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You're locked in to Talk of Champions,

an Ole Miss podcast powered by Riverland Roofing

and featuring Ben Garrett and Billy and Body of Rebel Grove.

Hey everybody, Big Garrett here, talk of champions from the field suite after

oldness, defeats Georgia State to open the 2025-26 season.

What was the final score?

63 to 7. 63 to 7 is a video game score. This is Brad Logan, my friend, a contributor at Rebel Grove. I'm Ben Garrett at Spirit Ben. Rebel Grove on three, sign up today for $1 full post game reaction after Ole Miss defeats Georgia State. To move to want to know the Kentucky payback game in Lexington coming next week.

We'll talk about that in a second.

But an uneven game a little bit. We're going to hear from Lane Kiffin in a second. He has some good things to say about Austin Simmons and especially Kiwan Lacey, who was really impressive in his debut, the Missouri transfer running back. Man, he flashed all day, Brad. Yeah. We're going to talk about it here on Talk of Champions here from Lane in just a second.

But what were your overall thoughts?

For me, it was an uneven game, especially early. The turnovers for Austin weren't good. And it had to do less with, you know, the decisions were bad enough, but not set protections, free runners and stuff like that. But he rebounded, right? and he played a really good second half, Trinidad, Chambers and things. What's your impressions after that one? I saw something different than the board is saying in online social chatter. I thought the offensive line looked pretty good. I mean, really? I didn't see the consternation that everybody else saw. I mean, I thought Simmons had a pretty good pocket at times. I mean, there were times he had a really good. And I thought, come on, Lacey looked really good. Lane may mention that, you know, he kind of slid that in. And the press call, you'll hear it in a moment where he says, you know, we didn't have that last year. And what he's talking about is a really good running back room. I thought the wide receiver room is loaded.

We knew that coming in. But Pete Golding said all along, Ben, we heard him say there was not going to be a big step back on the defensive line. Maybe he's telling the truth. I didn't really believe him. Seeing it on the field, the defensive line looked pretty good. Yeah, it looked good. Here's the thing that I kind of took away from that. It's like, almost last year set records from tackles for loss and sacks.

Yeah. Your defense of line looked pretty good. Yeah, it looked good. Here's the thing that I kind of took away from that. It's like Ole Miss last year set records from tackles for loss and sacks with a first rounder in Walter Nolan, a third rounder in Prince Lee, Mon Miel, and a undrafted free agent to Jared Ivy who's made the 53-man roster with the Seattle Seahawks. J.J. Pagis, one of the many former players here tonight, making the roster with the Raiders, I think, correct me if I'm wrong on that. But I saw him, Channing Ward, Derek Jones, of course Terrence Metcalf was honored before kickoff, legendary career for him at Ole Miss. But that defensive line was historic. This doesn't have to be an historic defensive line. If it's like a top 20-ish defensive line, that's a good enough to contend. And that's what I saw. I didn't necessarily see the polished players that you're like Walter Nolan, you knew what you had last year with Walter Nolan. Cam Franklin's still more of a lottery ticket. But dude, he flashed. Like you saw it a lot. There are going to be some screw-ups, some boneheaded play.

Same thing with Austin Simmons. But you're right in terms of the talent drop off. That's what I don't really see. I see raw talent. Maybe it's not polished. Maybe there's going to be some more, you know, a little bit more trip-ups than there was with Walter in them. But as far as pure talent, William Eccles, Deshaun Wamek looks like a million bucks.

By the way, Hardy got his chain-snatched just before the pre-game, which I want to say, Georgia State. Really? Don't do that. Don't do that. 60-37 is bad enough and they didn't even play a very good game. You know what I mean? truth change snatching moment is that. But yeah, I'm with you.

I think the defensive line, as far as a talent drop off, isn't going to be it. But for me,

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