From the Other Side: Q&A With Ole Miss Reporter Courtney Robb of WCBI

It is always good to know a little bit more about an opponent, especially one who IU has never played before. Hoosier Huddle’s Sammy Jacobs talked with Courtney Robb who covers Ole Miss as an anchor and reporter for WCBI in Columbus, Mississippi. Robb is also a graduate of IU’s Media School. We would like to thank Courtney for helping us out.

1. What has Year One under Lane Kiffin been like? 4-5 doesn’t scream rousing success, but the offense had a monster year. 

Year one under Lane Kiffin has gone probably just as well as it could have. I'm personally never one to believe a coach can immediately take over a program and have a 10-game season unless everything was stacked in your favor prior. It seems like an obvious concept, but people always build expectations too high. 

You have to consider what Ole Miss has been through in the last three prior seasons with the NCAA sanctions. Ole Miss wasn't allowed to compete in a bowl game and combine that with restrictions on recruiting it would naturally be hard to build a competitive team. Finally under Kiffin, Ole Miss has been able to start to rebuild. Is 4-5 great? No. However, you have to consider with no spring ball and all of the other barriers a season with COVID-19 has added it would be hard for any team to surpass expectations. This team has shown a lot of promise if they can keep the talent coming and correct their mistakes. 

Right now, Ole Miss has the third best quarterback in the Southeastern Conference in Matt Corral who has passed for 2,995 yards this season and had plenty of offensive weapons. The Rebels biggest problem is the defense as a whole. Ole Miss ranks #127 out of 127 FBS teams in total defense allowing 535.7 yards per game so take that as you will. 

2. What is the feeling surrounding Ole Miss about playing Indiana in the Outback Bowl?

Ole Miss is just happy to be playing in any bowl game. Again, after a two-year bowl ban and not being eligible following the team's loss to Mississippi State in the 2019 Egg Bowl the Rebels finally get a postseason chance. 

That being said, coach Kiffin said in his weekly press conference that he was shocked that his team would be matching up to 7th ranked Indiana. "I didn't really understand. It's just like this year. There's crazy stuff in college football," Kiffin said. Which he's right. The second best team in the Big Ten probably shouldn't be playing a 4-5 Ole Miss team. 

Considering Ole Miss hasn't competed in a bowl game since the 2015 season, the Rebels are just looking at the match-up to IU as a really good opportunity. 

3. Two big weapons opted out on offense, how is Ole Miss replacing them and do you expect any more opt outs?

As of right now according to coach Kiffin they don't expect any more opt-outs heading into the bowl. 

In terms of replacing WR Elijah Moore and TE Kenny Yeboah -- against LSU in the final week of conference play WR Braylon Sanders had 4 receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns before he exited the game with an injury. If he's healthy I'd expect him to be a definite target. Other than Sanders, RB's Snoop Conner and Jerrion Ealy have covered most of the ground attack. Ealy is currently also a bit banged up following the LSU game. If he's unavailable we can probably expect to see freshman Henry Parrish who had a breakout game against LSU with 16 carries, 82 yards and two touchdowns. 

4. What are three things Ole Miss has to do to beat Indiana? What are three things Ole Miss has to avoid doing to beat Indiana?

I think this question is one in the same. If Ole Miss wants to beat Indiana the Rebels need to focus on defending the pass, QB Matt Corral will need to focus on limiting interceptions as well as keeping the tempo that's worked so well for the Rebels all season. 

If Ole Miss can buckle down defensively and the offense can keep exploding they will be hard to contain. Ole Miss ranks #3 out of 127 FBS teams in total offense averaging 40 points per game and 562 yards per game. However, Corral has thrown 14 interceptions this year. Given that the Hoosiers lead the nation in interceptions I'd expect IU to try and exploit that. 

5. Predictions?

I'm predicting Indiana gets the win (and not because I went to school there) 35-28. IU fans should make sure to get a celebratory Bloomin' Onion.