The unranked Kentucky Wildcats traveled to Oxford and upset the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels with a final score of 20-17. The Wildcats’ victory came despite a nearly 20-minute deficit in possession time and a disadvantage in total yards.
Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff completed 18 of 28 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown, finishing with a quarterback rating of 149. His favorite target, Dane Key, hauled in eight receptions for 105 yards and Kentucky’s only receiving touchdown. Key’s longest reception went for 24 yards. Ole Miss struggled to contain Key, who consistently moved the chains for the Wildcats’ offense. On the ground, Kentucky was led by Deone Walker, who carried the ball 11 times for 47 yards.
Kentucky’s defensive unit harassed Ole Miss quarterbacks all game, ultimately sacking them five times for a total loss of 45 yards. This defensive pressure proved crucial in disrupting Ole Miss’s offensive rhythm and limiting their scoring opportunities.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart ended the game with similar statistics to Vandagriff, completing 18 of his 27 pass attempts for 261 yards and one touchdown. However, Dart was sacked four times for a loss of 19 yards, impacting his overall effectiveness. Running back Quinshon Judkins found success on the ground for Ole Miss, accumulating 62 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. Despite outgaining Kentucky 353 to 336 in total yards, the Rebels were hindered by their inability to convert on third down, only managing to convert one of their ten attempts.
Ultimately, Kentucky’s ability to control the clock, capitalize on scoring opportunities, and stifle the Ole Miss offense proved to be the difference in this hard-fought SEC matchup.
