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

Montrell Johnson Jr.’s five-yard touchdown run with 7:40 left in the fourth quarter gave Florida a 24-17 victory over No. 9 Ole Miss Saturday in Gainesville.

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

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

The Rebels had an earlier opportunity on an earlier possession after a 35-yard run by Dart put them at Florida’s 40-yard line. However, Dart overthrew Watkins on a 40-yard 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 loss drops Ole Miss out of a fourth-way tie in the SEC and almost certainly eliminates the Rebels from College Football Playoff consideration at 4–3 in the 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, who caught eight balls for 70 yards.

Micah Davis’ muffed punt return to 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 re-aggravating a groin injury. Before he was injured, he caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Jaxson Dart that tied the game at 7-7.

Florida’s defense also came out earlier in the game, stopping Ole Miss on a 4th and 1 at the Gators’ 10-yard line. Instead of kicking the tying field goal, Lane Kiffin elected 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 elected to make a game-tying field goal attempt, 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.