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Rebels Use Bye Week to Prepare for No. 11 Auburn
By Adam Brown
Sports Editor
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com
Coach Matt Luke addresses the media. Photo by Talbert Toole.
The Ole Miss football team is coming off their first bye week of the season where they spent time preparing for a rendezvous with the Tigers.
After the first eight games of the season, Ole Miss comes into November with a 3-5 overall record and a 2-3 mark in conference play.
“It was a productive open date; it came at a good time for us. We were able to get some guys healthy,” Luke said.
Ole Miss is preparing to travel over to the Plains to take on the Auburn Tigers healthier than going into the bye week. Players Scottie Phillips, Eli Johnson, Ben Brown, Alex Givens, Michael Howard and Jerrion Ealy all practiced on Sunday and went full contact, according to Luke.
Freshman quarterback John Rhys Plumlee did not practice with the team on Sunday after having a procedure done last week.
“All the swelling was gone,” Luke said. “I anticipate him being limited on Tuesday then being full-go Wednesday and him being able to play in the game.”
Looking ahead, No. 11 Auburn comes in off of a 23-20 loss to then No. 2 LSU last Saturday in Death Valley.
“This is a really good football team. Offensively, they have a really good mixture of a power run game and the speed sweeps,” Luke said. “You have to be able to defend the perimeter. They have a very good downhill run game. Defensively, it’s one of the top defenses we’ve faced since I’ve been here. They’re good in the interior and the secondary and very physical at linebacker.”
This season, Auburn’s rushing defense has only allowed 105.9 yards per game to their opponents while averaging 236.75 through the air.
“We’re going to have to do a good job of not getting negative plays and protecting the ball. These guys get turnovers. When you drop back, they pressure the passer and create turnovers with their physicality,” Luke said.
Ole Miss and No. 11 Auburn will kick off at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
| Mon, Nov 4 |  | vs Long Island University | W, 90-60 |
| Fri, Nov 8 |  | vs Grambling | W, 66-64 |
| Tue, Nov 12 |  | vs South Alabama | W, 64-54 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Colorado State | W, 84-69 |
| Thu, Nov 21 |  | vs Oral Roberts | L, 100-68 |
| Thu, Nov 28 |  | vs BYU | W, 96-85 OT |
| Fri, Nov 29 |  | vs 13 Purdue | L, 80-78 |
| Tue, Dec 3 |  | @ Louisville | W, 86-63 |
| Sat, Dec 7 |  | vs Lindenwood | W, 86-53 |
| Sat, Dec 14 |  | vs Southern Miss | W, 77-46 |
| Tue, Dec 17 |  | vs Southern | W, 74-61 |
| Sat, Dec 21 |  | vs Queens University | W, 80-62 |
| Sat, Dec 28 |  | @ Memphis | L, 87-70 |
| Sat, Jan 4 |  | vs Georgia | W, 63-51 |
| Wed, Jan 8 |  | @ 23 Arkansas | W, 73-66 |
| Sat, Jan 11 |  | vs LSU | W, 77-65 |
| Tue, Jan 14 |  | @ 5 Alabama | W, 74-64 |
| Sat, Jan 18 |  | @ 17 Mississippi State | L, 81-84 |
| Wed, Jan 22 |  | vs 13 Texas A&M | L, 62-63 |
| Sat, Jan 25 |  | @ Missouri | L, 83-75 |
| Wed, Jan 29 |  | vs Texas | W, 72-69 |
| Sat, Feb 1 |  | vs 2 Auburn | L, 92-82 |
| Tue, Feb 4 |  | vs 10 Kentucky | W, 98-84 |
| Sat, Feb 8 | | @ LSU | 7:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 12 |  | @ South Carolina | 6:00 PM SECN |
| Sat, Feb 15 | | vs 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Feb 22 |  | @ Vanderbilt | 2:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 26 | | @ 2 Auburn | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 1 |  | vs 12 Oklahoma | 1:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Mar 5 |  | vs 1 Tennessee | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |