Ole Miss, Oklahoma State set for Sugar Bowl showdown

MS learned last season it’s a huge honor and lots of fun to play in one of the major bowls.

The Rebels also found out how embarrassing it is to get blown out on such a big stage.

The Rebels will be taking on the Oklahoma State Cowboys at the Superdome for the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss’ 46-year drought was the third-longest stretch between appearances behind Texas A&M’s 59 (from 1939 to 1998).

“We’ve used it since then to motivate ourselves”.

Oklahoma State is a good matchup for Ole Miss.

For Ole Miss, it’s been pretty simple all season: force turnovers and win, lose the turnover battle and the game as well-in most instances. The Rebels closed the season on a roll, beating LSU and Mississippi State heading into the Sugar Bowl. As hot as Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly was to end the season, he should have a good day. He has thrown for 3,740 yards and 27 touchdowns. He leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency (203.7) and is second on the team with 285 yards rushing with a team-best 11 touchdowns. “They are able to run the ball, and their quarterback is very talented”, Cowboys linebacker Seth Jacobs said. “They are always going to have great players because their coaches recruit so well. Our structure has worked, but we have one more night to get through”, Freeze said.

Oklahoma State has also avoided issues this week.

Beating an SEC team in the season finale would be a good consolation prize. The Rebels will be playing without star DT Robert Nkemdiche, who was suspended for the Sugar Bowl after falling out a hotel window in Atlanta earlier this month and being charged with possession of marijuana….

Sports Illustrated’s Ben Glicksman, Colin Becht and B.J. Schecter break down the best matchups heading into bowl season. Nkemdiche’s absence likely means more attention for DE Marquise Haynes, who has 9.5 sacks.

Emmanuel Ogbah, OSU’s defensive end and Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year will be a challenge for Tunsil. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Ogbah is a disruptive player on the Cowboys’ defensive line that is the NCAA’s active career leader in sacks with 28.

Leading the Rebels on offense is Laquon Treadwell, who the Cowboys coveted two years ago. For more behind-the-scenes looks at the Rebels’ Sugar Bowl activities, follow the official Snapchat account of Ole Miss Athletics (WeAreOleMiss).

Quarterbacks for both teams were very bad six years later in the Rebels’ 21-7 win.

This will be the third bowl meeting between these programs in the last 12 years. Senior J.W. Walsh has split time with Rudolph and is strong point is his mobility. James Washington has 1077 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, while David Glidden has 807 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns for Oklahoma State. Walsh has completed 48 of 71 for 663 yards with 13 TDs and one pick. In 2017, 2020 and 2023, the Sugar Bowl will be a semifinal game in the college football playoffs.