Mississippi scores 76 points in big season-opening win against Tennessee-Martin

OXFORD -- Ole Miss rolled out to a 27-point, first-quarter lead and absolutely glided to a 76-3 season-opening victory over UT-Martin Saturday before an announced crowd at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium of 60,186.

The Chad Kelly era did not take long to begin as he took the first snap from the shotgun and immediately delivered a strike to Damore’ea Strongfellow for a 27-yard gain.

Kelly was poised and accurate while demonstrating the ability to drive the ball downfield, something that the Ole Miss (1-0) passing game significantly lacked in the previous three seasons under coach Hugh Freeze. He completed touchdown passes of 56 and 57 yards to Markell Pack and Cody Core, respectively, before finishing his day 9-of-15 for 211 yards with the aforementioned touchdowns and an interception (that was a well-thrown ball that Laquon Treadwell dropped).

Kelly also showed the ability to be a threat running the football as well when he kept the ball of the zone read and easily scored from 20 yards out.

UT-Martin (0-1) obviously will not present the same challenge for the Rebels that Alabama will on Sept. 19 or even what Fresno State will provide next, but the Rebels showed that they have improved upon two of their offenses biggest weaknesses last year: the vertical passing game and running the ball in the interior of the offensive line.

Ole Miss came out throwing the football on the first drive before Robert Conyers snapped the ball over Kelly’s head, losing 21 yards. However, on the first play of the next drive, Jaylon Walton took the hand off and ran right behind Conyers and, 60 yards later, found himself in the end zone.

Walton finished the day with three carries for 65 yards with two touchdowns.

While most of the on field action was positive for Ole Miss, the same cannot be said for the off the field.

In a prepared statement before the start of the game, Ole Miss announced that it was “withholding Laremy Tunsil from today’s action until the pending process can be completed.”

Laremy Tunsil has been the subject of scrutiny following a domestic incident with his stepfather, Lindsey Miller, in June.

“We are cooperating fully with the NCAA and feel this is the best way to protect Laremy, our football program, and the university.”

GALLERY: ALL THE ACTION FROM WEEK 1 OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL