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    • Ole Miss football overreactions after losing to Arkansas
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    Ole Miss football overreactions after losing to Arkansas

    Idris Bevan Posted on

    FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Everything went well for Ole Miss football on Saturday with a 63-31 win at Arkansas.

    The no. 18 Rebels (7-2, 3-2 SEC) defeated the Razorbacks (5-4, 3-3). Ole Miss built a lead with a defensive touchdown by Jared Ivey and then extended it offensively. It was a thorough reign.

    Here are some overreactions.

    If Jaxson Dart, Rebels play like this next week, Ole Miss will beat Georgia

    The Rebels were a well-rehearsed, fine-tuned machine on Saturday. Arkansas was just in the way.

    It started with Jaxson Dart. The Ole Miss senior quarterback finished the game with 515 passing yards. He was efficient, completing 25 of 31 passes and had no turnovers. It was enough to move him into first place as the all-time leading offensive player at Ole Miss.

    Ole Miss’ defense was brutal in the first half. The Rebels smothered Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (and redshirt freshman Malachi Singleton, who replaced Green) and managed eight sacks.

    The Rebels were at their best against Arkansas. If Ole Miss can get back to its best next week against Georgia, the Rebels will get a decisive win at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

    Jordan Watkins is the threat Lane Kiffin’s offense needs with Tre Harris out

    There was a lot of talk about Tre Harris not playing on Saturday. The second-leading receiver in the country (987 yards) was questionable due to a lower-body injury and did not play.

    Senior receiver Jordan Watkins took over the gap.

    Dart hit receiver Jordan Watkins twice in the first half with great speed on deep passes. It resulted in touchdowns of 62 and 66 yards. that was just the beginning. Overall, Watkins rushed for 254 yards and five touchdowns on eight catches.

    Watkins set the Ole Miss single-game record and broke Jonathan Mingo’s record of 247 against Vanderbilt in 2022. The five receiving touchdowns are also a program record. It broke Harris’ record of four games against Mercer in 2023.

    As Harris is known for, Watkins consistently tracked down deep balls. Watkins also beat a defender one-on-one in the end zone on a fade route on that third touchdown. It was a complete, impressive show.

    The College Football Playoff feels real again

    Getting into the new 12-team College Football Playoff has always been on the table. Even after Ole Miss lost to LSU in overtime, the Rebels leading the standings from there would probably be enough to sneak in.

    Sure, Ole Miss did what it needed to do with a 26-14 win over Oklahoma last week, but the performance didn’t exactly bolster the Rebels’ reputation as a juggernaut. The Rebels were down at halftime against the banged-up, struggling Sooners and needed a deficit to win.

    The Rebels posted their most impressive SEC win to date. The 63 points are the most Ole Miss has scored at Arkansas.

    If Ole Miss can keep this up, a win will feel a lot more realistic than it did a week ago.

    Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X @Sam_Hutchens_

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    Idris Bevan
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