Lane Kiffin provides update on Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral

Ahead of Saturday’s game against LSU, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin offered an update on star quarterback Matt Corral’s status on during an appearance on “The Paul Finebaum Show.”

“We’re hopeful he plays, just like all of our players that are injured,” Kiffin said. “So if he doesn’t, we’ll be ready and have a good plan for him not playing and make the most of this great atmosphere that we’re going to have and find a way to win. I always expect our injured guys to play, but we definitely have a plan without him, and Luke Altmyer has done some really good things in practice this week and is ready to go.”

Against Tennessee on Saturday, Matt Corral completed 21 of his 38 pass attempts for 231 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also had a historic night on the ground, rushing 30 times for 195 yards, a career high. In the win, Corral suffered an apparent ankle injury, though the exact injury and extent is not known.

Corral is one of the leading contenders to win the Heisman Trophy. On the season, Matt Corral has completed 66.3% of his passes for 1,728 yards, 14 touchdowns and an interception. He also has 450 rushing yards and eight scores on 88 carries. Coming out of Week 7, Corral is tied with Alabama quarterback Bryce Young as the favorites to win the Heisman.

If Corral is unable to, true freshman Luke Altmyer will be handed the keys to the offense against LSU. So far this season, Altmyer has thrown just four passes, all have fallen incomplete. He threw three against Austin Peay and one against Tennessee. Altmyer was a four-star quarterback coming out of high school. As a senior in a limited schedule, he threw for 1,653 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a junior, Altmyer threw for over 3,000 yards and 37 touchdowns to just five interceptions, while completing 67% of his passes.

Whether it’s Altmyer or Matt Corral, Ole Miss will look to improve to 6-1 against an LSU team that is struggling with injuries of their own. Defensively the Tigers will be without a number of crucial defensive players for the rest of the season. Defensive end Ali Gaye, cornerback Eli Ricks, cornerback Derek Stingley, defensive end Andre Anthony and defensive tackle Joseph Evans are out for the season. In addition, safety Major Burns has missed the last two weeks.

Offensively, top wide receiver Kayshon Boutte will miss the remainder of the season due to a leg injury. Against Ole Miss, right guard Chasen Hines and receiver Deion Smith will not play “unless something miraculous happens.”