Ole Miss Football suffered a devastating blow to its College Football Playoff aspirations on Saturday, falling to the Florida Gators 24-17 in The Swamp. The loss highlighted a recurring theme for the Rebels—faltering in key moments despite promising seasons.
The No. 9-ranked Rebels, fresh off a massive win against Georgia that appeared to position them firmly in the playoff conversation, were unable to sustain their momentum against a resurgent Florida football team. The Gators, unranked and coming off a big victory over LSU, played spoiler for Ole Miss’ postseason dreams.
Ole Miss struggled to capitalize in crucial situations throughout the game. The Rebels failed to score in three red-zone trips, with uncharacteristic miscues from quarterback Jaxson Dart and the usually reliable Ole Miss offense. A missed field goal and multiple dropped passes from top targets like Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins compounded the team’s woes.
The Rebels had two late chances to tie the game, but Dart threw interceptions on back-to-back drives, both to Florida’s Bryce Thornton. The second pick, with just 17 seconds left, sealed the game and set off celebrations among Florida Gators football fans in Gainesville.
“It’s disappointing,” said Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. “We had a lot at stake today and just didn’t come through. A lot of missed opportunities—very unusual for this team.”
The Florida Gators, under head coach Billy Napier, delivered one of their most significant wins in years. Quarterback DJ Lagway threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Montrell Johnson Jr. led the ground attack with 127 rushing yards and a touchdown.
“This is part of the big-picture journey,” Napier said. “Belief is the most powerful thing in the world. We’re just getting started.”
Florida football has now defeated ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008, a sign that the program may be on the rise again after several challenging seasons. With the win, the Gators improved to 6-5 and secured bowl eligibility.
Saturday’s game rekindled memories of other missed opportunities in Ole Miss football history. Despite the Rebels’ efforts to rebuild and compete under Kiffin, key losses—like the infamous 2015 defeat against Arkansas—continue to haunt the program.
The Rebels entered the matchup needing only to win their final two games to keep their playoff hopes alive under the new 12-team format. Instead, Florida football once again served as a spoiler, as they did in 2015, when a loss to the Gators narrowed Ole Miss’ postseason margin for error.
With an 8-3 record and two disappointing losses to unranked teams (Florida and Kentucky), Ole Miss’ chances of making the playoff are now virtually nonexistent. The team will turn its attention to the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State next weekend, hoping to end the regular season on a high note.
Meanwhile, Florida Gators football will look to build on its momentum when it faces arch-rival Florida State. The Gators are on track to close the regular season with three consecutive wins, a promising sign for a program that’s aiming to reclaim its former glory.
For Ole Miss fans, Saturday’s loss was a bitter reminder of the challenges the team faces in sustaining success. While Kiffin has elevated the program to levels of consistency not seen in decades, the inability to finish strong in critical moments continues to be a hurdle.
“Games like this show us how far we’ve come but also how far we still need to go,” Kiffin said. “We’ve got to find a way to land the plane.”
The defeat leaves Ole Miss Football fans wondering when, or if, the Rebels can take that elusive next step to consistently compete for championships in the SEC and beyond.