NEW ORLEANS — The Sugar Bowl was a lot more bitter than sweet for the Ole Miss football team.
No. 8 Ole Miss lost 21-7 versus No. 6 Baylor to end the Rebels’ storybook season. Quarterback Matt Corral left the game with an apparent ankle injury in the first quarter and did not return, limiting what Ole Miss’ offense could do and squandering a dominant performance from the Rebels’ defense.
Freshman Luke Altmyer relieved Corral. Playing in his fifth career game, Altmyer completed 12 of 25 passes for 174 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, one returned 96 yards for a Bears touchdown.
Ole Miss’ defense stepped up amid the offense’s struggles. The Rebels didn’t allow Baylor’s offense to score until the fourth quarter, holding the Bears to 7-for-17 on third and fourth downs and limiting Baylor to 40 passing yards.
Here are the Clarion Ledger’s takeaways from the Sugar Bowl:
One last hurrah for Matt Corral
Corral was injured when he was sacked with 2:13 left in the first quarter. He walked off the field under his own power but then was carted back to the locker room.
“It makes you sick to your stomach,” ESPN broadcaster Greg McElroy said during the broadcast as Corral was on the field in pain after the injury.
Before coming out of the game, Corral was 2-for-6 passing for 10 yards with one interception along with 17 rushing yards on seven carries.
ESPN reported in the second quarter that Corral was doubtful to return, a fact that was seemingly…
