Ole Miss vs. Duke: How to watch the Gator Bowl, start time, TV channel

Ole Miss has bowled in each of Lane Kiffin’s five seasons as Rebel head coach.

The Rebels and Kiffin would secure their third 10-win season in that span by taking down Duke in the Gator Bowl. They’d also have their second-consecutive since 1959-60.

Kickoff on January 2, 2025 is 7:05 p.m. CT on ESPN. Ole Miss is second in the SEC and fourth nationally in bowl winning percentage (.625). The Rebels have won 12 of 16 dating back to the 1997 Motor City Bowl.

“Bowls are fun. This is my last shot at a bowl and I’m excited about it,” Ole Miss defensive lineman and leader Jared Ivey said. “The seniors want to finish what we started and get that 10th win of the season. I’m very ready to play.

“It’s very important to go out strong. We’re not quitters. We didn’t get what we wanted out of this season, but we still want to go out the right way with a win in the bowl game.”

RELATED: New Year’s resolutions for Ole Miss football recruiting

Most every major Ole Miss contributor this season opted to play in the Gator Bowl. 

Linebacker Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul is preparing for the NFL Draft. Paul and wide receivers Tre Harris and Juice Wells have all accepted invitations to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl, the nation’s oldest college football all-star game.

Safety Jadon Canady is in the transfer portal. Long-time right tackle Micah Pettus was dismissed and will play his final year at Florida State.

But third-year star quarterback Jaxson Dart is in. Same for veteran wide receiver Jordan Watkins and such accomplished, next-level veterans as tight end Caden Prieskorn and defensive linemen Walter Nolen, Ivey and JJ Pegues.

“It’s been awesome just being able to really set the standard here and the tradition here and give the fans a reason to be excited for the next season,” Watkins said after a bowl practice earlier this month. “I just see how far the program’s come the last three years. Been awesome to come out on the brighter side of it.”

HOW TO WATCH

Television/Online: ESPN
Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch
Color: Dusty Dvoracek

HOW TO LISTEN

Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Harry Harrison

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Ole Miss is playing in its fourth-ever Gator Bowl and first since 1991. … The Rebels and Blue Devils are meeting for the first time. … Ole Miss is 17-10-1 all-time against current members of the ACC, including 4-1 in bowl games.

Ole Miss has the third-most wins (38) in the SEC since 2021.

The Rebels sit atop the conference in 17 separate statistical categories. They’re nation-leading in four, including new school records for tackles for loss (116) and sacks (52). … Ole Miss is allowing just 83.5 rushing yards per game, which would be its lowest mark since 1992. … DT Walter Nolen is the 14th consensus All-American in program history. 

Suntarine Perkins and Princely Umanmielen both have 10.5 sacks— two shy of the single-season school record. … QB Jaxson Dart will leave Ole Miss as its leader in wins (27), passing (10,213) and total offense (11,668).

SCOUTING DUKE

Duke (9-3, 5-3 ACC) raced out to a 5-0 start this season before a loss at Georgia Tech. 

The Blue Devils offense is averaging 341.5 yards per game. However, they’re down their top-two quarterbacks, including starter Maalik Murphy, who transferred to Oregon State. 

Duke will be led instead by backup Henry Belin, IV. Belin appeared in three games in the regular season. He started one in 2023. Receivers Jordan Moore and Eli Pancol have has combined for over 1,500 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. New Mexico State transfer Star Thomas has 941 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on his 213 season carries. 

Duke is Top 10 nationally in sacks (3.3), tackles for loss (9.2) and turnovers (26). The Blue Devils led the ACC in pass defense (194.8). Linebacker Ozzie Nicholas, a transfer from Princeton, paced Duke with his 89 total tackles. He also forced and recovered two fumbles.

Sophomore defensive end Wesley Williams has a Duke-best 13.5 TFLs and 7.5 sacks.