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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Football vs. Middle Tennessee: What to Watch
9/6/2024 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 5 Ole Miss football team came out of the gates strong with a 76-0 win against Furman, and the Rebels will go right back at it with Middle Tennessee now in town for a Week 2 matchup at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
We've been previewing the game all week at OleMissSports.com, so be sure to check out our first look, series snapshot, practice report and fan preview for more information on the contest on and off the field.
Scroll on for our top five storylines between the Rebels and Paladins, and other vital gameday info, including where to watch the game.
How to Watch: Ole Miss vs. Middle Tennessee
Date: Saturday, September 7
Time: 3:15 p.m. CT
Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Tickets: Limited Quantity Available
What to Wear: Red
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: ESPN App (SEC Network+)
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Live Audio: OleMissSports.com/watch
Week 2 Blues?
Ole Miss had a very similar start with a 73-7 victory against Mercer last year before going to Tulane for a much tougher challenge in Week 2. Lane Kiffin alluded to that in his press conference this week as 73 points turned into 37 against the Green Wave. Can the offense avoid a dip in production and execution in Week 2?
MT's Elite Coaching
One of Lane Kiffin's top concerns expressed in this week's press conference was that Middle Tennessee is sure to be well-coached, being led by former Vanderbilt head coach and Auburn and Stanford defensive coordinator Derek Mason. Kiffin also praised MTSU's defensive coordinator, Brian Stewart, who led the XFL's best defense in 2023, in addition to more than two decades of NFL and Power 5 experience.
Staying Sharp
Most of Ole Miss' starting lineup in Week 1 played just one half of football, particularly on defense, where most starters' snap counts were in the teens or 20s. After ramping up just to shut down, will there be any rust or adrenaline dump in Week 2?
Near Miss in CoMo
Last year, Middle Tennessee nearly pulled off a shocking upset of eventual New Year's Six bowl winner Missouri on the road in Columbia. The Blue Raiders crossed the 50-yard line trailing by just four in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, but a penalty set them back and ultimately halted the upset bid. Does MTSU have what it takes to pull it off this time?
Young Guns
If all goes to plan for Ole Miss, like in Week 1, the end of the game could be a showcase for the up-and-coming Rebels. Kam Franklin and Jamarious Brown showed out on the defensive line, Austin Simmons and Cayden Lee on the offensive end. Stay tuned through four quarters to see which other young Rebels will earn more playing time this weekend.
Stay Connected
Update today to the all-new version of the Ole Miss Sports app, presented by Renasant Bank! The new app will serve as a dynamic hub for Rebel gameday content, including ticketing, parking, schedules, shopping for official Ole Miss merchandise and much more. Click here for more info or to download.
Stay up to date with all the latest Ole Miss football news and content! Subscribe to The Sip, the official newsletter of Rebel football, and we'll drop the best Ole Miss football stories, videos and social media content to your inbox each week.
We've been previewing the game all week at OleMissSports.com, so be sure to check out our first look, series snapshot, practice report and fan preview for more information on the contest on and off the field.
Scroll on for our top five storylines between the Rebels and Paladins, and other vital gameday info, including where to watch the game.
How to Watch: Ole Miss vs. Middle Tennessee
Date: Saturday, September 7
Time: 3:15 p.m. CT
Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Tickets: Limited Quantity Available
What to Wear: Red
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: ESPN App (SEC Network+)
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Live Audio: OleMissSports.com/watch
Week 2 Blues?
Ole Miss had a very similar start with a 73-7 victory against Mercer last year before going to Tulane for a much tougher challenge in Week 2. Lane Kiffin alluded to that in his press conference this week as 73 points turned into 37 against the Green Wave. Can the offense avoid a dip in production and execution in Week 2?
MT's Elite Coaching
One of Lane Kiffin's top concerns expressed in this week's press conference was that Middle Tennessee is sure to be well-coached, being led by former Vanderbilt head coach and Auburn and Stanford defensive coordinator Derek Mason. Kiffin also praised MTSU's defensive coordinator, Brian Stewart, who led the XFL's best defense in 2023, in addition to more than two decades of NFL and Power 5 experience.
Staying Sharp
Most of Ole Miss' starting lineup in Week 1 played just one half of football, particularly on defense, where most starters' snap counts were in the teens or 20s. After ramping up just to shut down, will there be any rust or adrenaline dump in Week 2?
Near Miss in CoMo
Last year, Middle Tennessee nearly pulled off a shocking upset of eventual New Year's Six bowl winner Missouri on the road in Columbia. The Blue Raiders crossed the 50-yard line trailing by just four in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, but a penalty set them back and ultimately halted the upset bid. Does MTSU have what it takes to pull it off this time?
Young Guns
If all goes to plan for Ole Miss, like in Week 1, the end of the game could be a showcase for the up-and-coming Rebels. Kam Franklin and Jamarious Brown showed out on the defensive line, Austin Simmons and Cayden Lee on the offensive end. Stay tuned through four quarters to see which other young Rebels will earn more playing time this weekend.
Stay Connected
Update today to the all-new version of the Ole Miss Sports app, presented by Renasant Bank! The new app will serve as a dynamic hub for Rebel gameday content, including ticketing, parking, schedules, shopping for official Ole Miss merchandise and much more. Click here for more info or to download.
Stay up to date with all the latest Ole Miss football news and content! Subscribe to The Sip, the official newsletter of Rebel football, and we'll drop the best Ole Miss football stories, videos and social media content to your inbox each week.
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