Florida defeats No. 9 seed Ole Miss 24-17 in the Swamps, knocking them out of College Football Playoff contention

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – DJ Lagway threw for two touchdowns, Montrell Johnson rushed for 127 yards and a score and Florida knocked the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention with a 24-17 win over No. 9 Mississippi on Saturday.

The Gators (6-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference), who topped LSU last week, beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks and became bowl eligible for the first time since 2008. The move at the end of the season provides another vote of confidence in manager Billy Napier, who is expected to return for a fourth season.

Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3), which entered the day as a 10-point favorite, lost for the first time in four games and will be eliminated from the 12-team playoff picture for sure. The Rebels were seeded ninth in the final CFP and only needed to avoid stumbles against Florida and lower Mississippi State to clinch a spot in the playoff field.

But coach Lane Kiffin’s team failed to score on three trips inside the red zone and threw up countless passes in perfect weather.

Bryce Thornton intercepted passes to end Ole Miss’ final two drives; including one with 17 seconds left that caused nearly the entire Florida team to burst into a raucous celebration in the end zone.

Jaxson Dart completed 24 of 41 passes for 323 yards with two TDs and two picks. He also had 14 tackles for a team-high 71 yards.

If not for repeated failures inside the 20-yard line, the Rebels likely would have had a comfortable lead. Defensive tackle JJ Pegues, a 325-pound wrecking ball coming out of the backfield, was stopped on two fourth-down runs inside the 20-yard line, and Caden Davis missed a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Ole Miss also completed numerous passes, including at least three passes that could have possibly been touchdowns. Jordan Watkins (twice), Wells (twice), Dae’Quan Wright and star receiver Tre Harris were among the losers.

Florida was much more productive. Lagway completed 10 of 17 passes for 180 yards with one interception.

Ole Miss injury

Days after Kiffin raved about his team’s health, the Rebels’ three starters were injured.

Harris, who returned after missing the last three games with a lower-body injury, left the field in the second quarter with an apparent groin injury.

Safety Yam Banks was also sidelined after injuring his left knee, and center Reece McIntyre left the game. Right tackle Micah Pettus was also injured in the game but was able to return.

“Senior Day” for Florida

Injured quarterback Graham Mertz received the loudest ovation on Florida’s final day. Mertz’s college career ended when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. During a 23-17 overtime loss to No. 8 Tennessee last month. Mertz had surgery and hopes to be healthy enough to at least play for an NFL team before the draft in April.

The graduating class also includes running back Montrell Johnson, linebacker Desmond Watson and cornerback Jason Marshall, who is also out for the season.

Takeaway

Mississippi: The Rebels needed better offensive balance. For the second straight game, Henry Parrish Jr. Playing without a running back (knee), Ole Miss threw the ball 41 times. Dart also scrambled 14 more. That worked at times against Florida’s depleted secondary, but it wasn’t a recipe for success.

Florida: The Gators now have a chance to close out the regular season with three straight wins, proof that Napier thinks the team is on the right track.

Next

Mississippi: The Rebels will host Mississippi State on Friday in a rivalry known as the Egg Bowl.

Florida: The Gators play at rival Florida State next Saturday.

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