Under Pete Golding, the 2024 Ole Miss defense not only ranks as among the most stifling in the FBS this season, but is on pace to become one of the best in recent program history. The Rebels lead the FBS in five defensive categories -- tackles for loss (103), TFL yards (447), sacks (46), sack yards (296) and yards per rush allowed (2.23) -- while leading the SEC in rushing defense (79.9 ypg; FBS No. 2) and rushing touchdowns allowed (5; FBS No. 4). At 46 sacks and 103 TFL, the Rebels have flown past their entire season total for 2023 of 35 sacks and 82 TFL. Right now, the Rebels’ SEC-leading 79.9 rushing yards allowed per game would rank fifth in Ole Miss history and would be the best since 1963. Only one Rebel defense has held opponents below the century mark this millennium: the 2008 Rebel squad that ended with an 85.5 yards per game clip. Ole Miss doesn’t just own the FBS’ best pass rush, it also has what is already the best in program history. At 46 sacks, the Rebels have broken the single-season team record of 39 set twice prior in 1992 and 2021. The Rebels have notched at least four sacks in seven of their 10 games this season, with an additional five games with at least five, three with at least six and the most sacks in back-to-back games in recorded Ole Miss history after bruising Oklahoma for nine and then Arkansas for eight. The Ole Miss defense currently leads the FBS in tackles for loss (103) and total forced yards lost at 447 -- averaging 10.3 TFL for 44.7 yards lost per game this season. The Rebels are closing in on the single-season team record of 111 set in 2008 and have six games with double-digit TFL this season, the most in available game-by-game data since at least 1997. Aside from being part of the most fearsome defensive fronts in college football, Ole Miss defensive ends Jared Ivey, Suntarine Perkins and Princely Umanmielen have also formed one of the most powerful edge rush contingents in the FBS. All three rank within the top-25 nationally in sacks, with Perkins leading at sixth nationally and second in the SEC with his 10.0 sacks -- already tied for the second-most in Ole Miss single-season history. Umanmielen isn’t far off, tied for seventh nationally and third in the SEC at his 9.5 sacks. Ivey, meanwhile, is tied for fifth in the SEC and 22nd nationally at 7.0. Ole Miss ranks among the best FBS teams nationally per Pro Football Focus, leading the SEC and ranking sixth overall in team rating (93.4). Defensively, the Rebels lead the FBS in run defense (95.4) while ranking second in pass rushing (90.3; SEC No. 1), third in tackling (88.4; SEC No. 1) and fourth in overall defensive rating (93.8; SEC No. 2).
