Jaxson Dart threw four touchdown passes and Ulysses Bentley IV ran for two scores as No. 14 Mississippi defeated Duke 52-20 in the Gator Bowl Thursday night in Jacksonville, Fla.
Coach Lane Kiffin, who expressed his displeasure with the College Football Playoff selection, had his team to prove a point. The Rebels were clicking for most of the game, and held Duke’s revitalized offense at bay.
Dart, who is expected to declare for the NFL draft, made one final impression as a college player by completing 27 of 35 passes for 404 yards, including a 69-yarder to Jordan Watkins for a touchdown with 1:27 left. on the left.
Watkins caught two touchdown passes and Dae’Quan Wright and Antwane Wells Jr. each had one for Ole Miss (10-3), which has won five of its last six games. Jordan Watkins was the team’s leading receiver with seven receptions for 180 yards.
Duke (9-4), playing under first-year coach Manny Diaz and making its first Gator Bowl appearance, turned to quarterback Henry Belin IV as the starter. Maalik Murphy went through the transfer portal and Grayson Loftis, who quarterbacked Duke’s 2023 bowl victory, also went through the transfer portal.
Belin was 25 of 44 for 236 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Sahmir Hagans posted the game’s final score on a 99-yard kickoff return.
The Blue Devils were also without running back Star Thomas, who rushed for 871 yards in the regular season before entering the transfer zone.
Duke’s Terry Moore had his fourth interception of the season, returning it 59 yards after tipping kicker Caden Davis on a false ceiling to end the opening drive.
But Ole Miss stopped Duke on fourth down on the other side of the field. The Rebels needed just four plays to go 68 yards for the game’s first score on Dart’s 32-yarder from Wells.
Duke had 36 yards on 11 plays in the first quarter. But trailing 17-0, the Blue Devils marched 75 yards in eight plays to score on Belin’s 16-yard pass to Javon Harvey.
The Rebels scored with 1:52 left in the period on Dart’s 21-yard pass to Wright for a 24-7 halftime lead.
The scoring in the second half started with Isaiah Hamilton’s 50-yard punt return for a touchdown as Ole Miss took a 31-7 lead.
–Field Level Media