Ole Miss sat idle as a light 4-game SEC slate played out. The Rebels entered the bye week at 2-4, probably where most prognosticators anticipated Lane Kiffin and his program would be through 6 games.

Outside of a disappointing performance at Arkansas in Week 4 that featured a brutal 7-turnover game from Matt Corral, this team, for all of its defensive shortcomings, has reinvigorated the fan base. The Rebels play a fun brand of football, and that is largely because of the success Kiffin and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby have orchestrated on offense. The pair have seemingly unlocked Corral, who, while still learning and growing as a passer, has been pretty good overall. Corral sits at 1,846 yards with 18 touchdowns, 9 interceptions and a 68 percent completion rate. He’s coming off the best game of his collegiate career in a 54-21 win at Vanderbilt.

Quarterback was the overarching storyline for Ole Miss in the offseason after a season of ineptitude and indecision by the previous coaching staff. Corral quickly extinguished any semblance of a competition in camp by outperforming John Rhys Plumlee. Perhaps more important than anything that has happened on the field, even wins and losses, is the fact that Ole Miss seems to have their future at quarterback decided. Corral has 3 more years of eligibility after this season, and these final 4 games will go a long way toward determining not only his but this program’s ceiling.

You knew the Ole Miss defense was going to struggle. It’s a group devoid of talent due to nearly a half-decade of poor recruiting. But the Rebels have struggled even more than most would have thought, and they have far and away the worst defense in the SEC. There is no scheme that will fix it, and there are no reinforcements on the roster. It is fairly simple: Ole Miss needs better players on defense, and a lot of them. The Rebels need more explosiveness on the edge to generate a pass rush. They need more length and athleticism at corner and safety, and they need more depth at linebacker. They’re going to continue to struggle until that happens.

With all that being said, what should Ole Miss fans look for in this final stretch of the season?

There are a couple of things. First, there’s the continued development and improvement of Corral. This is a chance for him to string together a couple of strong performances and show consistency for the first time in his career. And who among the wide receiver group takes the next step? Elijah Moore could very well enter the NFL Draft after this year, and there has not been much consistency behind him. Jonathan Mingo is the most likely suspect. These final 4  games are important for him.

Second, keep an eye on a few young players, particularly on the interior defensive line and the secondary, who could be molded into key contributors when and if Ole Miss rectifies their personnel deficiencies. Finding a few pieces among what they currently have will only speed up what could be a long rebuild. There are a couple of pieces in the secondary such as A.J. Finley and Jalen Jordan. On the defensive line, LeDarrius Cox and KD Hill have flashed promise. That’s important, despite the overall lack of talent.

And of course, winning games certainly helps. With recruiting being altered to the point of no on-campus visits, all this new staff really has to sell is on-field results and the general trajectory of the program. If the Rebels win 3 of the last 4 and finish at 5-5 heading into an uncertain recruiting schedule, that will be vitally important as well as a tremendous shot in the arm for a program that desperately needs it.