One of the most surprising things about Ole Miss through four games has been the play of the defense.
There was talk in the preseason about how this defense could be as good as the elite 2024 Ole Miss defense. Nobody is talking like that now.
The Rebels’ defense began the season with coverage busts teams like Louisville and Charlotte weren’t able to take advantage of. That’s been less of a problem in the last two games against LSU and Florida, but it was the Gators who exposed the biggest problem with the Rebels’ defense.
Stopping the run isn’t something Ole Miss is good at doing right now. That could change and will be a focal point during the bye week.
But if that area of the defense isn’t improved, just how bad could things get? There are eight games left in the season, including seven against SEC teams. So, it could get very bad for Ole Miss.
How bad, though, varies from team to team. Here’s a ranking of the remaining rushing attacks Ole Miss will face this season, starting with the easiest attacks to stop.
8. Wofford
- Team stats: 476 rushing yards, 5 TDs, 95.2 yards per game, 3.24 yards per carry.
- Leading rusher: Gerald Modest Jr., 369 yards, 5 TDs, 73.8 ypg, 4.6 ypc
7. Oklahoma
- Team stats: 396 yards (15th SEC/128th NCAA), 2 TDs (16th SEC/T-132nd NCAA), 99.0 ypg (15th SEC/128th NCAA), 2.9 ypc (15th SEC/131st NCAA)
- Leading rusher: Lloyd Avant, 164 yards, 41 ypg, 3.9 ypc, 1 TD
6. Vanderbilt
- Team stats: 531 yards (13th SEC/T-101st NCAA), 7 TDs (T-10th SEC/T-55th NCAA), 132.8 ypg (13th SEC/T-105th NCAA), 3.8 ypc (13th SEC/112th NCAA)
- Leading rusher: Sedrick Alexander, 165 yards, 3 TDs, 41.3 ypg, 4.46 ypc
5. Texas
- Team stats: 586 yards (12th SEC/88th NCAA), 8 TDs (9th SEC/T-48th NCAA), 146.5 ypg (12th SEC/92nd NCAA), 3.6 ypc (14th SEC/116th NCAA)
- Leading rushers: Hollywood Smothers, 198 yards, 2 TDs, 66 ypg, 4.83 ypc; Raleek Brown, 196 yards, 4 TDs, 49 ypg, 4.08 ypc
4. Missouri
- Team stats: 623 yards (10th SEC/74th NCAA), 6 TDs (T-12th SEC/T-69th NCAA), 155.8 ypg (10th SEC/77th NCAA), 4.2 ypc (10th SEC/89th NCAA)
- Leading rusher: Jamal Roberts, 395 yards, 3 TDs, 98.8 ypg, 4.44 ypc
3. Auburn
- Team stats: 714 yards (9th SEC/51st NCAA), 6 TDs (T-12th SEC/T-69th NCAA), 178.5 ypg (9th SEC/50th NCAA), 4.6 ypc (8th SEC/61st NCAA)
- Leading rusher: Jeremiah Cobb, 228 yards, 2 TDs, 57 ypg, 5.56 ypc
- QB rushing stats: Byrum Brown, 237 yards, 3 TDs, 59.3 ypg, 3.82 ypc
2. Mississippi State
- Team stats: 871 yards (5th SEC/25th NCAA), 7 TDs (T-10th SEC/T-55th NCAA), 217.8 ypg (5th SEC/26th NCAA), 5.6 ypc (5th SEC/27th NCAA)
- Leading rusher: Fluff Bothwell, 402 yards, 3 TDs, 100.5 ypg, 5.51 ypc
- QB rushing stats: Kamario Taylor, 185 yards, 1 TD, 46.3 ypg, 5.0 ypc
1. Georgia
- Team stats: 889 yards (4th SEC/21st NCAA), 14 TDs (2nd SEC/T-5th NCAA), 222.3 ypg (4th SEC/22nd NCAA), 6.8 ypc (1st SEC/2nd NCAA)
- Leading rusher: Nate Frazier, 202 yards, 5 TDs, 67.3 ypg, 8.42 ypc
