After a disappointing overtime loss to LSU midway through the 2024 season, Ole Miss’ then-quarterback Jaxson Dart went viral for his “We gotta win out” quote. In Trinidad Chambliss’ press conference after the Texas loss, he echoed the same statement, but the similarities between the two seasons do not stop there.
Kentucky upset Ole Miss 20-17 earlier in that 2024 season, and that infamous loss was the most recent time the Rebels were defeated in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. When combined with the upset LSU pulled off, the Rebels dropped to 5-2 overall that year, making their final five games must-win affairs.
Two years later, the 2026 squad finds itself in the same position. The Rebels are 5-2 after their loss to Texas and still have many competitive teams left on their schedule. If Ole Miss wants to make the playoffs, the Rebels must win every remaining game.
In both 2024 and 2026, Ole Miss dropped an early-season contest to a lower-ranked or unranked school. The Kentucky loss in 2024 is considered one of Ole Miss’ worst losses in recent history, regardless of sport. The Wildcats were the Rebels’ first home conference matchup of the season and were underdogs.
Despite that, Kentucky pulled off the upset, and that win proved to be the Wildcats’ sole SEC win of the 2024 season. Their only other wins that season were against Southern Miss, Ohio and Murray State.
In comparison, the Florida loss this season is not as bad in terms of opponent strength. It was an away game. The Gators were ranked No. 21 in the country and have climbed to No. 17 with some solid victories on their resume. The Rebel performance, however, was miserable. Ole Miss lost 52-28 and gave up over 300 rushing yards.
Both of these losses are terrible in different ways but, ultimately, they both eradicated any wiggle room for the remainder of the season.
Coincidentally, Ole Miss plays Georgia at home this season with similar circumstances to 2024. A highly ranked Bulldog team is coming to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to take on a desperate Ole Miss squad.
To set up the possible Georgia scenario, a hungry Auburn will travel northwest this weekend, and the Tigers are no pushover. They beat Georgia, who was the No. 1 team in the country, on Oct. 17.
If Ole Miss can defeat Auburn, the Rebels will face the same situation they did in 2024 against the Bulldogs. In that case, a similar outcome would be well received by Ole Miss fans. The Rebels shocked Georgia 28-10 in 2024.
Yet another similarity to the Rebel season two years ago is that there are several Ole Miss stars in their final years in Oxford.
Dart, Tre Harris, Trey Amos and Walter Nolen were four of the eight Ole Miss players drafted after the 2024 season.
Chambliss, Will Echoles, Kewan Lacy, Suntarine Perkins, Deuce Alexander and Lucas Carneiro are all likely in their last seasons as Rebels.
Echoles, Lacy and Alexander all have eligibility remaining but will likely declare for the draft.
The five remaining regular season games will give these players ample time to add to their legacies, hopefully resulting in a second consecutive playoff berth for the program.
In his postgame press conference on Saturday, head coach Pete Golding echoed Dart’s words from two years ago.
“We control our own destiny,” Golding said. “We’re going to go to work and see what happens.”
The Rebels do not plan on repeating their end to the 2024 season. They lost in Week 12 to a 5-5 Florida team in The Swamp and finished their season in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Each matchup becomes more important, and on Halloween, the Rebels need a win over Auburn.
