Ole Miss delivered a commanding performance against Duke, securing its largest bowl victory in program history and making a bold statement to the college football world. The Rebels dismantled one of the ACC’s top teams in the 2025 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, showcasing their strength and resilience after being left out of the College Football Playoff. Head coach Lane Kiffin described the victory as a “statement” game for his players, who used their exclusion as motivation.
Despite Duke’s reputation for leading the nation in tackles for loss, sacks, and fourth-quarter comebacks in 2024, Ole Miss outmatched them in every aspect. The Rebels dominated the game with superior size, speed, and determination, ultimately securing a 52-20 win that tied their program’s record for the largest bowl margin of victory.
As one of the top teams left out of the playoff alongside Alabama, South Carolina, and Miami, Ole Miss channeled its frustration into a relentless performance. With two ACC teams chosen for the 12-team CFP field over them, Ole Miss sought to prove its worth by dismantling a strong conference competitor in Duke.
Among the Rebels’ key objectives at EverBank Stadium was to make a definitive statement while pursuing their 10th win of the season. Kiffin highlighted his team’s dedication, saying, “They wanted to make a statement against an ACC team.” Ole Miss did so convincingly, scoring 52 points—the most in a bowl game in program history—while amassing 589 yards of total offense.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart shined in his final game for Ole Miss, moving up the SEC’s career yardage leaderboard and delivering a memorable performance. Dart accounted for 447 yards of total offense, completed 27 of 35 passes for 404 yards, and threw four touchdown passes. His last throw as a Rebel was a 69-yard touchdown to Jordan Watkins, who led the team with 180 receiving yards and two scores.
While Kiffin expressed regret about leaving Dart in late in the game, he praised the quarterback’s commitment, noting, “I was actually trying to take Jaxson out earlier, and he refused. It says a lot about him.”
The Rebels’ balanced attack also featured contributions from Cayden Lee, Dae’Quan Wright, and Antwane Wells in the passing game, while Ulysses Bentley added 70 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Ole Miss held Duke to just 280 total yards, including a mere 44 rushing yards, and forced a key turnover with Isaiah Hamilton’s 50-yard pick-six.
The victory capped a 10-3 season (5-3 SEC) for Ole Miss, underscoring the team’s status as one of the nation’s best. They will kick off the 2025 season at home on August 30 against Georgia State.
