD Hill (NT), Tavius Robinson (Buck)]
• Five defense players made their Ole Miss debut vs. Florida: [Daylen Gill (LB), Cedric Johnson (OLB), Deane Leonard (DB), Jamar Richardson (DB), Tavius Robinson (OLB)].
• DB Keidron Smith ranks No. 7 nationally in tackles per game (12.0).

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• P Mac Brown is fourth in the NCAA in punting average (49.0).
• In Saturday's game vs. Florida, Ole Miss recovered an onside kick for the first time Ole Miss since 2016 when the Rebels recovered one vs. Alabama.

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Players Mentioned

Ryder Anderson

Nick Broeker

Mac Brown

Matt Corral

Dontario Drummond

Jared Farlow

AJ Finley

Daylen Gill

Jakorey Hawkins

KD Hill

Jeremy James

Cedric Johnson

Jaylon Jones

Deane Leonard

Luke Logan

Reece McIntyre

Elijah Moore

Royce Newman

Hal Northern

Henry Parrish Jr.

D'Vaughn Pennamon

John Rhys Plumlee

Jack Propst

Jamar Richardson

Tavius Robinson

Chase Rogers

MoMo Sanogo

Keidron Smith

Kenny Yeboah

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