Ole Miss will present arguably LSU’s biggest challenge yet this season.
The Rebels started the season 4-0, outscoring their opponents 220-22. However, they took a loss to Kentucky at home 20-17 in Week 5.
From that loss, the implications for LSU’s matchup with Ole Miss grew. But Ole Miss responded with a 27-3 win over South Carolina – a team LSU defeated by just three points – the following week.
With Ole Miss back in the winner’s circle, here are the biggest challenges LSU will have to face when the Rebels come to Baton Rouge.
Quick, pass-heavy offense
Ole Miss may have one of the most intense, pass-heavy offenses in not only the SEC but the entire country. The Rebels average 372.8 passing yards per game and 576.8 yards of total offense per game.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart is the ringleader of the offense’s quick tempo. He currently ranks second in the country with 2,100 passing yards on the season, along with 13 touchdowns through the air.
The Rebels have a knack for stretching the field and playing vertically. Of Dart’s 127 completed passes on the season, 109 of them were 15 yards out or more, and 12 of his 13 touchdowns were from 15 yards out or more.
But 52 of his 127 completions have gone to Tre Harris, who leads the team in receptions by a large margin. Harris leads the country in receiving yards with 885 receiving yards, 173 more than the second-ranked receiver.
Nonetheless, Ole Miss still uses a variety of receivers to keep its pass-heavy offense in motion. Along with Harris, four other receivers have over 100 receiving yards and over 10 catches on the season.
Defense is quick to rush the backfield
Ole Miss’ front seven presents a challenge to LSU’s offensive line, which has allowed just two sacks on the season thus far.
The Rebels lead the country in sacks with 24, three more than Boise State, Virginia Tech and Texas State, who are tied for the second-most sacks in the nation.
The most pressure from Ole Miss comes from its defense. Senior edge rusher, Jared Ivey, leads the team with five sacks.
Princely Umanmielen has 3.5 sacks off the opposite edge, but he was held out with an injury in the Rebels’ win over South Carolina. It’s unclear if he will be ready come Ole Miss’ matchup with LSU.
In Ole Miss’ interior defensive line, Walter Nolen, a transfer from Texas A&M, has 2.5 sacks on the season along with a fumble recovery.
J.J. Pegues also has a fumble recovery this season and 0.5 sacks. In his last two seasons at Ole Miss, Pegues totaled 6.5 sacks.
But the Rebels also use Pegues in the red zone on offense. Against South Carolina, he finished with two rushing touchdowns, both in short yardage. Pegues has three rushing touchdowns on the season on just seven rushing yards.
The Rebels also have a strong linebacker core. Suntarine Perkins has 4.5 sacks on the season, along with an interception, and Chris Paul Jr. has added 2.5 sacks.
Dart is able to scramble
On 44 carries this season, Dart has 156 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Against South Carolina, Dart ran for a season high 44 yards on eight carries. South Carolina has arguably one of the most prolific-pass rushes in the country and held him scoreless through the air. But Dart being able to use his legs to extend drives was key for the Rebels in their 27-3 win over the Gamecocks.
However, against Kentucky, Dart ran the ball a season-high 13 times, totaling just 22 yards. He was also sacked a season-high four times. Much of his downfall in the 20-17 loss was his inability to make quick decisions and get rid of the ball or take off with it.
While Ole Miss’ offensive line did struggle to contain Kentucky’s interior defensive line, much of Dart’s sacks were self-inflicted.
This being said, LSU’s defensive front will need to invade the pocket frequently and stay engaged on Dart in order to control the Rebels from stretching the field.
