{"id":152316,"date":"2025-10-02T12:21:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T17:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=152316"},"modified":"2025-10-02T12:21:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T17:21:44","slug":"good-vibes-in-oxford-ole-miss-football-bye-week-practice-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/good-vibes-in-oxford-ole-miss-football-bye-week-practice-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Good Vibes in Oxford: Ole Miss Football Bye Week Practice Report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The No. 4 Ole Miss<\/strong> football team will enter its mid-season bye week at 5-0 after defeating its Magnolia Bowl<\/strong> rival, the LSU Tigers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dae’Quan Wright<\/a><\/dfn>,\u00a0Kam Franklin<\/a><\/dfn><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Patrick Kutas<\/strong><\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0each met with the media to discuss their season so far and the challenges that lie ahead. All of this can be found in this week’s practice report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good Vibes in Oxford<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This past Saturday, the Rebels capped off a 3-0 start in SEC play with a top-5 win against LSU. The Rebel offense put up 480 total yards, the most LSU has allowed in a game this season.\u00a0Wright contributed 66 yards on four catches, including a one-handed grab for a crucial fourth-down conversion late in the fourth quarter that sealed the game. He said morale is high in the Rebel locker room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s been great energy, people having fun, people flying around making plays,” Wright said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ole Miss climbed to No. 4 in the AP Poll on Sunday, marking its highest ranking since 2015. Still, Wright emphasized that the team isn’t focused on rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 “You know, we aren’t focused on the rankings right now. It’s still early, and we still have business to take care of,” Wright said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rebels will take on Washington State on Oct. 11, before traveling to Athens to face Georgia on Oct. 18 in its next SEC matchup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strength Up Front<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A key to the Rebels’ offensive success has been the play of the offensive line. Ole Miss did not allow a single sack against LSU, which marked the first time the team has accomplished that since 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kutas, an Arkansas transfer, has shown steady improvement each week after battling an injury during fall camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Just finding my groove, trusting the guys next to me, getting comfortable again and trusting myself again,” Kutas said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That chemistry up front has powered a dramatically improved run game, with the Rebels having their way with 225 rushing yards in all five games this season, a mark they reached only four times a year ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kutas, named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week on Monday, said he appreciates the honor, but isn’t dwelling on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s cool, but it’s not everything. It’s an accomplishment that I recognize, but I have to move forward,” Kutas said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defensive Development<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not to be outdone, the Ole Miss defense also had an impressive showing against the Tigers. The Rebels held LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier to a career-low in passing yards as a starter, marking the second straight week the Ole Miss defense held an opposing quarterback to a career low in passing yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Franklin, a sophomore defensive end, tied a career high with four QB hurries and recorded 1.5 tackles for loss. In his first year as a starter, Franklin has thrived under the guidance of defensive coordinator\u00a0Pete Golding<\/strong><\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0and defensive line coach\u00a0Randall Joyner<\/strong><\/a><\/dfn>. He credited the staff’s preparation for the unit’s growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We prepared all week, I think Pete (Golding) put us in the best position, coach Joyner and the rest of the staff put us in the best position,” Franklin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The positive development of the defense will be put to the test after the bye week with a home game against Washington State, followed by two tough road SEC contests against Georgia and Oklahoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With momentum on both sides of the ball, Ole Miss enters its bye week not just as a top contender in the SEC, but as a team determined to prove it belongs among the nation’s elite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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