When there is a problem, someone is at fault. Ole Miss’ defense is a problem.

“It continues to be an issue for us on defense, stopping the run and giving up explosive plays, and I have zero frustration in the effort of our kids,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said during his Monday press conference.

The Rebels (3-5) are next to last in the SEC in total defense, allowing 468.1 yards per game. That’s good, bad rather, for 114th in the country.

“I do continue to have frustration over not being able to fix a recurring problem,” Freeze said. “That is something we have to just keep grinding on to fix to give us a chance to win when you are playing some of the top teams in the country that’s in the Southeastern Conference western division.”

There are two such games left on the schedule, at Texas A&M and home against Mississippi State. Texas A&M is ranked No. 7 this week and still in outside contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Ole Miss will be a heavy favorite against Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl, but some would still perceive that questionable.

Freeze has continued to throw his support behind defensive coordinator Dave Wommack, but at some point, someone has to be accountable.

The problem inside the problem is that the numbers haven’t gotten better by the week. They haven’t even leveled but gotten worse. In yards per play, LSU (8.1) and Auburn (7.5) hold the two highest marks of the season against Ole Miss, and those performances came in the last two weeks. The Rebels gave up 580 total yards to Florida State in the opener. The last two weeks, 515 and 554.

The buzz of the season is long gone. The continued hope of even the slightest thing left to play for is barely hanging on.

The latest loss is of students in the student section. And while it isn’t a new issue at Ole Miss – sadly, winning the party is sometimes the goal of the weekend – there isn’t much the team or the university can say this time to argue with fans leaving.

Those tickets are cheaper, so there is less invested. They live within walking distance, and frankly, Ole Miss hasn’t given them very much to cheer about in the second half of games. The Rebels scored a single touchdown on Saturday, were shut out in the second half in Baton Rouge and scored 10 points the week before that in a loss to Arkansas.

Ole Miss is even having an open practice on Tuesday to reengage the wayward base. Freeze said on Monday that the student body is a big part of the reason it is tough to play inside Vaught-Hemingway.

“Like I said, we have a great student body that I care for, and if there is something we can do to help make (them stay), I will gladly consider it,” Freeze said. “One of the things is Tuesday, getting to see those people here and encouraging them to ‘let’s do this together.’ We have two remaining home games. Let’s make it difficult.”

The Rebels have made it plenty difficult to watch. The only thing that changes that is change.