The Grove Report

In-Game Updates: Ole Miss Football vs. Duke in TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

The Ole Miss Rebels conclude their 2024 season on Thursday night in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against the Duke Blue Devils.

John Macon Gillespie

The Ole Miss Rebels and Duke Blue Devils are scheduled to face off in the 80th annual Gator Bowl on Thursday night.
The Ole Miss Rebels and Duke Blue Devils are scheduled to face off in the 80th annual Gator Bowl on Thursday night. / Ole Miss Athletics
In this story:

The Ole Miss Rebels fell short of the College Football Playoff this season, but they still have a chance to conclude their campaign on a high note by earning a 10th win in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Thursday against the Duke Blue Devils.

Both Ole Miss and Duke enter this game with overall records of 9-3 and 5-3 in their conference, but one key difference between the two squads comes in the form of current roster makeup. The Rebels have very few opt outs for this game, but Duke has seen some key players depart the program through the transfer portal since the regular season concluded, including quarterback Maalik Murphy.

Should the Rebels gain their 10th win on Thursday, it would be the first time they have had three double-digit-win seasons in a four-year span since 1959, 1960 and 1962 under coach Johnny Vaught.

Kickoff in Thursday's Gator Bowl has been pushed back to 7:05 CT/8:05 ET due to the rescheduling of the Allstate Sugar Bowl to Thursday following Wednesday's tragic events in New Orleans. Once the Rebels and Blue Devils get underway in Jacksonville, this article will serve as an in-game updates piece that updates throughout the night.

PREGAME

Ole Miss announced its uniform plans for this game last week, opting to go with powder blue helmets, red jerseys and white pants in Jacksonville. You can view the uniform lineup below.

Duke is countering with black helmets, white jerseys and black pants on Thursday night.

Wide receiver Micah Davis and safety Louis Moore, two players who entered the transfer portal from Ole Miss, are warming up in Jacksonville. Logan Diggs, who has been out this season recovering from an ACL injury, is also warming up, and wide receiver Juice Wells is wearing No. 7 instead of No. 3 tonight.

FIRST QUARTER

Ole Miss will receive to start tonight's game.

1Q | 10:44 -- Ole Miss burns a timeout deep in Duke territory as it faces a 3rd & 8 on the opening drive.

1Q | 9:51 -- The Rebels run a trick play where kicker Caden Davis throws a pass into the end zone that is intercepted and returned across the 50.

1Q | 9:12 -- The disastrous trick play doesn't come back to bite Ole Miss as it forces a turnover on downs from the Blue Devils. Still scoreless.

1Q | 8:07 -- Juice Wells (wearing No. 7) catches a 32-yard touchdown pass from Jaxson Dart to open the scoring. Ole Miss 7, Duke 0

1Q | 6:31 -- Ole Miss forces a three-and-out and gets the ball back after a Duke punt.

1Q | 2:29 -- Ulysses Bentley is into the end zone from a yard out for Ole Miss and extends the Rebel lead. Ole Miss 14, Duke 0

END 1Q: Ole Miss 14, Duke 0

SECOND QUARTER

2Q | 14:49 -- Ole Miss gets a stop to start the second quarter and will take over inside its own 30.

2Q | 9:43 -- This time, the Rebels do actually settle for a field goal, one that is made by Caden Davis from 28 yards out. Ole Miss 17, Duke 0

2Q | 5:54 -- Duke has its first points of the night (and quarterback Henry Belin has his first touchdown pass of the season) in the second quarter. That was a 16-yard pass to Javon Harvey. Ole Miss 17, Duke 7

2Q | 2:00 -- Ole Miss has the ball at the Duke 21 at the two-minute timeout. Rebels still lead 17-7.

2Q | 1:52 -- On the first play back from commercial break, Dart connects with Dae'Quan Wright for a 21-yard score. The Rebel quarterback has surpassed 250 passing yards tonight and has thrown two scores. Ole Miss 24, Duke 7

HALF: Ole Miss 24, Duke 7

THIRD QUARTER

3Q | 13:46 -- Ole Miss forces a punt to start the second half, and it takes over inside its own 30.

3Q | 12:10 -- The Rebels respond by going three-and-out and are forced to punt for the first time tonight.

3Q | 8:18 -- Duke is picked off by Isaiah Hamilton who returns it 50 yards to the end zone. Ole Miss 31, Duke 7

3Q | 3:22 -- Duke puts a drive together, but Ole Miss forces a stop in its own territory to take back over on offense.

3Q | 1:20 -- Ulysses Bentley IV takes it in on the ground from eight yards out, and the Rebels extend their lead. Ole Miss 38, Duke 7

3Q | 0:09 -- Duke is forced to punt again, and the Rebels take over inside their own 20.

END 3Q: Ole Miss 38, Duke 7

FOURTH QUARTER

4Q | 11:37 -- Both teams have been forced to punt on their first drives of the fourth quarter, and Duke turns the ball over on downs in its own territory.

4Q | 9:56 -- Jaxson Dart has his third touchdown pass of the night on a one-yard score to Jordan Watkins. Ole Miss 45, Duke 7

4Q | 3:43 -- Duke is back on the board with a late passing score. Ole Miss 45, Duke 14

4Q | 2:00 -- It looks like Jaxson Dart will finish out this game. He's still in at the two-minute timeout as the Rebels lead 45-14.

4Q | 1:27 -- Dart now has four passing touchdowns as he connects with Jordan Watkins on a 69-yard score. Ole Miss 52, Duke 14

4Q | 1:07 -- Duke runs some trickery on the ensuing kickoff and returns it 99 yards to the house. The PAT is blocked. Ole Miss 52, Duke 20

FINAL: Ole Miss 52, Duke 20

Published |Modified
John Macon Gillespie
JOHN MACON GILLESPIE

John Macon Gillespie is the publisher of The Grove Report and has experience on the Ole Miss beat spanning five years.

Home/Football