The Florida Gators aim for a top-5 upset as the Ole Miss Rebels lose a primary offensive weapon.
The Florida Gators could catch a huge break as star running back Kewan Lacy doesn't seem to be suiting up for Ole Miss.
The Rebels come into this game ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25, a ranking that is well deserved after their 32-24 victory over No. 7 LSU last week.
Ole Miss isn't 3-0 because they had a trio of easy non-conference opponents to face. Sure, Charlotte would fall into that category, but their other two wins were both against ranked opponents.
Obviously, Lacy was a huge reason why they've had so much success in their first few games, but now he's been downgraded to doubtful due to a left shoulder injury.
Ole Miss's offense runs through Trinidad Chambliss, no doubt, but the star quarterback can only do so much.
Lacy has a team high 39 carries for 191 yards, and he's averaging just shy of five yards per carry.
The Swamp could've seen an electric running back matchup between Heisman hopeful Jadan Baugh and Lacy, but instead, all signs are pointing towards Lacy sitting this one out.
Key Lacy update emerges hours before kickoff
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, head coach Pete Golding said Lacy "is not expected to play" against Florida.
The Gators recently entered the Top 25 with a huge road win at Auburn, and they're looking to avoid being one-and-done in the rankings.
A win over Ole Miss would catapult them into likely the top 15, and it'd be interesting to see just how far the Rebels would fall.
This Florida team didn't win a single conference game last year, and now they have a chance to take on a depleted Ole Miss team that's stuck coming to Gainsville.
Can Ole Miss survive without Lacy?
As previously stated, Chambliss runs this offense. The Rebels quarterback loves having Lacy around as it gives this offense a change of pace, but Ole Miss does still have LSU transfer JT Lindsey and Michigan State transfer Makhi Frazier in the backfield.
Combined, those two have 21 carries for 86 yards. Chambliss has 64 rushing yards himself, so this could be a game where the Rebels simply ask him to do everything.
Neither Lindsey nor Fazier have had huge chances to prove themselves this season, but they're both averaging four-plus yards per carry in a limited sample size.
Out of the two, Lindsey has three more carries, so he would presumably take over RB1 duties, but Golding's perception of the run-game would change completely without Lacy.
