Headlines
Matt Luke Looks to Stop the Run Against Texas Tech on Saturday
By Adam Brown
Sports Editor
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com.
Coach Matt Luke and his team “Locking the Vaught.” Photo by Paul Keelaghan
Ole Miss opens the 2018 season this Saturday versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Houston at the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff. Game time is 11 a.m. on ESPN.
“The game will be a huge challenge right-off-the-bat and a good litmus test for us,” Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke said.
The Rebels head into this season after a 6-6 campaign and a win over Mississippi State at the Egg Bowl. Luke heads into the Texas Tech game as the 38th head coach of his alma mater.
Luke had the challenge of replacing a few key starters, including RB Jordan Wilkins. Scottie Phillips replaces him and will lead the run game against Texas Tech.
“Scottie will start the game and get the majority of the carries, but you’ll see some other backs throughout the game based on situations where those guys are best at,” Luke said.
The main receivers, dubbed the “Nasty Wide Outs” (NWO), are made up of junior A.J. Brown, sophomore D.K. Metcalf and senior DeMarKus Lodge.
“(Ole Miss) has three top three round NFL draft pick-type talents,” Texas Tech head football coach Kliff Kingsbury said in his weekly press conference. “You don’t stop guys like that, you just try to slow them down.”
Texas Tech is coming off a 6-7 record in 2017, which included an appearance in the Birmingham Bowl. The Red Raiders began last season winning three straight games, including a home win over Arizona State in week two. Tech faltered late down the stretch, losing six of their final eight games.
“I have a lot of respect for Texas Tech. I think it will be a really tough opener,” Luke said.
The Red Raiders return 14 starters for 2017, including 10 from the defensive side of the ball. They also bolster an offensive line that has accounted for 83 career starts.
Ole Miss and Texas Tech have met on the gridiron five times prior to Saturday’s kickoff with the Rebels. The last time they faced off was in the 2009 Cotton Bowl as No. 20 Ole Miss took down No. 8 Texas Tech, 47-34.
Fans can watch all the action on ESPN or listen to the play-by-play on the Ole Miss Radio Network.
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | vs Furman | W, 76-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | vs Middle Tennessee | W, 52-3 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | @ Wake Forest | W, 40-6 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | vs Georgia Southern | W, 52-13 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Kentucky | L, 20-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ South Carolina | W, 27-3 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs LSU | L, 29-26 (2 OT) |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs Oklahoma | W, 26-14 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Arkansas | W, 63-35 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Georgia | W, 28-10 |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | @ Florida | L, 24-17 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | vs Mississippi State | W, 26-14 |
| Thu, Jan 2 |  | vs Duke (Gator Bowl) | W, 52-20 |
| Mon, Nov 4 |  | vs Long Island University | W, 90-60 |
| Fri, Nov 8 |  | vs Grambling | W, 66-64 |
| Tue, Nov 12 |  | vs South Alabama | W, 64-54 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Colorado State | W, 84-69 |
| Thu, Nov 21 |  | vs Oral Roberts | L, 100-68 |
| Thu, Nov 28 |  | vs BYU | W, 96-85 OT |
| Fri, Nov 29 |  | vs 13 Purdue | L, 80-78 |
| Tue, Dec 3 |  | @ Louisville | W, 86-63 |
| Sat, Dec 7 |  | vs Lindenwood | W, 86-53 |
| Sat, Dec 14 |  | vs Southern Miss | W, 77-46 |
| Tue, Dec 17 |  | vs Southern | W, 74-61 |
| Sat, Dec 21 |  | vs Queens University | W, 80-62 |
| Sat, Dec 28 |  | @ Memphis | L, 87-70 |
| Sat, Jan 4 |  | vs Georgia | 11:00 AM SECN |
| Wed, Jan 8 |  | @ 23 Arkansas | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 11 |  | vs LSU | 5:00 PM SECN |
| Tue, Jan 14 |  | @ 5 Alabama | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 18 |  | @ 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Jan 22 |  | vs 13 Texas A&M | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 25 |  | @ Missouri | 5:00 PM SECN |
| Wed, Jan 29 |  | vs Texas | 8:00 PM ESPN2 |
| Sat, Feb 1 |  | vs 2 Auburn | 3:00 PM TBA |
| Tue, Feb 4 |  | vs 10 Kentucky | 6:00 PM ESPN |
| Sat, Feb 8 | | @ LSU | 7:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 12 |  | @ South Carolina | 6:00 PM SECN |
| Sat, Feb 15 | | vs 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Feb 22 |  | @ Vanderbilt | 2:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 26 | | @ 2 Auburn | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 1 |  | vs 12 Oklahoma | 1:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Mar 5 |  | vs 1 Tennessee | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |