Things were lining up for 2022 to be Ole Miss’ year, finally, at the top of the SEC. LSU had a new coach after a mediocre 2021. Alabama looked beatable early and was beaten later.
Heck, even 10 games into the year, the Rebels have just two losses, having flirted with being at the top.
Those two losses have come to the Tigers and Crimson Tide. Most recently, the drop was brought on by Alabama. Ole Miss had the ball inside the Alabama red zone with less than two minutes remaining and trailed by just six.
Gut punch.
Ole Miss bounced back after a similarly-styled loss to LSU a couple weeks before. The Rebels handled Texas A&m with relative ease. They’re trying to do the same this week against Arkansas.
“I was in that situation 13 years ago, ball in our hands at Tennessee, going down to kick a field goal to beat Alabama,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said. “It doesn’t happen very often. It’s why there’s a lot of frustration.”
Kiffin is familiar enough with the feeling that he’s all but guaranteed to have his team ready Saturday night from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. If Ole Miss wins its final two games, it’ll mark the first time the program has had back-to-back 10-win seasons since 1959 and 1960.
Arkansas needs the win worse, though. The Razorbacks, a year after winning nine games, are stuck on five. One more victory gets bowl eligibility. A loss Saturday forces a must-win the day after Thanksgiving at Missouri.
The Hogs will get a prepared Ole Miss.
“I’ve kind of moved on already, after I watched the film,” Ole Miss safety AJ Finley said. “I probably moved on (Sunday), honestly. Just watch the game, get all of that stuff out of the way and move on.”
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