Ole Miss has started the season off hot. Through two games, they’ve outscored their opponents 128-3. And while there are plenty of reasons for it, Jaxson Dart is a big factor. Last year, Dart was good. The expectations for him, and the Rebel offense as a whole, coming into this season were high. What he and the offense have managed to do so far through two games has surprised even the biggest of believers. From yardage to setting school records, he’s put himself squarely in the Heisman conversation, and the offense is continuing to gain momentum as a result.
It’s fair to point out that the competition hasn’t been great. The first two contests have been against Furman and Middle Tennessee State. Things get a bit tougher over the next two weeks. They travel to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest, then return to Oxford for a matchup with Georgia Southern, before kicking off conference play. If he can keep up the momentum through SEC play, that’s when the national attention could really begin to ramp up.
Dart Sets Records vs. MTSU
After a great Week One performance against Furman, there were some questions about whether or not Dart would continue the hot start, or whether Lane Kiffin would ease back just a bit for last weekend’s matchup with MTSU, seeing as it was expected to be another blowout. Needless to say, those questions were answered early on. And in the end, his performance broke a few records, as well.
Early in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Dart set the school record for consecutive completions to start a game. His 24-24 start was enough to break Matt Corral’s record from 2020 against Vanderbilt. In that one, Corral completed his first 19 attempts.
But that number wasn’t just good enough to set the Ole Miss record. It also broke the SEC record for consecutive completions to start a contest. Prior to Saturday, that record was held by Tennessee’s Tee Martin with 23 straight completions back in 1998 against South Carolina.
If you combine Saturday’s performance with his showing in Week One, Dart also broke another conference record. Spanning two games, he completed 30 straight passes at one point. That number was good enough to break the previous SEC record, as well.
Offensive Balance More Impressive Than Dart’s Efficiency?
If you were to ask Dart, he’d tell you that breaking records feels good. Most people would probably agree. But more important than the breaking of records, is arguably the productivity and efficiency of the offense. Through two games, he’s only thrown seven incompletions. Over that same span, he has six touchdown passes. If you include two rushing touchdowns, he’s been responsible for more touchdowns so far this season than incompletions.
But Dart’s efficiency and production aren’t the only things to take notice of. The Rebels passing attack is what’s getting a ton of attention, but the rushing game has been just as good. In addition to the gaudy passing numbers, Ole Miss has rushed for 501 yards on 79 carries. That’s good for 6.3 yards per carry. That type of balance is something that has become a staple of a Kiffin-led offense. It’s also a good differentiator when deciding whether an offense is simply good, or whether it is elite.
So the question now becomes whether the offense can keep up the balance as the schedule gets tougher.
Can the Offense Keep Up the Balance?
As mentioned earlier, the schedule for Ole Miss does get tougher, especially when they get to conference play. Passing lanes shrink, defensive linemen get bigger, and the overall defenses are better. All of that leads to a tougher time for offenses to stay balanced. For the Rebels, the good news is that they have quality playmakers all over the field. Whether it’s Tre Harris and Juice Wells on the perimeter, or Henry Parrish Jr. and Ulysses Bentley IV in the backfield, there’s talent out there.
This means the biggest question on offense will be the offensive line. Against lesser competition, the line has held up reasonably well. It’s worth noting that they have given up five sacks in the year. For Rebel fans, that’s a number they’d like to see drop as the season progresses. But if the offensive line can continue to have at least moderate success as the schedule gets tougher, there’s no reason to suggest the offense loses its balance. If they struggle, then the Rebels may become too one-dimensional.
This isn’t a new concern for Ole Miss, however. During Kiffin’s time in Oxford, skill position players haven’t been the concern. It’s always been the offensive line that raises questions. Through two games, this year doesn’t appear to be any different.
