The Missouri game at Ole Miss on Saturday has huge playoff and SEC implications as both squads come into the tilt with only 1 loss.  For the second time this year, the game at Oxford has story lines that far surpass what will go on between the lines.

In 2025, Austin Simmons was a highly heralded QB prospect who was Jaxson Dart’s successor at Ole Miss.  He got hurt and an unknown backup from Ferris State in Division 2 took over as the Rebels QB.  Trinidad Chambliss was shockingly good, highlighted by a Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.  SImmons never got his job back and transferred to Mizzou.

100 years earlier, the Yankees got off to a desultory 15-26 start.  Manager Miller Huggins decided to bench Wally Pipp.  Folklore is unclear as if the benching had to go with a Pipp headache or solely based on performance.  Pipp’s substitute:  Lou Gehrig.  Gehrig got 3 hits and played 2,130 consecutive games.  Gehrig’s lifetime stats were staggering:  A lifetime batting average of .340 and an on-base percentage of .447.  Pipp, despite an admirable career where he had 3 times driven in 100+ runs, never got his Yankee job back.

Simmons has had a terrific year and poses a major threat to Ole Miss.  Unlike Pipp, he has a chance to make a loud statement on Saturday.  He will have plenty of help.  Mizzou has totally shut down the run games of Florida and Texas A&M the past two weeks.  In addition, the Tigers have overcome the unfortunate shooting to one of the country’s best running backs, Ahmad Hardy.  However great Hardy is, he has not been greatly missed as Jamal Roberts ran for 200+ yards against both the Gators and the Aggies.

Mizzou has been impressive enough that we are unsure that the initial line of Ole Miss by 6 is accurate.  Given Ole Miss’ up-and-down defense, the Odyssey sees this as a pick  ’em  game.