OXFORD, Miss. -- Mississippi quarterback Shea Patterson threw for 429 yards and four touchdowns, giving Matt Luke a successful debut as head coach as the Rebels defeated South Alabama 47-27 Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Luke's successful opener provided a moment of relief for a program plagued with off-season issues. Head coach Hugh Freeze resigned in July after revelations surfaced regarding his personal conduct. The outcome of a prolonged NCAA investigation is scheduled to be resolved this month.
Those concerns disappeared as Patterson completed touchdown throws of 71 and 77 yards to A.