Game Primer: No. 9 Football Plays Host to Auburn

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• This is the 47th meeting all-time between Ole Miss and Auburn dating back to 1928.

• The Tigers lead the all-time series 35-10 and are 13-2 in Oxford … Original record is 35-11 in favor of Auburn, but Ole Miss’ win in 2012 was vacated due to NCAA ruling.

• The Rebels are ranked No. 9 in both the AP Poll and the AFCA Coaches Poll.

• 1962 was the last time Ole Miss started 6-0 and didn’t have to vacate any of its wins.

• Ole Miss will honor those who serve and have served in military service Saturday with its annual Military Appreciation game.

• The Rebels have forced a turnover in 26 of the 29 games during the Lane Kiffin era.

• Ole Miss ranks first in the SEC and No. 6 nationally converting on third downs 53.2 percent of the time.

• 56 of the 125 players (45 percent) on the Rebel roster are newcomers and are in their first season at Ole Miss.

• The Rebels are second in the FBS allowing just 0.33 sacks per game.

• The Rebels are tied with No. 1 Georgia for the FBS lead in total rushing touchdowns (21), and rank within the FBS top 20 in total rushing yards (1,452), yards per game (242.0), total attempts (261) and yards per rush (5.56).

• WR Jonathan Mingo leads the SEC in receiving yards (507) and yards per reception (23.05), which is second nationally.

• RB Quinshon Judkins leads all freshman nationally with eight total touchdowns on the season.

• QB Jaxson Dart leads the SEC and ranks fifth in the FBS in yards per completion (14.9).

• K Jonathan Cruz is 6-of-8 in his collegiate career on field goals from 50 yards or more.

• DT KD Hill was awarded the Chucky Mullins Courage Award and will wear No. 38 throughout the 2022 season.

OLE MISS HEAD COACH LANE KIFFIN

Lane Kiffin (Fresno State, 1998) is in his third season at Ole Miss and helped lead the Rebels to back-to-back bowl appearances in his first two years in Oxford. Kiffin guided the Rebels to a 10-3 record in 2021, the first 10-win regular season in school history. That included a perfect 7-0 mark at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, part of an ongoing 13-game home win streak for Kiffin’s teams. The Rebels finished the season ranked No. 11 in both the AP and AFCA Coaches Poll; its highest final ranking since 2016. Ole Miss ranked top-20 in the FBS in nine different offensive categories in his first…