How can Kentucky football upset Ole Miss? Its defense must be up to the task.

For a Kentucky defense that appears to have returned to form, Saturday’s matchup against the turbo-charged Ole Miss Rebels is something of a measuring stick for coordinator Brad White’s unit.

Never mind that White’s defense ranked 25th or better nationally in total defense three of the previous four years. Or was 12th in 2022. Or had put multiple players in the NFL ranks. None of that kept Kentucky’s DC from feeling some heat in 2023.

Given past success, it says here the criticism was unwarranted. But the Cats did give up late leads in losses to South Carolina and Clemson. Georgia scored 51 points. Alabama scored 49. Missouri scored 38. UK finished 45th nationally in total defense, 61st in scoring defense, 90th in pass efficiency defense, 107th in third-down defense and 121st in red zone defense.

Through four games this season, Kentucky’s defense has played more like previous Kentucky defenses. UK is No. 6 nationally in total defense, allowing 217 yards per game. It is 10th in run defense at 74.75 yards per game and 15th in scoring defense, allowing 12.5 per game.

The Wildcats held No. 1-ranked Georgia to 13 first downs and 13 points. They blanked Southern Miss, though that game was called for weather five minutes into the third quarter. Last week, they allowed a single touchdown to Ohio. They have held each of their first four opponents under 300 yards of total offense.

But if you want to talk rankings, Ole Miss will talk to you about rankings, and not just their No. 6 ranking in the current AP Top 25. The 4-0 Rebels are No. 1 nationally in scoring offense (55 points per game), total offense (670.8 yards per game) and passing offense (422.8 yards per game).

Quarterback Jaxson Dart leads the nation in passing yards per game (388.5) and pass efficiency (219.45 rating). Wide receiver Tre Harris is No. 2 nationally in receiving yards at 157 per game. Running back Henry Parrish is averaging 106.75 yards per game on the ground.

“Eye-popping,” was the way Kentucky coach Mark Stoops described those stats during his Monday press conference.

To this point, the Rebels have feasted on a patty-cake schedule, routing Furman (76-0), Middle Tennessee (52-3), Wake Forest (40-6) and Georgia Southern (52-13). Those four foes have combined for a grand total of one win — Georgia Southern over Nevada — against FBS opponents.

Don’t be fooled, however. Ole Miss’ ultra-fast tempo can’t be replicated in practice. And Kiffin has long been one of the best offensive minds in the game. His 31-year-old offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis Jr., is the son of Charlie Weis Sr., who won three Super Bowls as the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator and was head coach at Notre Dame.

Kentucky has faced Dart before. The Southern Cal transfer completed 15 of 29 passes for 213 yards, with one interception, in Ole Miss’ 22-19 victory over the Cats in Oxford in 2022. Under Kiffin’s coaching, Dart has done nothing but improve since.

“I just think he’s special,” Stoops said Monday of Dart. “He’s operating at an extremely high level.”

So how can Kentucky keep the Rebels from running wild in Oxford? The UK offense has to do its part. One way to play good defense is to play less defense. Bush Hamdan’s attack needs some long drives to keep the Rebels offense off the field and give the Kentucky defense a break. That won’t be easy. Did we mention that Ole Miss also leads the nation in run defense?

When between the lines, White’s defense must limit Ole Miss’ big plays. The Rebels have produced two scoring drives of less than a minute in its win over Georgia Southern. They’ve already produced 100 plays of 10-plus yards, including 37 plays of 20-plus yards. They’ve hit four plays of 60-plus yards, including a 70-yard TD pass from Dart to Harris against Georgia Southern.

“We’ve just got to be dialed in and locked in at all times,” Stoops said Monday, “because the moment you’re not they’re going to hit you with a big play.”

And at this moment, Kentucky’s defense appears to be much improved. How much? We’ll receive a measurement on Saturday.

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