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Sure, Ole Miss is going to prepare for every game the same way and Mercer is no exception. However, that doesn't have to mean pulling out all the stops and blowing your load on game one. I don't think that's what Ole Miss is going to do on Saturday, but the question is, how much do the Rebels throw at them?

Let's put it this way, there's a reason why Ole Miss' month of September is considered to be among the toughest in the country. It's not because of Mercer, but look over that and there's Tulane, Alabama and LSU looming. We're not going to look too far ahead just yet, but there's a reason why Tulane is a top-25 team going into 2023, they can score and might score even more this season. I'm not say it's going to be a track meet next week... but Tulane could make it one. Because they're capable, Ole Miss might have to have everything set in stone offensively. There's a good opportunity to do so this weekend.

As we've highlighted earlier this week, Lane Kiffin did not release an official depth chart, nor to our knowledge has he discussed who's going to be the starting quarterback internally. He likely knows, or he might be keeping Tulane on its toes by the time next week comes around. In war, you never want to telegraph anything. Either way, it's very safe to say that both Jaxson Dart and Spencer Sanders will play against Mercer, heck, maybe even Walker Howard at some point. One can reasonably expect Kiffin to try and milk this narrative for as much and long as he can. He knows just the type of challenges in the very near future.

Offensively, Kiffin has often been praised for being very innovative and doing a lot of different things formationally that's a headache for many defensive coordinators. He's thrown some of the better DCs off guard since he's been at Ole Miss. Therefore, expect plenty of those developing plays to be kept in the closet for the time being for better defenses. Even though Mercer's defense isn't bad by any means, it doesn't hold a candle to this outfit.

You already know what you're going to get with Ole Miss' ground game. Duh, there's Quinshon Judkins back there for crying out loud. He's got some help too, and it's expected for some if not all to be asked to do various other things besides tote the rock. That only reinforces my point. Some of those things Ole Miss should just keep in the bag. Tight end is now a concern despite everything we've said this offseason about them, with Caden Prieskorn's recent foot concerns and Michael Trigg's continued concerns. Now's the perfect time to turn Kyirin Heath loose.

All in all, tempo should still be stupid fast, execution of whatever plays should still be there and this team should dominate. However, it's the first of 12 games, and you'd think one would execute or limit the predictables for the likes of the stiff competition ahead this month. We'll see though. At least the weather won't be too terrible Saturday.

Kickoff on September 2 is set for 1 p.m. CT and can be seen on SECN+/ESPN+ or listened to on the Ole Miss Radio Network. Inside the Rebels will be on site to provide updates, notes, facts, observations and more.