Heading into last Saturday’s contest with Alabama, the Ole Miss football team boasted the No. 8 offense in the country and the No. 124 defense. Coming off a victory over FCS school Southern Illinois, in which the Rebels scored 76 but allowed 41, the hottest seat in Oxford was occupied by defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff — and rightfully so.
In McGriff’s first season as coordinator, Ole Miss’ defense registered 115th of 129 teams, finishing dead last in the SEC and giving up 460 yards a game.