1. With three games left on the schedule, how do you see Ole Miss finishing the regular season?
Matt Sigler (@SigNewton_2): I think the Rebels finish 8-4, but could easily change that to 9-3 depending on what type of Missouri team comes to town. I don’t see Ole Miss struggling with Troy or Mississippi State. Missouri is the last true test on the schedule.
Cody Thomason (@TheCodyThomason): I see Ole Miss going 2-1, winning against Troy and Mississippi State but losing a close game to 9th-ranked Missouri. Ole Miss is much improved this season, but quarterback James Franklin is slated to return for Mizzou that week and the Tigers’ offense could prove too difficult for Ole Miss to stop.
David Collier (@DavidLCollier): It really depends on what Ole Miss team shows up against Missouri and Mississippi State. The Rebels should get a win over Troy if they take care of business. Looking at Missouri, Ole Miss is going to have a hard time slowing down the Tiger offense. It may be a matter of who can outscore who, and if Ole Miss can’t run the ball, it’s not fair to put that much pressure on the arm of junior quarterback Bo Wallace. Against Mississippi State, the Bulldogs will either be playing for a bowl berth or just the Golden Egg. Regardless, everyone knows they’ll be ready come Thanksgiving night, and anything but an all-out effort from Ole Miss could result in a loss. When the dust settles, I see Ole Miss winning at least one of those final two games and going into the bowl season at 8-4. If I had to pick, I’d say they lose to Missouri and win the Egg Bowl on the road.
2. If Jeff Scott does make his return Saturday, how does that affect the Ole Miss offense?
Sigler: I believe it will allow them to open up a little bit more and let the other backs get some more rest. However, I don’t see it making a huge impact. These other guys like Jaylen Walton and I’Tavius Mathers have stepped right in and carried the load well for Ole Miss, and I don’t see their production going down much.
Thomason: It adds another dimension to the backfield. Scott brings experience and another speedy back to get to the outside. It also means fewer carries for sophomores Jaylen Walton and I’Tavius Mathers and for freshman Mark Dodson, who have performed admirably in his absence.
Collier: It just gives them another weapon. I think overall it helps most in the punt return game, where Scott has shown he’s a threat to break one on any given return. But in the run game, I think people have forgotten how good Scott really is. Everyone’s been enjoying sophomore backs Jaylen Walton and I’Tavius Mathers make a name for themselves, but when he’s healthy, that starting job still ultimately belongs to Scott.
3. Has Ole Miss’ ability to reach back-to-back bowl games in the first two years under Hugh Freeze surprised you?
Sigler: Definitely. I thought last year’s team was not going to be anywhere near as good as they turned out. This year, after the recruiting class, I anticipated a decent season, but not the 6-3 mark they sit at right now.
Thomason: Initially, I was very surprised that Ole Miss reached a bowl game just one year removed from a two-win season, but after the bowl victory last year and the stellar recruiting class that was added, I fully expected another bowl game at the end of the season.
Collier: Without a doubt. With all the issues Ole Miss had when Freeze took over, no one could’ve predicted a bowl game last year. Even coming into this year, it was going to be tough to get bowl eligible this early because of that tough early schedule. But give Freeze and his team credit. They’ve turned this program around and have everyone in Oxford dreaming about what could be a special season next year.
4. How far off is this program from competing with the top-tier teams in the SEC?
Sigler: Three or four years. Freeze needs to get a few more recruiting classes that he himself has picked out and targeted and that he knows will fit exactly what his system is trying to do.
Thomason: Possibly next year. With impact players such as Bo Wallace, Donte Moncrief and Cody Prewitt being seniors and young players like Robert Nkemdiche, Laremy Tunsil and Evan Engram having another year of experience, the team will be poised to compete in the SEC.
Collier: It’s still a few years away. Sure, next year Ole Miss could make a run because they return Bo Wallace, while most other SEC schools will be replacing their signal callers. However, Freeze wants to make Ole Miss a contender every single year, not a one-hit wonder. In order to do that, it’ll take more elite recruiting classes, and if they continue on this pace, they can have that in three or four years.
— Matt Sigler, Cody Thomason and David Collier
