This game wasn’t disastrous on the level of the Alabama and Georgia games, though considering the competition it might as well have been.
Vanderbilt’s defense wasn’t quite as bad as giving up 55 points would make it seem. No, the defense wasn’t good, but at least some of that was on the offense. A Kyle Shurmur fumble gave Ole Miss the ball on the Vanderbilt 27; an interception gave Ole Miss the ball at the Vanderbilt 30; a safety and subsequent kickoff gave Ole Miss the ball at the 50. All three of those miscues resulted in touchdowns, and there’s 23 points right there in a game that Vanderbilt lost by 22 points.