Even though it’s still October, Missouri vs. Ole Miss has serious playoff implications. And I believe Missouri will add to their already impressive resume.

Because Missouri and Ole Miss both have a loss, a win this week could do more than build momentum. It could also strengthen a resume when the committee decides which SEC teams deserve a spot in the bracket.

The road ahead doesn’t get easier for either team. Ole Miss and Missouri both still have to play Texas and Georgia. Additionally, the Rebels close the year against Mississippi State, while the Tigers have Kentucky on their remaining slate. The loser of this game would need to play near-perfect football against a gauntlet of tough opponents to stay in the playoff conversation.

Ole Miss has a quarterback who can swing this game

It feels like everyone has forgotten about Ole Miss since Florida smoked the Rebels. They responded with a 52-17 win over Vanderbilt, but how much can we take away from that result? Vandy is not a good team, so a blowout doesn’t reveal much about where Ole Miss stands.

The Rebels do have Kewan Lacy back, which matters. Of course, Trinidad Chambliss is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Together, those two players should give Ole Miss a serious edge when they square off with a strong Missouri defense.

The Rebels’ problem lies on the other side of the ball. Their defense is still rough, and it has played poorly in multiple outings. Ole Miss ranks 106th in EPA per rush allowed and 95th in EPA per pass allowed. Those numbers are concerning for any team with playoff aspirations, let alone one heading into a stretch with Texas and Georgia still waiting.

Can Missouri expose the Rebels’ defense?

The biggest question in this matchup is whether Missouri can capitalize on those defensive issues. Running back Jamal Roberts is coming off back-to-back games with 200 rushing yards against Florida and Texas A&M. Against a defense that struggles this much to stop the run like the Rebels do, he could be in line for another huge day.

Quarterback Austin Simmons also has a chance to make a statement against his former team. He has put together an incredible season, with 1434 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and just one interception, and a strong performance against Ole Miss would only add to it. Games against a former program carry extra weight, and this is an ideal chance for Simmons to keep building on what he’s already accomplished.

Missouri’s defense has been stellar so far. The Tigers rank 13th in EPA per play allowed, which is a major reason they have stayed in the hunt. However, this is the toughest challenge that unit has seen yet. Chambliss presents a different kind of threat than anything Missouri has faced, and Lacy’s return gives the Rebels more balance than their recent struggles might suggest.

A momentum team against a dangerous quarterback

Missouri enters this matchup with the most momentum. The Tigers have a red-hot running back, a quarterback playing at a high level, and a defense that has answered almost every test.

Still, this feels like one of those games where Chambliss could simply take over. Elite quarterbacks can erase roster gaps, and Ole Miss will need him to do exactly that if its defense can’t hold up against the Missouri ground game.

Despite Chambliss’s star talent, I’m taking Missouri to win this. The rushing attack for the Tigers has been on fire with a serious chance to expose the Ole Miss defense once again. Jadan Baugh ran all over this team, and Roberts should do the same.