No. 9 Ole Miss loses to Florida on awful Jaxson Dart interceptions as CFP chances slip away

Montrell Johnson Jr.‘s 5-yard touchdown run with 7:40 remaining in the fourth quarter gave Florida a 24-17 win over No. 9 Ole Miss on Saturday in Gainesville.

Ole Miss had a chance to tie the game with under two minutes left but quarterback Jaxson Dart made an awful decision throwing into triple coverage. The 39-yard pass attempt was picked off in the end zone by Bryce Thornton with 1:32 remaining in regulation.

After a defensive stand, the Rebels got the ball back with enough time left to score, but Dart made another poor throw and Thornton came down with another interception.

The Rebels had an earlier opportunity on a previous possession after a 35-yard run by Dart put them at the Florida 40-yard line. However, Dart overthrew Watkins on a deep pass that would have been a touchdown. Caleb Banks and Tyreak Sapp then broke through on the following play to sack Dart and knock Ole Miss out of field goal range.

The defeat drops Ole Miss out of a four-way tie in the SEC and almost certainly eliminates the Rebels from College Football Playoff consideration at 4-3 in conference and 8-3 overall.

Dart finished with two interceptions and two touchdowns, throwing for 323 yards on 24-for-41 passing. He also led the Rebels with 71 yards rushing on 14 carries. Cayden Lee had six receptions for 94 yards and a score, followed by Jordan Watkins catching eight balls for 70 yards.

Micah Davis‘ muffed punt return for the Rebels early in the third quarter gave Florida the ball at the Ole Miss 37-yard line. The Gators couldn’t get a first down but were close enough for a 53-yard field goal from Trey Smack and a 17-14 lead.

Ole Miss receiver Tre Harris left the game in the second quarter after apparently aggravating a groin injury. Before getting hurt, he caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Dart that tied the score at 7-7.

Florida’s defense also came up big earlier in the game, stopping Ole Miss on a 4th-and-1 at the Gators’ 10-yard line. Rather than kick the tying field goal, head coach Lane Kiffin opted to go for it but JJ Pegues was stopped for no gain.

However, the Gators went three-and-out on their next drive, giving Ole Miss the ball at midfield. The drive stalled at the 25-yard line but on fourth-and-7, Kiffin chose for a game-tying field goal try and Caden Davis converted from 42 yards.

The difference in this game may have been red zone efficiency. Ole Miss went 0-for-3 inside the 20-yard line, while Florida went 2-for-2.