Sept. 15, 2012

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TV: ESPN | Ole Miss Radio Network (Sirius 138)

OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss Rebels are 2-0 heading into Saturday’s marquee matchup with the No. 12 Texas Longhorns, which will take place at a sold-out Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

The Longhorns come to town with a 2-0 record of their own, coming off a 45-0 blowout against New Mexico in Austin. It marks UT’s first trip to Oxford in program history.

“We’re very excited about this week,” Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze said. “We have one of the nation’s best teams coming into Oxford.  Our kids, fans and coaches are excited about the opportunity that it presents.”

Ole Miss has gotten off to a hot start, beating Central Arkansas 49-27 and UTEP 28-10.  Their two wins thus far have garnered national attention, with the Rebels receiving votes in a national poll (USA Today Coaches poll) for the first time since the 2010 preseason.

Freeze has tried to keep his team grounded while the hype surrounding this game increases.  With the population of Oxford expected to rise to upwards of 100,000 people, Freeze knows the importance of not letting the outside forces get to his football team.

“Saturday night there will be a little more excitement around,” said Freeze.  “Our young kids will have to handle that emotionally and mentally.  We won’t treat our preparation any differently.”

The Rebels are currently top 10 nationally in such categories as pass efficiency (6th), rushing (9th), and total offense (10th).

Quarterback Bo Wallace, who leads the team in both passing and rushing, has been a key component to Freeze’s high performing offense.

“Him playing well is not going to his head,” Freeze said.  “It really drives him and he wants to do better.  I don’t have to worry about his ego.”

Wallace has thrown for 438 yards and five touchdowns on 35-of-46 passing, as well as rushed for 135 yards and two more scores.

Wallace and the rest of the Ole Miss offense will have their work cut out for them as one of the nation’s top defenses comes to town, led by defensive end duo Jackson Jeffcoat and Alex Okafor.

“Great respect for Coach Brown and the job he’s done,” said Freeze.  “I’ve always heard of the type of program he runs. I know Manny Diaz does a great job defensively.”

Ole Miss and Texas have faced each other six times with Texas leading the series 5-1.  The lone win by the Rebels came in the 1958 Sugar Bowl where the seventh-ranked Rebels beat the Longhorns 39-7.  This weekend’s meeting will be the first since 1966.