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Dec. 12—OXFORD — While it was more ceremonial than anything, Tuesday signified what everybody at Ole Miss already knew.
It’s officially bowl season in Oxford.
No. 11 Ole Miss (10-2, 6-2 SEC) officially accepted its Peach Bowl invite from CEO and president Gary Stokan, a little over a week following the announcement of the Dec. 30 matchup with No. 10 Penn State (10-2, 7-2). It will mark the first ever game between the two schools and just the third Peach Bowl appearance in program history for the Rebels. Ole Miss is in its second New Year’s Six game in three years and has a chance at winning 11 games for the first time ever.
Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter received the invite in-person from Stokan in front of media Tuesday afternoon. The two shook hands and took turns at the podium — as did head coach Lane Kiffin — talking about the matchup. Stokan admits he had no idea who was going to be playing in the Peach Bowl until the teams were announced during ESPN’s special Sunday broadcast, as the CFP committee decides who plays in each of the New Year’s Six games. But Stokan lauded the matchup and was particularly praiseworthy of Kiffin, his offensive acumen and the program he’s built.
Both the Rebels and Nittany Lions’ only losses this season were to teams that finished in the final CFP rankings’ top-seven.
“I said on press conference day, styles make great fights,” Stokan said. “We have a tremendous offense against a tremendous defense.”
Penn State features one of college football’s top defenses, leading college football at 223.2 yards per game allowed and ranking third with 11.4 points per game allowed. The Nittany Lions also average 37.2 points per game behind the Big Ten’s top rushing attack.
Ole Miss has one of the most diverse and complete offenses in college football, ranking in the top-40 nationally in…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lane-kiffin-sees-great-opportunity-020600482.html
Author : Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo
Publish date : 2023-12-13 02:06:00
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