With two losses already on the docket, Ole Miss can ill afford a slip-up on Saturday against Memphis. Even in a win, No. 16 Ole Miss needs to continue to look impressive for the powers that be.

Here are five things the Rebels need to avoid against the Tigers.

1. Don’t let Ferguson’s numbers trick you

Memphis is 3-0 and Riley Ferguson’s numbers pop out at anyone who chooses to just glance over them. However, Ferguson’s stats have come against a very weak schedule, and his stats still aren’t even as impressive as Chad Kelly’s, which have gone against very good competition. Ferguson got 359 of his 843 passing yards against Bowling Green last week, including six of his 11 touchdown passes. There’s no doubt he played well in that 77-3 stomping of Bowling Green, but this will be his first tough test. We’ll see if Ferguson can continue to be as efficient as he’s been, completing 65, 63 and 74 percent of his passes in his first three games.

2. Don’t shy away from Pennamon

Ole Miss looked pretty good running the ball against Georgia. The Rebels had 180 rushing yards and 5.8 yards per carry. There’s no coincidence that their most complete game of the season also happened to come on their best rushing performance of the year. D’Vaughn Pennamon, a freshman, is making his case for more playing time. Against the Bulldogs, he had 37 yards on six carries with a touchdown. Give the youngster the ball. He could be the answer there, and Ole Miss shouldn’t ignore what that could mean for the team.

3. Don’t let it be about revenge

Hugh Freeze has already said that won’t be the case. If it is, it’s dangerous ground. Ole Miss should win and is a 14-point favorite. That said, the Tigers won last year (with Paxton Lynch) and are playing with a lot of confidence in a 3-0 start. Anything could happen, and this is an early Super Bowl for Memphis. As cliché as it may seem, it needs to be about improvement for Ole Miss, not revenge. High emotions can be a double-edged sword.

4. Go to the circus early and often

Ole Miss’ receivers have been unbelievable, as much for their depth as for the circus catches they are making. They are winning one-on-ones and making talented defensive backs look really bad. Let Kelly take his shots in a game where there is a larger margin for error. Memphis has only given up four passes of 20-plus yards, but put that Tigers secondary to the test. That jump ball practice will come in handy against Arkansas, LSU and Texas A&M.

5. Don’t let Taylor and Dorceus control the clock

Memphis needs to keep Ole Miss’ offense off the field as much as possible. That will come through backs Patrick Taylor Jr. and Doroland Dorceus. The Tigers are only eighth in the American with 185 rushing yards per game, but that is 50 more yards than Ole Miss. The Rebels have not been good against the run, last in the SEC by allowing 239.5 yards per game. Kentucky is the only other SEC team to allow 200-plus, and the Wildcats have still allowed 35 fewer than the Rebels.