After their breakout success in the first few weeks of college football, the Ole Miss Rebels have managed to shock fans around the nation. With their impending match against the Florida Gators, one must ask: who will it be? Who will come out on top in this SEC match up? Let's break down both teams to try to find out.
1. Coach
Gators Coach Jim McElwain not only has his first big coaching gig with this team, but he is also up against his first ranked opponent during his tenure in the Swamp. This could be the beginning of a new dynasty for the Gators, perhaps a blast from the past of the ’06 team, or, at the very least, a shadow of the 2012 season.
On the other hand, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze is enjoying being one of three head coaches to beat a Nick Saban team twice. His team has the talent, but the question must be asked—can they win a National Championship?
Winner: Hugh Freeze—anyone who beats Alabama twice in a row deserves to win the category.
2. Quarterback
Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly is quick, has a great arm, and lots of mobility. Combine that with the ability to move past mistakes right away, and you’ve got a good quarterback. Add in the fact that he seems to have a knack for making something out of nothing, and you’ve got a solid QB.
For the Gators, the position of QB 1 is still in question. Although redshirt freshman Will Grier seems to be the favorite, Coach Mac has described his play as “just okay.” That kind of talk leaves the door open for true sophomore, Treon Harris.
Winner: Chad Kelly—All three of these quarterbacks are relatively inexperienced, but given each team’s schedule, Kelly has the bigger win.
3. Location
While this category should be a clear win for the Gators, nothing would surprise me after Ole Miss beat Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Ohio State, on a good day, has a hard time beating Alabama on their home turf. Still, I am surprisingly optimistic about this Gators team under McElwain. I think he has the power to harness the energy of this team and the crowd in the Swamp to pull out a huge performance.
Winner: Florida Gators.
4. Talent
Players like the Rebels’ Robert Nkemdiche don’t come around too often. His defensive tackle is even starting to put the pressure on Ohio State’s defensive end Joey Bosa for the top spot in the 2016 NFL draft. Meanwhile, the Gators boast talent in Vernon Hargreaves III and Kelvin Taylor.
Winner: Tie. I might be biased, but I like to think that Hargreaves and Grier can hold their own against Nkemdiche. This could be wishful thinking, but hey, anything is possible in college football.
One thing is for sure, we’ll find out on Saturday night which is really the better team.