Ole Miss Rebels Week 6 Opponent Preview: Keys to the Game for Each Team

What does Ole Miss need to do to secure a victory versus Arkansas?

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels are riding high following their thrilling 55-49 upset victory over the LSU Tigers in Week 5, and are still very much in the tight race for the SEC West crown with an overall record of 4-1.

The Rebels will look to keep rolling in Week 6 when they welcome the Arkansas Razorbacks to Oxford on Saturday. Arkansas started the season off 2-0 but later fell to the BYU Cougars, LSU Tigers, and the Texas A&M Aggies, respectively. LSU beat the Razorbacks 34-31, while A&M won 34-22.

Arkansas is a battered team, but that also makes it a dangerous group.

The last time the Razorbacks came to Oxford in 2021, the Rebels won an electric 52-51 shootout after only seven combined points were scored in the first quarter. A year later, Arkansas smacked around a discombobulated Ole Miss team 42-27 in Fayetteville.

Kickoff between Ole Miss and Arkansas will be on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. These are the keys to the game for both Ole Miss and Arkansas.

Ole Miss Rebels vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (2020) :: Ole Miss Football vs Arkansas on October 17th, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.Photo by Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics

Arkansas Razorbacks

1. Let KJ Jefferson Do His Thing

In each of the last two matchups between Ole Miss and Arkansas, Jefferson has scored at least three passing touchdowns. The last time he played in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, however, Jefferson went nuclear. 

In 2021, the Sardis, Miss., native registered six total touchdowns (three rushing, three passing) in a thrilling shootout that ended with Ole Miss winning 52-51. If he comes to Oxford on Saturday ready to play as he did in 2021, Ole Miss could be in trouble - especially if the Rebels' defense plays the way they did versus LSU.

Getting Jefferson going will be paramount if Arkansas wants to beat the Rebels and breathe life into their slowly sinking 2023 season.

2. Stop Quinshon Judkins

There are multiple playmakers on the Ole Miss roster this season, but Judkins should not be forgotten. The Razorbacks lost leadership in the middle of their defense when former linebackers Bumper Poole and Drew Sanders left Fayetteville this offseason to give the NFL a shot.

When the Rebels won in 2021, they registered 324 rushing yards and five touchdowns compared to 287 passing yards and two scores. The run game is what keeps Lane Kiffin's offense moving, and if the Razorbacks can stifle Ole Miss' runners, victory will not be far behind.

Ole Miss Rebels

1. Need a Bounceback Game From the Defense

After a tight-knit performance versus the Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 4, the Ole Miss defense was practically non-existent last Saturday against LSU. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin challenged his offensive line to turn things around versus the Tigers after a subpar showing against Alabama, and the group responded in a positive way. The Rebels' offense exploded for 706 yards of total offense thanks to improvement from the trenches.

Kiffin is aiming to get that same result out of his defense in Week 6, as he recently challenged the unit to step up against Arkansas. 

2. Let the Offense Loose

As mentioned above, the Ole Miss offense was unstoppable versus LSU and another stellar performance in Week 6 could help the group get into a steady rhythm ahead of their bye week. Now that injured Rebels are starting to enter the lineup, the Ole Miss offense is finally capable of reaching its full potential. 

Feed Judkins and keep the ball out of Jefferson's hands.