The No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels are staring down a tough road test against the No. 22 Florida Gators on Saturday, and it just got a whole lot tougher. Star running back Kewan Lacy is now listed as doubtful due to a shoulder injury, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, putting a huge question mark over their offense heading into Gainesville. This isn’t just a minor tweak; this is a significant blow for the Rebels.
The Shoulder Injury That Changes Everything (Almost)
Lacy’s injury isn’t new; he suffered it last week during their big win over the LSU Tigers and couldn’t even finish the second half. What started as a “questionable” tag on earlier injury reports has now been officially downgraded to “doubtful” on the SEC availability report Friday night. And when the SEC calls a player “doubtful,” it means he’s “unlikely to play due to significant concerns.” Zenitz just doubled down on that, reporting Lacy is “trending toward not being available.” Talk about a gut punch for the Rebels’ offense! Lacy has been a beast so far this season, racking up 39 carries for 191 yards and a whopping four touchdowns. He’s not just a runner either, snatching seven passes for 16 yards. Losing that kind of production, that kind of playmaking ability, against a ranked opponent on the road? That’s a huge problem.
Gators Are Favored and It’s Not Just Because of the Swamp
So, with Lacy likely sidelined, who exactly steps up for Ole Miss? Freshman JT Lindsey is the presumed “next man up” at running back, but his season numbers are pretty lean: just 12 carries for 48 yards. That’s a serious step down from Lacy’s game-breaking talent. To make things even more interesting, quarterback Trinidad Chamblis is actually second on the team in rushing yards. Does that mean the Rebels will lean more on their signal-caller’s legs, or try to establish Lindsey against a tough Florida defense? The Gators are already the favorites heading into this matchup, a fact that even surprised Ole Miss head coach Jon Sumrall. You gotta wonder if this Lacy news just solidified that betting line even further. It’s a huge momentum swing for Florida, playing at home in Gainesville.
The stage is set for a massive SEC clash. Ole Miss, ranked No. 6, heads into the No. 22 Gators’ house with their star back likely out of commission. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET and you can catch all the action on ABC. Without Kewan Lacy, the Rebels will need a massive effort from Lindsey, Chamblis, and everyone else to overcome the odds and that home field advantage. It’s going to be a grind, and every single snap will matter in this one. Can Ole Miss prove Sumrall’s surprise wrong and pull off the upset? We’ll find out Saturday!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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