Ole Miss vs. Penn State score: Rebels cruise past Nittany Lions in Peach Bowl to cap first 11-win season

ATLANTA — No. 11 Ole Miss dominated No. 10 Penn State 38-25 on Saturday in the Peach Bowl to cap its first 11-win season in program history. This win was a showcase for the offensive force that coach Lane Kiffin has built in Oxford, Mississippi. 

Quarterback Jaxson Dart completed 25 of his 40 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns, which included two touchdown passes to game MVP Caden Prieskorn in the first half. Prieskorn caught 10 passes for a career-high 136 yards with the two touchdowns and a 2-point conversion. The Nittany Lions had no answer, as Dart found him wide open on wheel routes numerous times throughout the afternoon.

Dart was the catalyst for putting the game away in the second half with a 14-yard touchdown pass to running back Quinshon Judkins in the third quarter and a 2-yard plunge of his own in the fourth quarter.

Penn State’s offense struggled to get going all afternoon, which was a recurring theme all season. Quarterback Drew Allar completed just 19 of his 39 passes for 295 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The best play for Allar came on an ill-advised throw across his body that was tipped by an Ole Miss defender but landed in the hands of Tyler Warren — who rumbled 75 yards downfield.

• Ole Miss dominated in the explosive play category through the air. Dart had 10 passing plays of 15 or more yards, while Penn State only had 10 first downs through three frames. Penn State made some waves in the fourth quarter in garbage time as Allar had six explosive passing plays, but it was too little, too late.
• Styles make fights, and this game was played exactly how Kiffin wanted. The Rebels ran 88 plays while Penn State only ran 68. What’s amazing is that Penn State actually averaged more yards per play (7.5) than Ole Miss (6.1). It goes to show just how important tempo is in today’s brand of football.
• Penn State gained some momentum in the first quarter and had Ole Miss on its heels. The defensive front was making a living in the backfield, and two turnovers were called back on the field: an interception on the opening drive and a fumble later in the quarter. Instant replay overturned both. Maybe that was a sign of things to come.

CBS Sports was with you throughout the game providing live updates, highlights and analysis from the Peach Bowl. Read on below for takeaways from Ole Miss’ dominant win.