Ole Miss Rolls Past OSU In 2016 Sugar Bowl

Oklahoma State couldn’t contain Ole Miss, falling 48-20 in the 2016 Sugar Bowl.

Game Synopsis

Ten minutes into the game, Both teams combined for six rushing yards and OSU held a 3-0 advantage after a field goal from Ben Grogan. 

The Rebels bounced back with a 34 yarder of their own from Gary Wunderlich. With the score, Ole Miss picked up momentum to advance its lead when Chad Kelly connected with Cody Core for a 31-yard TD reception to end the first quarter.

Opening the second quarter, the Rebels started the drive at the 49. A catch by Laquon Treadwell tallied his 78th to record the most catches in a single season in Ole miss history. He soon found the end zone, snagging his ninth scoring reception of the year to up the Rebels advantage 17-3 and make him one play shy of breaking another school record. 

At this point, the Cowboys defense  couldn’t contain Ole Miss in the air and couldn’t seem to get an offensive break after close attempts.  

Ole Miss continued to roll the Cowboys, scoring on a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Wilkins to increase the deficit 24-3. 

With 2:40 before the half, the game was looking like the Laquon Treadwell show as he continued to break Ole Miss school records, including most career receptions (200) and most receiving yards in a season (1,139). He was the game's MVP and it was obvious.

The Cowboys cut their deficit by three with another field goal but it didn’t seem like much of an effort after Ole miss scored again to lead 34-6 going into halftime. The Rebels 34 points tied LSU's (2002) Sugar Bowl record for most points in a first half.

Halftime Stats

OSU

First Downs- 10

Rushes- Yards (NET)- 13-1

Passing Yards (NET)- 157

Passes Att-Comp-Int- 28-16-0

Total Offense Plays- Yards- 41-156

Fumble Returns- Yards- 0-0

Punt Returns- Yards- 0-0

Kickoff Return- Yards- 0-0

Interception Returns- Yards- 1-28

Punts (Number-Avg)- 5-35.2

Fumbles- Lost- 1-0

Penalties-Yards- 6-62

Possession Time- 15:52

Third-Down Conversions-  2 of 9

Fourth-Down Conversions- 0 of 0 

Red-Zone Scores-Chances- 2-2

Ole Miss

First Downs- 21

Rushes- Yards (NET)- 21-96

Passing Yards (NET)- 296

Passes Att-Comp-Int- 22-15-1

Total Offense Plays- Yards- 43-392

Fumble Returns- Yards- 0-0

Punt Returns- Yards- 1-2

Kickoff Return- Yards- 3-68

Interception Returns- Yards- 0-0

Punts (Number-Avg)- 1-38.0

Fumbles- Lost- 0-0

Penalties-Yards- 4-122

Possession Time- 14:08

Third-Down Conversions-  3 of 6

Fourth-Down Conversions- 0 of 0

Red-Zone Scores-Chances- 4-4

The second half didn’t get much better for the Cowboys as Ole miss elevated its lead 41-13 by the end of the third quarter and extended it even more in the fourth. By the two minute mark, the Rebels led 48-20 and held that lead to win.

“We couldn't slow them down from big plays on offense, and they started running trick plays, kind of like we did last year in our bowl game," said Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy. "I think they're a really, really good football team."

The Rebels 48 points were the most Ole Miss has ever scored in a bowl game, and Kelly’s four TD passes were the most by an Ole Miss player in a bowl game. 

OSU concluded its season at 10-3.