The 2023 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Rebels were led by Lane Kiffin in his fourth season as their head coach. The Ole Miss Rebels football team drew an average home attendance of 63,721 in 2023.
The Ole Miss football team played their home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. This was the final year for the SEC West and East divisions, as the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma joined the SEC from the Big 12 in 2024, and the SEC's divisional format was done away with, making the SEC Conference a 16-team battle in 2024.
The Rebels were predicted to finish 4th in the SEC West behind Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M. They started out 3–0 with a win over #23 Tulane on the road, but suffered their first loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide by a score of 24–10. They rebounded by defeating their arch-rival #13 LSU 55–49 in front of 66,703 (the then-largest crowd to ever watch a football game in the state of Mississippi).
The Rebels eventually won every subsequent game in the month of October and reached an 8–1 record and a #9 ranking in the first College Football Playoff rankings. This led to a Top 10 showdown with #2 Georgia, the two-time defending national champion, in Athens. ESPN's College GameDay broadcast their show on the University of Georgia's campus. The Rebels would lose 52–17; this would be the 2nd and final loss of the season for the team.
Wins over ULM and arch-rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl allowed the Rebels to claim another 10-win regular season, just the second in their history after the 2021 season. While it looked as though the Rebels would unfortunately get left out of a New Year's Six bowl and would be sent to the Citrus Bowl, they did receive a New Year's Six bowl berth after Alabama was selected to be in the College Football Playoff over Florida State (which sent the undefeated Seminoles to the Orange Bowl and thus opened up a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl for Ole Miss). The Rebels would be selected to play Penn State in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl. Despite being 5.5 point underdogs, Ole Miss won 38–25 in front of 71,230 fans from both teams, which was the 2nd-largest attendance of any bowl in the 2023 season following the Rose Bowl (96,371).
Following their win in the Peach Bowl against Penn State, the Rebels achieved their first 11-win season in program history. It was also the first time in 52 years that the Rebels finished a season with two-or-fewer losses.
Offseason
NFL draft
Four Rebels were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Player
Position
Team
Round
Pick
Jonathan Mingo
WR
Carolina Panthers
2
39
Tavius Robinson
LB
Baltimore Ravens
4
124
Zach Evans
RB
Los Angeles Rams
6
215
Nick Broeker
OG
Buffalo Bills
7
230
Transfers
Outgoing
Player
Position
Destination
Luke Altmyer
QB
Illinois
Miles Battle
DB
Utah
Derek Bermudez
DB
Fullerton College
Tobias Braun
OT
Arkansas State
Kyndrich Breedlove
DB
Colorado
Markevious Brown
DB
Purdue
Brandon Buckhaulter
WR
UAB
Kentrel Bullock
RB
South Alabama
Erick Cade
OT
Missouri State
Falentha Carswell
OT
Memphis
Demon Clowney
DE
Charlotte
Jalen Cunningham
DL
Arkansas State
MJ Daniels
S
Southern Miss
Kinkead Dent
QB
UT Martin
Hamilton Hall
OT
Arkansas State
JJ Hawkins
DL
Colorado
Davison Igbinosun
DB
Ohio State
Isaiah Iton
DL
Rutgers
Dannis Jackson
WR
Missouri
Dashaun Jerkins
S
UMass
Tysheem Johnson
S
Oregon
Casey Kelly
TE
Oregon
Austin Keys
LB
Auburn
Danny Lockhart
LB
Texas A&M
Brandon Mack
DE
Houston
Tywone Malone
DL
Ohio State
Braxton Myers
S
Purdue
Roman Rashada
DB
Arizona State
Jaylon Robinson
WR
TCU
Elijah Sabbatini
S
Southern Miss
Luke Shouse
DL
Tennessee
Jaron Willis
DE
South Carolina
Isaiah Woullard
RB
Louisiana–Monroe
Incoming
Player
Position
Previous School
Daijahn Anthony
S
Liberty
Jadon Canady
DB
Tulane
Victor Curne
OL
Washington
Caden Davis
K
Texas A&M
TJ Dudley
LB
Clemson
Zakhari Franklin
WR
UTSA
DeShawn Gaddie
DB
North Texas
Chris Graves
DB
Miami (FL)
Jam Griffin
RB
Oregon State
Joshua Harris
DL
NC State
Tre Harris
WR
Louisiana Tech
Walker Howard
QB
LSU
Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste
LB
UCF
Monty Montgomery
LB
Louisville
Caden Prieskorn
TE
Memphis
Spencer Sanders
QB
Oklahoma State
John Saunders
DB
Miami (OH)
Akelo Stone
DL
Georgia Tech
Isaac Ukwu
DE
James Madison
Zamari Walton
DB
Georgia Tech
Stephon Wynn
DL
Nebraska
Teja Young
S
Florida Atlantic
Preseason
SEC Media Poll
The 2023 SEC media poll was released on July 21, 2023. The Rebels were predicted to finish fourth in the Western Division.
Schedule
Ole Miss and the SEC announced the 2023 football schedule on September 20, 2022. The 2023 Rebels' schedule consisted of 7 home games and 5 away games for the regular season. Ole Miss hosted four SEC conference opponents Arkansas (rivalry), LSU (Magnolia Bowl), Texas A&M and Vanderbilt (rivalry) at home and traveled to four SEC opponents, Alabama (rivalry), Auburn (rivalry), Georgia and Mississippi State (Egg Bowl) to close out the SEC regular season on the road. Ole Miss was not scheduled to play SEC East opponents Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee in the 2023 regular season. The Rebel's bye week came during week 7 (on October 14, 2023).
Ole Miss's out of conference opponents represented the American, ACC, SoCon and the Sun Belt conferences. The Rebels hosted three non–conference games which were against Georgia Tech from the ACC, Louisiana–Monroe from the Sun Belt and Mercer from the SoCon (FCS) and traveled to rival Tulane from the American.
(8:50) Ole Miss – Caden Davis 29 Yd Field Goal Georgia 45–17; 13 plays, 63 yards, 5:22
(4:12) Georgia – Andrew Paul 4 Yd Run (Peyton Woodring Kick) Georgia 52–17; 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:38
Statistics
MISS
UGA
First downs
18
25
Total yards
352
611
Passing yards
173
311
Rushes/yards
45/179
35/300
Penalties/yards
9/68
5/55
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
29:03
30:57
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ole Miss
Passing
Jaxson Dart
10/17, 112 yards, 1 INT
Rushing
Quinshon Judkins
22 carries, 75 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Caden Prieskorn
2 receptions, 48 yards
Georgia
Passing
Carson Beck
18/25, 306 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Kendall Milton
9 carries, 127 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Ladd McConkey
4 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD
Louisiana–Monroe
Uniform Combination
Helmet
Jersey
Pants
Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks (2–8) at No. 13 Ole Miss Rebels (8–2)
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Warhawks
0
3
0
0
3
No. 13 Rebels
7
0
21
7
35
at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS
Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 58 °F (14 °C)
Game attendance: 60,752
Referee: Matt Loeffler
TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play) Matt Stinchcomb (color) Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
(4:26) Ole Miss – Ulysses Bentley IV 14 Yd Run (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 7–0; 10 plays, 85 yards, 2:59
Second Quarter
(0:00) Louisiana–Monroe – Braxton Guilbeau 26 Yd Field Goal Ole Miss 7–3; 17 plays, 71 yards, 6:25
Third Quarter
(9:44) Ole Miss – Tre Harris 13 Yd pass from Jaxson Dart (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 14–3; 9 plays, 78 yards, 2:33
(4:15) Ole Miss – Caden Prieskorn 2 Yd pass from Jaxson Dart (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 21–3; 8 plays, 60 yards, 3:04
(1:46) Ole Miss – Dayton Wade 58 Yd pass from Jaxson Dart (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 28–3; 3 plays, 60 yards, 1:07
Fourth Quarter
(6:12) Ole Miss – Cayden Lee 51 Yd pass from Spencer Sanders (Caden Costa Kick) Ole Miss 35–3; 6 plays, 81 yards, 2:02
Statistics
ULM
MISS
First downs
19
27
Total yards
258
498
Passing yards
66
371
Rushes/yards
46/192
37/127
Penalties/yards
7/65
8/81
Turnovers
1
0
Time of possession
34:04
25:56
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Louisiana–Monroe
Passing
Jiya Wright
7/19, 56 yards, 1 INT
Rushing
Hunter Smith
17 carries, 74 yards
Receiving
Tyrone Howell
3 receptions, 34 yards
Ole Miss
Passing
Jaxson Dart
24/31, 310 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Quinshon Judkins
18 carries, 65 yards
Receiving
Dayton Wade
7 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD
At Mississippi State
Uniform Combination
Helmet
Jersey
Pants
No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels (9–2) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (5–6)
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 12 Rebels
0
3
7
7
17
Bulldogs
0
0
7
0
7
at Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS
Date: Thursday, November 23, 2023
Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 46 °F (8 °C)
Game attendance: 60,412
Referee: Steve Marlowe
TV announcers (ESPN): Tom Hart (play-by-play) Jordan Rodgers (color) Cole Cubelic (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
No scoring plays
Second Quarter
(8:23) Ole Miss – Caden Costa 36 Yd Field Goal Ole Miss 3–0; 13 plays, 66 yards, 6:22
Third Quarter
(8:33) Mississippi State – Will Rogers 1 Yd Run (Kyle Ferrie Kick) Mississippi State 7–3; 10 plays, 71 yards, 4:55
(4:47) Ole Miss – Quinshon Judkins 2 Yd Run (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 10–7; 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:46
Fourth Quarter
(13:26) Ole Miss – Caden Prieskorn 26 Yd pass from Jaxson Dart (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 17–7; 10 plays, 71 yards, 4:26
Statistics
MISS
MSST
First downs
22
16
Total yards
307
303
Passing yards
96
207
Rushes/yards
49/211
28/96
Penalties/yards
6/30
4/56
Turnovers
0
0
Time of possession
31:57
28:03
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ole Miss
Passing
Jaxson Dart
14/26, 96 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Quinshon Judkins
28 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Caden Prieskorn
4 receptions, 38 yards, 1 TD
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
25/39, 207 yards
Rushing
Jo'Quavious Marks
12 carries, 39 yards
Receiving
Zavion Thomas
6 receptions, 88 yards
Vs. No. 10 Penn State
Uniform Combination
Helmet
Jersey
Pants
No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels (10–2) vs. No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions (10–2)
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 11 Rebels
10
10
11
7
38
No. 10 Nittany Lions
3
14
0
8
25
at Mercedes–Benz Stadium • Atlanta, GA
Date: Saturday, December 30, 2023
Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST (12:00 p.m. local EST)
Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
Game attendance: 71,230
Referee: Mike McCabe
TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones (play-by-play) Louis Riddick (color) Quint Kessenich (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
(9:17) Penn State – Alex Felkins 26 Yd Field Goal Penn State 3–0; 10 plays, 64 yards, 4:58
(7:16) Ole Miss – Caden Davis 36 Yd Field Goal Tied 3–3; 8 plays, 56 yards, 2:01
(0:30) Ole Miss – Caden Prieskorn 6 Yd pass from Jaxson Dart (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 10–3; 10 plays, 77 yards, 3:31
Second Quarter
(13:34) Penn State – Theo Johnson 2 Yd pass from Drew Allar (Alex Felkins Kick) Tied 10–10; 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:56
(10:33) Ole Miss – Caden Davis 45 Yd Field Goal Ole Miss 13–10; 9 plays, 52 yards, 3:01
(4:58) Ole Miss – Caden Prieskorn 37 Yd pass from Jaxson Dart (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 20–10; 9 plays, 83 yards, 4:03
(2:45) Penn State – Nicholas Singleton 48 Yd pass from Beau Pribula (Alex Felkins Kick) Ole Miss 20–17; 4 plays, 75 yards, 2:13
Third Quarter
(10:48) Ole Miss – Caden Davis 52 Yd Field Goal Ole Miss 23–17; 9 plays, 40 yards, 2:45
(4:10) Ole Miss – Quinshon Judkins 14 Yd pass from Jaxson Dart (Jaxson Dart Pass to Caden Prieskorn for Two-Point Conversion) Ole Miss 31–17; 10 plays, 82 yards, 4:29
Fourth Quarter
(6:29) Ole Miss – Jaxson Dart 2 Yd Run (Caden Davis Kick) Ole Miss 38–17; 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:26
(4:14) Penn State – Harrison Wallace III 14 Yd pass from Drew Allar (Beau Pribula Pass to Nicholas Singleton for Two-Point Conversion) Ole Miss 38–25; 4 plays, 70 yards, 0:54
Statistics
MISS
PSU
First downs
30
21
Total yards
540
510
Passing yards
394
343
Rushes/yards
47/146
28/167
Penalties/yards
5/26
6/50
Turnovers
0
2
Time of possession
33:38
26:22
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ole Miss
Passing
Jaxson Dart
25/40, 379 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Quinshon Judkins
34 carries, 106 yards
Receiving
Caden Prieskorn
10 receptions, 136 yards, 2 TD
Penn State
Passing
Drew Allar
19/39, 295 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Kaytron Allen
10 carries, 51 yards
Receiving
Tyler Warren
5 receptions, 127 yards
Statistics
Cumulative team statistics
Category
Ole Miss
Opponents
First downs – Avg. per game
305 – 23.46
265 – 20.38
Points – Avg. per game
456 – 35.08
293 – 22.54
Total plays/yards – Avg. per game
929/6007 (6.47 yards/play) – 71.46/462.1
910/4973 (5.46 yards/play) – 70/382.5
Passing yards – Avg. per game
3713 – 285.62
2983 – 229.46
Rushes/yards (net) – Avg. per game
535/2294 – 41.15/176.46 (4.29 yards/carry)
496/1990 – 38.15/153.08 (4.01 yards/carry)
Passing (Att-Comp-Int)
394–256–6 (64.97% completion)
414–252–13 (60.87% completion)
Sacks – Avg. per game
35 – 2.69
27 – 2.08
Penalties/yards – Avg. per game
94/768 – 7.23/59.08
73/621 – 5.62/47.77
3rd down conversions
65/176 (36.93%)
73/189 (38.62%)
4th down conversions
25/36 (69.44%)
12/29 (41.38%)
Time of possession – Avg. per game
6:00:32 – 27:44
6:59:28 – 32:16
Cumulative player statistics
Category
Player
Statistics – Avg. per game
Leading Passer
Jaxson Dart
233/358 (65.08% completion), 3364 yards, 23 TD, 5 INT – 17.92/27.54, 258.77 yards, 1.77 TD, 0.38 INT
Ranking movements Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
Poll
Pre
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Final
AP
22
20
17
15
20
16
13
13
12
11
10
13
12
11
11
9
Coaches
22
20
19
16
20
15
13
12
11
10
10
14
12
11
11
9
CFP
Not released
10
9
13
12
11
11
Not released
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