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NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

NittanyCentral

NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

Penn State Football, Abdul Carter

Penn State Football Must Stop These Ole Miss Players to Win Peach Bowl

The Peach Bowl is finally here as Penn State Football will take on the Ole Miss Rebels.

Penn State Football, Penn State Football Recruiting, James Franklin
Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Bowl officials announced last week that tickets are sold out for the game, which Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts.

It should be an exciting matchup, with both teams having never faced each other. The Rebels have some talent on offense that Penn State must slow down to win the game.

Ole Miss Players Penn State Football Must Stop

Jaxson Dart

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart leads the Rebels uptempo offense.

Dart has thrown for 2,985 yards with 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He has completed 65% of his passes during the season. Dart also rushed for 377 yards and seven touchdowns to make plays with his legs.

The Nittany Lions must keep Dart in the pocket, get pressure from him, and force him into mistakes.

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Receiving Core

The Rebels do a good job spreading the ball to different receivers.

Ole Miss has three receivers with 40 or more catches. Jordan Watkins has a team-high 53 for 741 yards and three scores. Dayton Wade adds 52 catches for 769 yards, plus four touchdowns. Tre Harris has 47 for a team-high 851 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Nittany secondary must defend the whole field well because Dart likes to spread the ball around.

Quninshon Judkins

When the Rebels run the ball, they give it to Quinshon Judkins.

He has 1,052 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Penn State can’t let the Rebels run the ball because it would help open up their passing attack.

Running the ball well opens up everything, play-action passing, and could force you to load the box up and open up deep shots down the field.

It will be an exciting matchup, with Penn State having one of the best defenses in the nation.

The Nittany Lions’ defense is No.1 in yardage per game (ppg), giving up 222.3 yards per game. The Nittany Lions ranked third against the pass and the run, yielding just 153.6 and 69.7 yards per game, respectively.

Penn State also stood third in the country, allowing a mere 11.4 points per game.

MORE: Could Penn State Lose Rising Star Assistant After Hiring Tom Allen?

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