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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jackson Dart’s final college pass was a 69-yard touchdown that got him chewed out on the sideline by coach Lane Kiffin.
It’s one the quarterback will never forget.
Dart threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns in his final start for Ole Miss, leading the 16th-ranked Rebels to a 52-20 rout of Duke in the Gator Bowl on Thursday night.
Dart connected with Jordan Watkins seven times for 180 yards and two scores, including the longest pass of the night at 1:27. Kiffin ripped him for it afterward.
“I love him except for the last play when he’s checking to see if he passed a play he shouldn’t have,” Kiffin said. “He needs to take a slightly better class there.”
Dart added 43 yards rushing, leaving EverBank Stadium with grass and dirt stains all over his red and white uniform.
The senior never considered giving up a bowl game. Instead, he helped the Rebels (10-3) make history. With the win, Ole Miss recorded back-to-back double-digit wins for the second time in program history and first since 1959-60.
“This place changed my life,” Dart said. “It was the best decision I made. Just the relationships I’ve built with everyone here will last a lifetime.”
Ulysses Bentley IV, another senior playing his final college game, ran for 70 yards and two scores for the Rebels. Isaiah Hamilton returned the interception 50 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter. Everyone got to celebrate with lateral dunks on a portable basketball hoop emblazoned with Duke logos.
This ACC-SEC postseason matchup was never close. It was not even expected. Ole Miss was a 17 1/2-point favorite, according to BetMGM, largely because the Blue Devils (9-4) were without quarterback Maalik Murphy and running back Zvezda Thomas. Both entered the transfer portal after Duke’s regular season finale.
Third year sophomore Henry Belin IV made his second career start and was bullied all night. Belin completed 25 of 44 passes for 236 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He was fired three times.
Belin’s TD passes were two of the team’s few highlights. Sahmir Hagans’ 99-yard punt return – from the side of the field, no less – was another.
One of Ole Miss’ few miscues came when Kiffin called a trick on fourth down. Kicker Caden Davis’ pass was deflected in the end zone, and Dart made nearly every punt the rest of the way.
“I think the thing that jumped out today was a special quarterback that played special,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said.
Takeaway
Duke: The Blue Devils won’t invest too much in turnovers, not with White getting a rare start and more offensive help along the way.
Ole Miss: The Rebels had most of their starters play in a bowl, which is a testament to how they feel about Dart and Kiffin. CB Jadon Canady and RT Micah Pettus, both starters, entered the transfer portal. And LB and leading tackler Chris Paul Jr. they decided to prepare for the draft process.
Key injuries
Duke cornerback Terry Moore, who intercepted the kicker’s pass on a trick play, left the game in the first half and ended up in the locker room. Ole Miss offensive lineman Eli Acker injured his right knee on an extra point in the second period and was helped off the field.
Chewed field
The field at EverBank Stadium was far from pristine. The grass center was mostly chewed up, looking more like a sandy community lot than the bright green lawn that usually seems pulled from a resort golf course. The Jaguars hosted Tennessee in an NFL game four days earlier, leaving little time to get the turf in top shape. Overnight temperatures in the 40s didn’t help the regrowth either.
Next
Duke is awaiting the arrival of former Tulane QB Darian Mensah, who will reportedly receive $8 million in NIL over two years to play for the Blue Devils.
Ole Miss will turn to highly touted left-handed QB Austin Simmons, a redshirt freshman from Miami. Simmons enrolled two years early and spent the last two seasons watching and learning from Dart.
