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It was a homecoming for many Ole Miss Rebels and Indiana Hoosiers today in Tampa, but it was Lane Kiffin’s team that survived and pulled the upset victory for a 26-20 win in the Outback Bowl in Tampa on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium.
Ole Miss entered as a 7.5-point underdog, but leaves with the trophy after posting 493 yards of offense on 6.2 yards per play. Rebels quarterback Matt Corral showed why he’s one of the up-and-coming passers in the SEC, finishing 30-44 for 342 yards and two touchdowns against one of the better defenses in college football.
IU signal caller Jack Tuttle stepped in for Tampa native Michael Penix Jr. who suffered a season-ending leg injury earlier this year, and finished 26-45 for 201 yards and an interception. His top target was Whop Philyor, who matriculated 3.5 miles down the street at Tampa’s Plant High School, and finished with 18 catches for 81 yards on the game.
In a turnover-free game for both sides, the dynamic Ole Miss offense made the difference, with Indiana only able to generate 4.3 yards per play, with running back Stevie Scott carring 19 times for 99 yards two touchdowns to lead all rushers.
It was a home game for several people involved, including Lane Kiffin whose Dad was the defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2000 where he was on staff, and the Hoosiers Tom Allen was a coordinator in Raymond James Stadium for the South Florida Bulls for a season in 2015 before taking the IU job.