(Photo: ESPN)
Campus Clash
(7) Ole Miss Rebels at (19) Texas Longhorns
Ole Miss (5-1):
Ole Miss has regrouped nicely since the Week 4 beatdown at the hands of the Florida Gators. I’d say that was a humbling loss, and this is exactly why you don’t enter a game still celebrating the previous week’s win. That never bodes well for you. I remember Kewan Lacy getting injured in the Week 3 game against LSU, and to this day, I feel he’s the one piece that holds this entire offense together. You saw how much his presence was missed against Florida as the Rebels struggled to establish a consistent running game. Since then, I’ve seen this group bounce back and get back on track. Against Vanderbilt, they showed they could rack up points in bunches once again after struggling to get the offense moving in Gainesville. They left Nashville with 52 points on the board, and just this past weekend against Missouri, they generated more than 500 yards of total offense. In their last two games combined, they’ve scored 83 points while giving up just 20. This is still a strong Ole Miss football team, and Trinidad Chambliss is back to playing the kind of football we’ve come to expect from him. He’s still producing and putting up big numbers, while a healthy Lacy provides balance to the offense. The defense has responded in a big way after allowing 498 yards to Florida in September. The Rebels forced four turnovers against Vanderbilt and held a strong Missouri offense to just a field goal. Good things happen when you finish games convincingly. This Saturday night, the Rebels will make their way to Austin for a primetime SEC showdown.
Texas (4-2):
I’ve literally run out of things to say about this team, and I’m in full agreement with those who say Texas is overrated. When the Longhorns became the No. 1-ranked team in the nation after their big win against Ohio State, they never looked like a team that truly belonged at the top of the rankings, if you follow what I’m saying. And if you don’t, I’m here to explain. I’ve seen them dominate opponents we all know they’re much better than, but when it comes to facing tougher competition, this group tends to fold. When I appeared on College Football Showdown with Israel Rivera a few weeks back, we discussed the Red River Rivalry, and I picked Texas to win. However, I knew it wouldn’t be easy because the Oklahoma Sooners would be looking for revenge after being embarrassed in last year’s matchup. In that game, the Texas offense went completely cold after halftime, and Arch Manning struggled. Just last week, I saw that upset against the Florida Gators coming from a mile away. I still remember last year when the Longhorns went into Gainesville and were upset. Arch has struggled under pressure, and the play-calling and second-half adjustments have drawn criticism, as they should. Texas has struggled to hold leads, and just yesterday, on Monday Evening Quarterback, I said I wouldn’t be opposed to Steve Sarkisian making a change and benching Arch. They need something to get them moving in the right direction. The Longhorns will look to snap their losing streak with a red-hot Ole Miss team coming to town on Saturday night.
Ole Miss X-Factor: Suntarine Perkins
Ole Miss has its share of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball, and Suntarine Perkins is one of them. He’s a 6-foot-2 linebacker who can also put his hand in the dirt as an EDGE defender. He’s a force along this defensive front and plays the run with the same energy he brings when rushing the quarterback. Perkins is quick off the edge and knows how to maneuver his way into the pocket to bring down or pressure the quarterback. I look for him to disrupt Arch Manning’s timing before the play can even get going.
Texas X-Factor: Raleek Brown
I’ve been calling for this Texas offense to get the running game going! I think establishing the run could take a ton of pressure off Arch and the passing game while forcing the defense to commit more resources to stopping the run. Raleek has explosive-play potential written all over him, and one touch can turn into a huge gain. Feeding him the ball can help Texas control the tempo while keeping Trinidad Chambliss and the Ole Miss offense on the sideline. Raleek is capable of turning a small crease into a big gain and helping move the chains. My only concern is whether Texas will feed him the ball enough to make a difference. That’s what I’ll be paying attention to.
Final Thoughts:
Can you believe it’s already Week 8 of college football? In a few weeks, we’ll begin to see the first College Football Playoff rankings, and I have a feeling one of these teams will be ranked in the top seven while the other will be on the outside looking in. I feel this is an elimination game for the Texas Longhorns, and Ole Miss would want nothing more than to embarrass them. This quarterback matchup has intrigue written all over it, with Trinidad Chambliss facing Arch Manning. Ole Miss must come out and force Texas to defend the entire field, and that starts with establishing Kewan Lacy. Feed him the ball early and often, use play-action once Texas overcommits to the run, and keep the offense ahead of the chains. On the other side of the ball, continue to make Arch uncomfortable. Can Ole Miss get pressure without blitzing? That’s another thing I’ll be paying close attention to. The Rebels must also win the explosive-play battle and let Trinidad attack the Texas defense vertically. For Texas, the formula is straightforward: Get Arch playing fast and decisively, allow him to build confidence, attack downfield when the protection holds up, and avoid turnovers. Establish Brown and the running game, and limit Kewan Lacy’s opportunities to get going. If possible, make Ole Miss a one-dimensional football team.
