In a pulsating contest that had the crowd on their feet, the No. 23 Ole Miss Rebels edged out the No. 13 Purdue Boilermakers 70-68 in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl on Friday. The Rebels held off a late Purdue rally to secure their first bowl victory since 2015.
The Rebels' defense dominated the night, limiting Purdue to just 27.5% shooting from the field. Ole Miss's defensive pressure forced the Boilermakers into 15 turnovers and secured six blocks. Defensive back AJ Finley sealed the win with an interception in the final minute.
"Our defense played lights out," said Ole Miss's head coach Lane Kiffin. "They made big plays when they needed to."
Purdue stormed back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to just two points with less than two minutes to play. However, Ole Miss's offense, led by quarterback Jaxson Dart, remained composed and managed to convert a crucial first down to run out the clock.
"We're a resilient bunch," said Dart. "We knew they were going to make a run, but we stepped up and made the plays we needed to."
Despite their late surge, the Boilermakers' offense struggled to find a consistent rhythm. Aidan O'Connell threw for 245 yards but also had two interceptions. Purdue's head coach Jeff Brohm lamented the turnovers.
"We didn't take care of the football, and that's on me," said Brohm. "We had our chances, but we didn't capitalize."
With the victory, Ole Miss improves to 10-3 and is poised to finish the season ranked in the Top 25. Purdue falls to 8-5 in a season marked by both highs and lows. Both teams will look to build on their experiences and return stronger next year.