The No. 15 Ole Miss Rebels pulled off a 43-37 upset of the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide on the road at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.
The Ole Miss Rebels jumped ahead early and held off their opponent late, pulling out a 43-37 road victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Alabama scored 14 unanswered points and fought back to close the gap to six early in the fourth quarter, but Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly connected with Cody Core for a 73-yard touchdown completion off a read option fake on the following drive. Alabama quarterback Jake Coker was intercepted by linebacker C.J. Johnson on the ensuing possession, on a play that appeared to put the game out of reach.
Fans began to file out of the stadium after Ole Miss extended the lead to 19, but the Crimson Tide were not done yet. They rattled off 14 unanswered points, and once again had the momentum in their favor. Alabama took control of the ball with just over three minutes remaining, but the Rebels intercepted Coker yet again to seal the victory.
Kelly was far from perfect, but he came up with big plays when it mattered most. He finished the game with an impressive 341 passing yards yards, four total touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Ole Miss defense made several key sacks down the stretch, and the team as a whole forced a total of five turnovers.
The game featured several strange plays that went in the Rebels’ favor, including a pair of unconventional touchdown passes from Kelly and two fumble recoveries on kickoffs, all of which played a major role in their ability to take control of the game. With Saturday’s victory, it can be assured that Ole Miss will ascend to the top of the polls.
Three Stars
1. Chad Kelly, Ole Miss QB (341 passing yards, 4 total touchdowns, 0 interceptions)
2. Cody Core, Ole Miss WR (4 receptions, 123 receiving yards, 1 touchdown)
3. Derrick, Alabama RB (127 rushing yards, 1 touchdown, 5.5 yards per carry)
Highlights
Odds
Alabama was favored by nine points entering Saturday. It became clear early in the game that they would not cover the spread.
Next Week
Ole Miss returns home next week for a showdown with the Vanderbilt Commodores (1-2), a team that is still searching for its first victory over an FBS opponent in 2015.
Alabama hosts the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (1-1) next Saturday, a perfect opportunity for the Crimson Tide to bounce back.
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