Introduction
The Peach Bowl matchup between Penn State No. 10 and Ole Miss No. 11 serves as an exciting opening for the 2024 playoff championship.
Currently, the goal is to build momentum for the competition next year. Even without the playoff excitement, the clash between Penn State’s No. 1 defense and Ole Miss’s fast offense led by quarterback Jaxson Dart makes this game appealing and a complete sellout.
Ole Miss (10-2) hopes to complete its first season with 11 wins in the university’s history.
The Mysterious Coordination
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin stated that changes in the Penn State staff raised concerns about his plans. Former Penn State defensive coach Manny Diaz has been hired as the head coach for Duke University. Assistants Anthony Poindexter and Rob Smith are serving as co-assistants for the game, while Tom Allen, the former Indiana University coach, oversees matters as coordinator for 2024.
Andy Kotelnicki has been hired as the new offensive coordinator for Penn State, but assistants Jaquan Sider and Ty Howell will be working in their third game as co-coordinators.
Kiffin said on Tuesday: “We have no idea what they are going to do.”
Players Opting Out
Defensive player Chop Robinson from Penn State and defensive player Cedric Johnson from Ole Miss have announced their decisions to opt out of the game and prepare for the NFL Draft. Franklin confirmed on Friday that senior cornerback Johnny Dixon is not with the team.
Franklin has worked to reach agreements with others, including cornerback Kalen King and defensive player Adisa Isaac, who announced transfer plans or are expected to enter the draft, to stay with the team until the end of the championship.
Quarterback Duo with Holds
On Thursday, Jaxson Dart, 21, did not commit to playing for Ole Miss in 2024. Dart, 21, can transition to the NFL. Judkins, 20, is likely enjoying interest in the transfer portal. Any decision from them could have significant implications for the team’s outlook.
When asked on Thursday if he had made a decision regarding his future, Dart said: “To be honest, I’m not too concerned about that right now. My focus is the game and preparing and doing my job to help my team be in the best position to win and help it make history here.”
Judkins said, “My focus is this game, just going out there with my teammates.”
Hall of Fame
A visit to the College Football Hall of Fame near Mercedes-Benz Stadium gave Penn State players the opportunity to honor the college career of safety Poindexter, who was inducted in 2020 for his achievements as a player at the University of Virginia in the late 1990s.
Poindexter said: “It was a special experience because I got to go with our team. I don’t know if they really believe I can play or not. I really don’t tell them. So maybe now they will think that I can play a little.”
SEC Team
Franklin, the former Vanderbilt coach, played a significant role in his team’s opportunity in the Big Ten against a team from the Southeastern Conference.
Penn State player Nicholas Singleton said: “We’re excited because we’re in SEC territory. Coach Franklin always talks about that. But we’re ready.”
Conclusion
The Peach Bowl between Penn State No. 10 and Ole Miss No. 11 promises to be an exciting and interesting game. Ole Miss hopes to achieve its first season with 11 wins in the university’s history, while Penn State aims to complete its six-game winning streak in major bowls.
Regardless of the game’s outcome, players and coaches look forward to building momentum for next season and achieving success in the upcoming championship.
Source:
https://apnews.com/article/peach-bowl-penn-state-ole-miss-dart-92b6114c7639198393cc624e985e4505
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