OFFENSE: F

The Rebels offense was terrible Saturday night, scoring just seven points including zero points in the game’s final three quarters. Ole Miss threw for fewer than 180 yards and ran for fewer than 140 yards as a team, and 30 of those rushing yards came on one carry by Cody Core early in the game. Bo Wallace threw his first interception in SEC play on the Rebels’ final play of the game to seal defeat, and he completed just 42 percent of his passes in his worst game of the season. The Rebels converted just 5 of 17 third downs for the game, and committed a turnover on downs and an interception on their final two drives with the game hanging in the balance. The Rebels spoiled a fantastic defensive performance by laying an egg on offense, and a showing that poor warrants a big fat F on this report card.

DEFENSE: A

Ole Miss held LSU to just three points for the first 55 minutes of Saturday night’s game, stifling the Tigers’ offense in yet another dominant showing. Even after the Bayou Bengals scored their go-ahead touchdown with five minutes remaining, they still fell short of the Rebels’ opponents’ scoring average this season. Ole Miss was already the nation’s top scoring defense, and it actually improved its numbers following the loss in Baton Rouge. Furthermore, Ole Miss forced four turnovers in defeat, doing everything it could to give the Rebels offense a chance to extend the lead. The offense never did extend the lead, but this loss cannot be blamed on the defense. The “Landsharks” dominated once again, earning an A for compensating for the putrid offense all night.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B

The Rebels special teams weren’t called upon often, but they were above average when called to action. Freshman Markell Pack returned just two kickoffs an average of 18 yards apiece along with one punt for one yard. Kicker Gary Wunderlich never got a chance to attempt the game-tying field goal, but he was 1 of 1 on extra points. The Tigers’ returners were held in check all night with the exception of one long kickoff return by Leonard Fournette. The Rebels’ special teams MVP was punter Will Gleeson, who landed four of his six punts inside the LSU 20 yard line without a touchback to play his part in the field position battle. Aside from Gleeson’s brilliance, the rest of the special teams made very little impact on the game, but because they didn’t hold Ole Miss back and because Gleeson was so valuable in a defensive struggle, the special teams earn a B for the day.

COACHING: D

The Rebels’ mismanagement of their final two possessions in the fourth quarter is a direct reflection on the coaching staff and its lack of command over the team in a big moment in a hostile road environment. Wallace’s interception in the final seconds of the game should never have been thrown, and head coach Hugh Freeze needed to make that clear to Wallace before the play. Ole Miss appeared out of sync all game, and the team was noticeably bothered by the Death Valley crowd, as Wallace even got into a few yelling matches with fans throughout the game. The coaching staff should have reeled its team in and kept it in check, but it never did, and ultimately sloppy mistakes cost the team a chance at a perfect season. The coaching shortcomings were poor, and a big reason why Ole Miss blew the game in the fourth quarter.

OVERALL: C

In school, a C means average, and that’s exactly how Ole Miss looked Saturday night. The defense was amazing, the special teams were good and the offense was horrendous. All in all, it balances out to be an average performance, and average just doesn’t get it done in night games in Death Valley.