No. 5 Ole Miss plays its first road game of the 2024 season Saturday night at Wake Forest. Here are four keys for a Rebels victory over the Demon Deacons.
Ole Miss has won its last two true road openers, including last year's 37-20 win at No. 24 Tulane. Wake Forest's stadium is on the smaller end, holding 31,500. It is, however, the Demon Deacons' homecoming game, and is also this Rebels squad's first time away from the friendly confines of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Ole Miss is not a young team by any stretch -- quarterback Jaxson Dart and the returning veterans have seen just about everything at this point -- but it will be the first time this particular team has played together in a hostile environment.
"You have to just weather storms when you're on the road, and it's just not what you're used to," Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said.
Shut down Bachmeier
The Rebels have been the nation's best team against the run this season through two contests, surrendering just 27 yards per game on less than one yard per carry. Ole Miss' pass defense didn't play its best last weekend against Middle Tennessee, but shutting down the pass, getting to the quarterback and making Wake Forest run the ball is only going to help the Rebels' chances. Demon Deacons' starter Hank Bachmeier averages 333 passing yards per game (eighth nationally) and has four touchdowns with no interceptions. Wake Forest is tied for 60th nationally at 167 rushing yards per game.
Let the offensive line dominate
As much as Tre Harris probably wants to catch a ton of passes, he said it best Monday when asked about playing on the road: you pack your defense, and you pack your running game. The latter was showcased in a big way against Middle Tennessee, as Henry Parrish Jr. ran for 165 yards and four touchdowns. Ulysses Bentley IV has yet to make a major impact this season, but getting him going would likely prove beneficial as well. Running the ball can take the wind out of an opponent's sails and let them know it will be a long night. Why not make them want to quit from the get-go?
Take the crowd out
This goes back to the first point. Wake Forest has announced Saturday's game as a sellout. Yes, it's a smaller stadium, but those can be the loudest, particularly when filled to the brim. Ole Miss is outscoring opponents 41-0 in the first quarter this season. The opposing fans might not leave after the first quarter if things aren't going their way, but there's no surer way to quiet a stadium down than by jumping ahead early and letting your pass rush feast in predictable passing situations.