Three Ole Miss football games that will provide fireworks in 2023

Ole Miss has one of the toughest schedules in all of college football this season. Yes it has been discussed ad nauseam all spring so that is all that will be said about it here. Though every season from here on out as long as the Rebels are in the Southeastern Conference will be one of the toughest.

With the addition of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC next year this year’s schedule provides Ole Miss one final chances against teams it is not guaranteed to play every season after 2023.

As the 4th of July holiday week kicks off lets take a look at three games that should provide plenty of fireworks for the Rebels this fall.

There are some logical guess as to which games those might be on the Ole Miss slate such as Alabama, LSU or Georgia. But there are games among the Rebels nine other opponents that could offer up a lot of firepower.

Ole Miss at Alabama – September 23

This game has too many ingredients to not produce some fireworks.

When Ole Miss returns to Tuscaloosa in late September, the scene where Lane Kiffin told everyone to get their popcorn ready, storylines are going to be a plenty.

There is new Rebels offensive coordinator Pete Golding going back to where he was the previous defensive coordinator. The question of how Golding will fare against a Crimson Tide offense he watched up close for the last five seasons sits at the top.

Ole Miss starting its SEC schedule against Alabama brings some normalcy back to the Rebels after waiting until November to play the Crimson Tide last season.

This will be the first conference game after three straight non-conference games where there may or may not be a quarterback battle ongoing. Jaxson Dart getting his first crack at Alabama on the road with Spencer Sanders a potential factor makes for an explosive matchup for the Tide’s defense to try and solve.

Running back Quinshon Judkins gets his first chance to showcase his talents back in his home state. Will the reigning SEC rushing king get more than 135 yards against Alabama this year?

At Auburn – October 21

Similar to the Rebels first trip to its neighboring state this fall a visit to Auburn in October provides even more fireworks potential.

The week leading up to this year’s showdown on the Plains is going to, hopefully not but probably will, the saga between Kiffin and the Auburn head coaching position. The job was eventually filled by another former Ole Miss head coach in Hugh Freeze. This alone is enough fodder to provide the fireworks.

After the three-week opening run through SEC play Ole Miss gets its bye week ahead of its Auburn matchup. Games against Alabama, LSU and Arkansas will be the determing factor how the rest of the season will go for the Rebels.

Last season Dart threw for 130 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 115 yards against the Tigers. The potential for the Ole Miss offense to thrive against Auburn’s defense a second straight year is there after the Rebels combined for over 444 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M – November 4

Lane Kiffin and Jimbo Fisher.

More does not need to be added for this be enough firepower as the pre-game jabs and barbs will surely be there. More so if both Ole Miss and the Aggies are having decent to strong seasons and postseason implications are at stake.

Kiffin is 2-0 against the Aggies during his time at Ole Miss. The Rebels and Aggies did not meet during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

This is another game that could light up the scoreboard and stat sheet for Ole Miss. Another 400-yard rushing game was nearly had for the Rebels as they torched the Texas A&M run defense for 390 yards and a touchdown. Through the air the Rebels had 130 yards and three touchdowns.

The leadup to the showdown at Georgia the following week is sure to provide plenty of fireworks inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.