Jaxson Dart, offense in trouble, more overreactions

OXFORD − It’s amazing what a 48-yard field goal missing wide left can do. Ole Miss football was perfect. Now the Rebels are winless in conference play.

Kentucky beat No. 6 Ole Miss 20-17 on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Rebels (4-1, 0-1 SEC) were tested in a way unlike any other game this season. Ole Miss entered the game having not trailed all season, but Kentucky (3-2, 1-2 SEC) quickly wiped that stat away.

Ole Miss struggled to find consistent offense against Kentucky and gave up a couple big defensive plays late. It proved costly, as Caden Davis’ potential game-tying field goal from 48 yards out in the waning seconds missed.

Time for some overreactions.

Ole Miss football offense, Jaxson Dart have significant problems

Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin was adamant that unranked Kentucky would be a stiff test. He was right, and the Rebels failed in their first SEC game.

Kentucky’s best defense against Jaxson Dart, the nation’s leading passer at 323 yards per game, was keeping him on the sideline. The Wildcats dominated time of possession (39:43 to 20:17), which allowed their defensive linemen to rest up and come hard after Dart when he was on the field. Kentucky finished with four sacks.

The Ole Miss offensive line that had no problem providing protection for Dart against Furman, Middle Tennessee, Wake Forest and Georgia Southern was beaten by the Kentucky defensive front. Dart failed to get into a rhythm and faced significant pressure. Running back Henry Parrish also failed to find a rhythm. As a whole, the Rebels averaged 3.2 yards per rush.

Ole Miss entered Week 5 leading the nation averaging 582 yards of total offense but finished with 353 vs Kentucky.

Slow, methodical drives appear to be the blueprint to beating Ole Miss. It limits the effectiveness of the Rebels’ no-huddle offense. Dart’s 261 passing yards and 18 completions were the most Kentucky has surrendered this season, but it was not enough to offset the Rebels’ mistakes, such as a Tre Harris fumble on the 18-yard line in the second half.

Because the game was low-scoring, possessions were magnified and Kentucky made more big plays. Other SEC teams that slow the game down and keep things close late will have a similar chance to beat Ole Miss.

SEC teams will keep exploiting Ole Miss penalties

Penalties, especially defensive ones, were a known problem for Ole Miss. It was more of the same on Saturday.

The Rebels committed eight penalties for 53 yards. The issues were especially apparent on Kentucky’s touchdown drive right before the first half ended.

Rebels defensive back Trey Amos was called for a pass interference on a third-and-10 pass intended for Dane Key. It wasn’t egregious, but it resulted in a free first down for the Wildcats. Later in that drive, Amos was held for holding on Key in the end zone. It gave Kentucky a first down that the Wildcats took advantage of on the play after, when Brock Vandagriff completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Key.

Ole Miss can’t win without feeding running back Henry Parrish

The first half was not pretty for the Ole Miss offense. Due to three first-half Kentucky drives that took over five minutes, the Rebels hardly had the ball. It especially cost Rebels running back Henry Parrish.

Parrish got just four carries in the first half for 8 yards. He had been averaging more than 14 carries per game.

Parrish finished with 13 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown. Dart also got 13 carries.

Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_