Head coach Hugh Freeze and players prepare to take the field before last week’s game. Photo: Vince Davis, The Daily Mississippian
For the first time in the schools’ histories, Ole Miss and Troy will meet on the football field. The Rebels (6-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) enter the game coming off a win over Arkansas, which qualified them for bowl eligibility, while the Trojans (5-5, 3-3 Sun Belt) enter Saturday’s clash on a two-game losing streak and are looking to get their sixth win of the season to become bowl eligible.
“We’re excited about playing Troy,” Ole Miss offensive line coach Matt Luke said Monday in a press conference. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Troy and Coach (Larry) Blakeney. He always has a great program and does a great job.”
The Trojans will bring a high-powered offense to Oxford led by senior quarterback Corey Robinson, who has thrown for 2,828 yards this season with 19 touchdowns. Robinson currently leads the Sun Belt in passing yards per game and is third in passing efficiency.
“I think he’s got a quick release,” defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said. “He’s thrown for a lot of yards in his career. He’s had his ups and downs at times, he’s been banged around, he’s been inconsistent at times, but he is dangerous from the standpoint of having a great arm and a quick release.”
Troy’s offense as a whole has also had major success in the Sun Belt, mainly behind Robinson. The Trojans rank second in scoring offense (34.6 points per game), first in total offense (478.5 yards per game) and first in pass offense (324.4 yards per game).
Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze, who coached against the Trojans in his time at Arkansas State, knows that there will be weapons on their offensive side of the ball.
“They always have offensive weapons that are scary,” Freeze said. “They’ve been able to put up points against everybody they’ve played this year with the exception of one team. They’re a scary team offensively because they are going to spread you out and they are athletic.”
Robinson’s biggest aerial threat will be Eric Thomas, who leads the team with 53 catches for 835 yards and 11 touchdowns. He ranks second in the Sun Belt in receiving yards per game.
Troy’s Achilles’ heel, however, will be its defense, which has given up a substantial amount of yards and points to opponents. The Trojans rank seventh in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (35.2 points per game) and total defense (462.2 yards per game), and last in pass defense (320.2 yards per game).
“Troy has given up some yards, but they’re athletic,” Freeze said. “Hopefully, they’ll do that again this Saturday if we take care of the football and kind of be who we are.”
The Trojan defense is led by Camren Hudson, who leads the team with 61 tackles. Troy’s defense hasn’t posed much of a threat in the turnover game either, only having four interceptions and four forced fumbles on the season.
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. and will be televised on ESPNU.
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— Matt Sigler
mcsigler@go.olemiss.edu
