'Bama's Bama': Rebels Ready For Alabama Challenge

The Ole Miss Rebels took care of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second half Saturday, but now they shift their focus to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Ole Miss Rebels needed 20 yards. Just 20 more yards, and they would have upset the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Ole Miss is on the heels of a 48-23 victory against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, but it has a test this week that's worth starting to prepare for Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday morning. It's Alabama week.

"I'm just going to go figure out how we can get better," head coach Lane Kiffin said on SEC Network's postgame broadcast. "And I guess we go in to Tuscaloosa."

Butch Dill, USA TODAY

The Rebels were in a 10-3 slugfest against Georgia Tech at halftime that needed 118 rushing yards and a touchdown from quarterback Jaxson Dart, but they flipped a switch out of the break and looked like their normal aerial attack selves.

Dart only threw six passes in the second half, but he completed them all for 202 of his 251 passing yards and a touchdown.

The Kaysville, Utah, native said he's looking forward to the challenge of playing Alabama.

"Bama's Bama," Dart said on SEC Network. "Since I was a kid, I've always wanted to play against them, so super excited. Last year, it was unfortunate the way that we finished the game. I definitely want to respond back to this one, so I'm really looking forward to it."

In three career games against Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, Kiffin, like most of his former assistants, has not won a game.

The Rebels have had no issue scoring points, notching 48, 21 and 24, respectively, but defending the Crimson Tide is where the problems lie.

Last season, Ole Miss had Alabama on the ropes, driving while trailing 30-24, but could not get into the end zone as the Rebels turned it over on downs to end the game.

However, this year's team doesn't have the same feel as the invincible Saban teams of years past. There's a little open quarterback controversy in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as Jalen Milroe did not play Saturday and Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson both struggled to lead a 17-3 victory against USF.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian became the third former assistant to best Saban, as the Longhorns scored a 34-24 upset in Tuscaloosa Sept. 9.

Can Kiffin become the fourth next Saturday?