In a stunning Week 13 SEC showdown, Florida upset No. 9 Ole Miss 24-17 on Saturday in the Swamp, ending the Rebels’ College Football Playoff hopes. True freshman quarterback DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a score, and the Gators (6-5) secured back-to-back victories over ranked opponents for the first time since 2008.
The win followed Florida’s triumph over LSU in Gainesville last week and demonstrated a dramatic turnaround under head coach Billy Napier. Ole Miss (8-3), a 10-point favorite heading into the game, saw its four-game winning streak snapped and will fall out of the 12-team playoff picture.
Despite outgaining Florida in total offense, the Rebels were plagued by costly mistakes in critical moments. Ole Miss failed to score on three red-zone trips and was undone by a combination of dropped passes and poor execution. Quarterback Jaxson Dart finished with 323 passing yards and two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions in the closing minutes, both picked off by Florida’s Bryce Thornton.
The Rebels’ first significant misstep came in the second quarter when defensive tackle J.J. Pegues, used as a short-yardage back, was stopped on two fourth-down runs inside the 20-yard line. A subsequent missed 34-yard field goal by Caden Davis added to Ole Miss’s red-zone woes.
The dropped passes proved even more damaging. Jordan Watkins, Wells, Dae’Quan Wright, and star receiver Tre Harris all let potential touchdowns slip through their hands, leaving points on the field. Without standout running back Henry Parrish Jr., who missed his second straight game with a knee injury, Ole Miss leaned heavily on Dart’s arm and legs, but the lack of offensive balance proved costly.
Florida capitalized on Ole Miss’s mistakes with a balanced offensive attack. Lagway, who has shown poise beyond his years, completed 10 of 17 passes for 180 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Montrell Johnson provided a steady presence on the ground, churning out 127 yards and a score against a typically stout Ole Miss defense.
Lagway’s touchdown passes showcased his playmaking ability. A 34-yard strike to Marcus Burke in the second quarter put the Gators ahead, and a 22-yard pass to Eugene Wilson III in the third quarter extended the lead to 24-10. Johnson’s 54-yard touchdown run in the first quarter set the tone for Florida’s explosive offense.
The Gators’ defense also stepped up when it mattered most, sacking Dart four times and pressuring him into key mistakes. Thornton, who redeemed himself after being beaten for a touchdown earlier in the game, sealed the win with his two late interceptions, including one in the final 17 seconds that sparked a celebratory scene in the end zone.
The Rebels’ playoff hopes were dashed by an unbalanced offense and repeated failures in the red zone. Missing Henry Parrish Jr. left Ole Miss overly reliant on Dart, who scrambled for 71 yards in addition to his 323 passing yards. The team will now focus on salvaging the season in the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State.
The Gators’ late-season surge has bolstered confidence in Napier’s leadership. With consecutive wins over ranked teams, Florida has a chance to finish the regular season strong with a rivalry game against Florida State looming.
The Rebels return home to face rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on Friday, looking to rebound and end the season on a high note.
The Gators head to Tallahassee to face Florida State, seeking to close the regular season with a statement win against their in-state rivals.
