Big Blue Preview: Kentucky vs. Ole Miss
Info to Know
| Kentucky vs. Ole Miss | When: Sat., Sept. 6, 3:30 ET | Where: Kroger Field, Lexington, Ky. | TV: ABC | Radio: UK Sports Network |
Preview
After topping Toledo 24-16 on Saturday, Kentucky opens Southeastern Conference play this weekend, hosting Ole Miss at Kroger Field. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on ABC.
Dante Dowdell rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown in UK’s season-opening victory. The Cats will hope to employ a similar formula this weekend against the Rebels.
Ole Miss beat Georgia State 63-7 on Saturday, racking up 695 yards of total offense in the game. Quarterback Austin Simmons leads the potent offensive attack, which is under the direction of head coach Lane Kiffin.
Cat Scratches: White, UK Defense Preparing for ‘Talented’ Ole Miss
The Kentucky defense will face a big challenge on Saturday when nationally-ranked Ole Miss and its high-powered offense come to Kroger Field.
The Rebels scored 63 points and had 695 yards of total offense in a season-opening win over Georgia State. Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White was impressed with the Rebels when he watched the film.
“Really talented group. We understand what they can do,” White said. “The quarterback (Austin Simmons) is playing well, talented group of receivers. I think the backs ran really hard on Saturday, made guys miss. Obviously, the tight ends showed up big time for them as well. Huge, huge challenge.”
White knows that his team needs to focus on the fundamentals and on their assignments in order to slow down the Ole Miss attack…Read More
KENTUCKY-OLE MISS
The Series
• Kentucky tails Ole Miss, 30-15-2 in the all-time series, which began in 1937.
• In Lexington, the series is tied, 11-11-1.
• UK hasn’t hosted UM in Lexington since 2020.
• Ole Miss has won the past two meetings in Lexington.
• The last time UK defeated UM in Lexington was on Nov. 5, 2011 (30-13).
• The Wildcats are on a one-game winning streaking after taking the last meeting with the Rebels, 20-17, in Oxford in 2024.
• Each of the past four meetings have been decided by three points or less (a total of 10 points) with one (2020) going to overtime.
• FUN FACT: The teams also have met 11 times in either Jackson, Mississippi, or Memphis, Tennessee.
In the Last Meeting
• Kentucky defeated No. 6/5 Ole Miss, 20-17, on Sept. 28, 2024, which marked its highest-ranked triumph at an opponent’s Southeastern Conference campus stadium in program history.
• It also marked UK’s highest-ranked triumph in the Mark Stoops era.
• It also marked its highest Associated Press ranked road win since a victory at No. 4 Penn State in 1977.
• It also marked its first win over an Associated Press ranked, top-six team since a victory over No. 1 LSU in 2007.
• Against a defense that entered the game first in the nation in scoring defense (5.5ppg) and rushing defense (34.5ypg) and 12th in total defense (239ypg), UK’s offense totaled 20 points, 336 yards of total offense, 93 rushing yards and 243 passing yards at UM.
• Against an offense that entered the game first in the nation in scoring (55ppg), total offense (670.8ypg) and passing offense (422.8ypg), and 12th in rushing offense (248ypg), UK’s defense held UM to 17 points, 353 yards of total offense, 261 passing yards and 92 rushing yards.
The Connections
• UK RB Dante Dowdell (Picayune) and DL Josaih Hayes (Horn Lake) each hail from the Magnolia State.
By the Numbers
1
Career 100-yard rushing game for Dante Dowdell, which came last week when he rushed for 129 yards against Toledo
3
Career interceptions for JQ Hardaway after he picked off Toledo’s Tucker Gleason in the season opener
12
Career wins over ranked opponents by UK head coach Mark Stoops, the most in school history
35
Career starts for UK center Jager Burton, the most starts of any player on the UK roster
220
Rushing yards for Kentucky against Toledo in the season opener
