Heading into Week 5, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was enjoying a standout season and was considered one of the top players in college football. The three-year starter had been electric, positioning himself as a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy and as a potential top-five NFL Draft pick. Dart led the nation with a 79% completion rate and ranked second in passing yards, trailing only Miami’s Cam Ward. He was also tied for third in the country in touchdown passes, according to ESPN.
However, things took a sharp turn when Ole Miss faced Kentucky. As the Wildcats clawed their way back into the game, Dart’s performance started to unravel. His struggles not only contributed to Ole Miss’ eventual loss, but also caused his Heisman odds to plummet.
Kentucky pulled off the upset, securing their first ranked road win since beating No. 4 Penn State in the 1990s, while the Rebels fell from their No. 6 ranking. Dart’s performance, which had been stellar all season, took a hit. While his stat line—261 passing yards, one touchdown, and a 66% completion rate—might not look disastrous on paper, the game told a different story. Dart was sacked four times, with several of those being a result of poor pocket awareness, a glaring issue for a quarterback once regarded as one of the most composed in the country.
DOWN GOES NO. 6 OLE MISS‼️
KENTUCKY GETS THE UPSET IN OXFORD 😼 pic.twitter.com/5X06FKQcEn
— ESPN (@espn) September 28, 2024
This one bad game might have derailed Dart’s Heisman campaign, as voters often show little forgiveness for slip-ups, especially with so many other talented players vying for the spotlight. What Dart had accomplished earlier in the season seemed overshadowed by his struggles against Kentucky.
For Ole Miss, the season is far from over, and they still have a chance to bounce back, particularly if other SEC powerhouses falter down the stretch. But for Dart, his Heisman hopes may be slipping away, with the loss serving as a significant blow to his individual accolades.