Football vs. Texas: Practice Report

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss football will hit the road Saturday following an impressive 31-3 victory over Missouri. The Rebels will head to No. 19 Texas for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff.

Head coach Pete Golding met with reporters this week alongside running back Makhi Frazier and offensive lineman Patrick Kutas as the Rebels prepare for a Saturday night road matchup against No. 13 Texas in Austin. Coming off back-to-back wins, Ole Miss looks to carry its momentum into one of its biggest tests of the season against a talented Longhorns squad.

This week's practice report is presented by Mississippi Sports & Orthopedic Center.

Keeping the Standard

Golding emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and consistency following consecutive victories, stressing that the team cannot allow positive results to create a false sense of confidence.

"When they come off a really emotional win, the ability to refocus and know that we got to do it again," Golding said. "Sometimes there's a false confidence created based on outcomes. We look at the scoreboards and we won the game, but it really wasn't based on our body of work."

Golding said the mistakes and inconsistencies that have appeared on film in recent weeks must be addressed before facing a Texas team capable of capitalizing on those opportunities. He also highlighted the importance of balancing preparation with recovery as the season progresses.

"You want to be fresh for game day," he said. "We got to be really smart and diligent about our meeting times and our walkthroughs and how we practice to keep these guys fresh physically and also mentally."

The Rebels' depth has also been a positive, with several players stepping into expanded roles against Missouri and making the most of their opportunities. Golding credited the program's recruiting and player development for preparing those players to contribute when called upon.

"You better have good players behind them that are ready to go," Golding said. "When they got in, they took advantage of their opportunity. That speaks to their character."

Preparing for the Longhorns
Golding praised Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and the talent across the Longhorns' roster, noting that their record does not fully reflect their performance. He pointed to several plays that have not gone Texas' way and reminded the Rebels that they are preparing for a team capable of competing with the nation's best.

"They've had a lot of bad luck," Golding said. "There's a lot of things if you actually watch the tape, hitting guys in stride, hits them in the chest, ball bounces off. Somehow it's been lost that they beat the number one team in the country."

Golding said Texas will be motivated to respond and that the Rebels must be prepared for the Longhorns' best effort.

"They know their backs are up against the wall and we're going to get their best shot," he said.

Defensively, Golding identified stopping the run on early downs as a key to limiting Texas' offensive options. Keeping the Longhorns out of manageable passing situations will be especially important against a receiving corps featuring elite talent.

"If you can't slow down the running game and create negative yardage plays on base downs to get them in obvious passing downs, it becomes extremely hard," he said. "Now you're one-on-one with a first round draft pick and you don't like the matchup."

Golding also stressed the importance of communication and assignment discipline against a Texas offense that uses shifts and motion to create confusion before the snap.

Frazier Emphasizes Competition and Mentorship
Frazier said the Rebels have built confidence following the bye week and wins over Vanderbilt and Missouri, with the running back room ready to contribute as Ole Miss prepares for the challenge in Austin.

He pointed to teammate Kewan Lacy's approach to preparation and his ability to manage injuries while continuing to work as an example for the entire position group.

"The extra work he does every day and the attention to detail he pays to everything," Frazier said. "Being able to see him work helps me get better every single day."

Frazier also highlighted the different skill sets within the running back room, explaining how the group's versatility allows the Rebels to complement one another and maintain a physical presence throughout the game.

"I think we all complement each other because some of us are fast, some of us are downhill runners," he said. "Once that all combines it's going to be a dangerous room."

Kutas Focused on Offensive Line Chemistry

Kutas said the offensive line continues to build chemistry as the season progresses, with daily preparation and additional repetitions helping the unit improve ahead of a difficult matchup against Texas' defensive front.

"Obviously there's stuff you can do to improve every single day," Kutas said. "The longer we play together and the more reps we get, the more we're just going to gel together even more."

With the Longhorns presenting a significant challenge up front, Kutas emphasized that protecting the quarterback begins with trust and communication among the offensive linemen.

"One of the main things in football is being comfortable with the guy next to you," Kutas said. "Taking reps and reps and reps, that's the process to become great."

Ole Miss will look to carry its momentum into Austin on Saturday night, with the Rebels aiming to deliver a complete performance against one of the SEC's most talented teams.

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Players Mentioned

Makhi Frazier

Patrick Kutas

Kewan Lacy

The University of Mississippi Athletics