No. 24 Ole Miss football vs. Troy: Our scouting report, prediction
OXFORD − The most mysterious Ole Miss football team in recent memory finally gets its debut in the spotlight Saturday.
The No. 24 Rebels open their 2022 season on Saturday from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium against Troy (3 p.m., SEC Network). Coach Lane Kiffin's third squad at Ole Miss has to replace 14 starters from last year's team and is doing so primarily with transfer portal acquisitions. The Rebels have the potential to start transfer players at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, edge rusher, linebacker, safety and kicker.
In Troy, Ole Miss draws an opponent with a familiar first-year coach, former Rebels linebackers coach Jon Sumrall, and a roster ready to compete now defensively. It's not a cakewalk of an opener, but it's also not the same kind of challenge the Rebels will face week-in and week-out in SEC play.
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Here is the Clarion Ledger's scouting report and prediction for Ole Miss football versus Troy.
Ole Miss offense vs. Troy defense
Troy went 5-7 last year, but its defense was hardly to blame. The Trojans allowed the fourth-fewest points per game and the second-fewest yards per game in the Sun Belt in 2021 and return eight of their top 10 tacklers from that squad, including All-America linebacker Carlton Martial.
Though the faces are different on Ole Miss' offense, expect the scheme to look pretty familiar. Co-offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will handle play-calling responsibilities, carrying on Kiffin's tradition of up-tempo, aggressive offenses. TCU transfer Zach Evans and SMU transfer Ulysses Bentley IV figure to get 15-20 touches apiece while a revamped receiving corps built around senior Jonathan Mingo and transfers Jaylon Robinson, Jordan Watkins and Malik Heath will lead the pass attack.
Don't be surprised if Troy's defense puts up a fight and even forces a turnover or two. But Ole Miss' talent and depth advantages should be obvious by the second half.
Ole Miss defense vs. Troy offense
Troy returns a lot of pieces from its 2021 offense, but that isn't necessarily a good thing. The Trojans ranked No. 102 in scoring offense and No. 111 in total offense last season, but new offensive coordinator Joe Craddock brings experience leading Arkansas' and UAB's offenses to try to revitalize an offense that averaged less than 20 points per game against FBS teams last season.
Ole Miss' defense doesn't return all that many pieces, but it looks deeper and perhaps more talented than it has since the Hugh Freeze era. The Rebels' defensive backfield should be formidable led by safeties AJ Finley, Otis Reese and Isheem Young and cornerbacks Miles Battle, Deantre Prince and Davison Igbinosun and the defensive line has plenty of upside pieces. But there are questions at linebacker, where transfers Troy Brown and Khari Coleman and returning backups Austin Keys and Ashanti Cistrunk have to replace two NFL players in Chance Campbell and Mark Robinson.
It's conceivable that Troy's offense got better and Ole Miss' defense takes a step back after last year, but not enough in either direction to give Troy the advantage.
Prediction: Ole Miss 31, Troy 14
There will be some growing pains and some rookie mistakes, especially with new starters at every offensive skill position. Troy keeps things close in the first half, but the Rebels pull away after halftime to start their season 1-0.
Contact Nick Suss at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss football vs. Troy: Our scoring report, prediction
