Oxford, Mississippi:
The Ole Miss Rebels return home to face off with the New Mexico State Aggies. The Rebels with six losses will need to win out to make a bowl game for the first time under Matt Luke.
The final three games are made up of two SEC rival games, and a nonconference matchup. The home stretch for the Rebels is difficult but can be won. It all starts with New Mexico State on Saturday afternoon at Vaught Hemingway Stadium.
Head Coach Matt Luke had this to say about facing a winless New Mexico State team on Saturday.
" We have a lot of respect for those guys, and you have to respect every opponent. They throw it around a lot offensively, kind of the Washington State spread, and do a really good job of that so we'll have our work cut out for us. The main thing for us is getting back on the practice field, going to work and focusing on us and getting better."
Ole Miss is coming into the game looking to rebound after a string of three straight losses.
A positive from the three-game losing streak would be the two-quarterback system that Matt Luke has put into place.
Led by John Rhys Plumlee the Rebels will stick to the two-quarterback system according to Matt Luke who had this to say to the media on Tuesday.
" John Rhys (Plumlee), the things he can do with his legs, is keeping us in the game there. We didn't have any turnovers in there until the last drive, and we have opportunities to win football games. I think protecting the ball is important, but we have to make some plays in the passing game to get over that hump because we're right there. Some of it is execution, and that goes back to coaching like we had a third-and-five drop and some bad throws, but I think giving the kids, putting them in better situations, is up to us as coaches."
With a bowl game on the line, this Ole Miss football team needs to stay motivated and stay aware of the end goal this season.
Head Coach Matt Luke eluded to that on Tuesday when he spoke with the media.
" I think our guys are hungry to go get better. I think that is the unique part about this team. They keep fighting and competing and working to get better each week. They'll continue to do that. We have three games left that are promised to us, and we are going to go out and attack it. The best way to get the bad taste out of your mouth is to go back to work and focus on us. I think that will be critical for us this week."
The Ole Miss Landshark defense has forced at least one turnover in eight out of the last nine games. Ole Miss has also held four opponents to 70 yards or less.
This will be the second all-time meeting coming between the two teams with Ole Miss holding the lone win back in 2015.
The Rebels and Aggies will kick off at 3:00p central on the SEC Network.