3:26 p.m. - Ole Miss scored on the first play after Lamarcus Thompson was carted off the field on a stretcher. The Rebels now lead 42-17. Thompson gave a thumps up sign while being carted off the field.

Credit Ole Miss for finding something that works and sticking with it. Tennessee relies on a good running game, a marginal passing game and great defense. The Vols got none of that today. The rushing attack was pedestrian and the defense played exceptionally bad for the first time this year. Injuries, arrests, suspensions, distractions, take your pick, I believe they all had a factor in today's game.

3:15 p.m. - Tennessee's attempt to become bowl eligible will have to wait until next week. Ole Miss, currently diving in the Tennessee red zone with under four minutes to play, has put the wraps on this one. Dexter McCluster was just removed from the game after gaining 311 total yards. McCluster alone has 80 more yards gained than Tennessee's offense. Lamarcus Thompson is currently down on the field with an injury. Another shot to the Tennessee linebacker corp.

3:00 p.m. - The illustrious career of Daniel Lincoln continues, unfortunately. Lincoln's last attempt from 45-yards out was blocked, again. I think the stomach of an Ole Miss player blocked the attempt on accident. How long before defenses just stop jumping when trying to block a Lincoln attempt? Just raise your hands over your head and you can get a piece of the ball. Ole Miss 35, Tennessee 17.

2:48 p.m. - See? That's why I refuse to be an optimist. Dexter McCluster just Reggie Bushed the Tennessee defense on a weaving, cross-field cutback 71-yard touchdown rush. Wow. Maybe the Vols could use a free safety that has some experience. The Vols MUST respond here or this one is over. Dexter McCluster 28, Tennessee 17 ... wait, I mean Ole Miss 35, Tennessee 17.

2:34 p.m. - Tennessee couldn't put any points on the board to answer the Ole Miss touchdown. Crompton was sacked on third down. Tennessee trails by 11 early in the fourth quarter, but for some reason I don't feel like the Vols are out of this game. And I'm a pretty negative person, so that's saying something. Ole Miss 28, Tennessee 17.

2:35 p.m. - Ole Miss responded nicely. The Rebels drove 62 yards on 13 plays ended by a Brandon Bolden touchdown rush. The good news: Tennessee seems to have slowed down Dexter McCluster a little bit. The bad news: the other 10 Rebels on the field are getting the job done. Ole Miss leads 28-17.

2:22 p.m. - Lane Kiffin goes for it on fourth down like its his job. The Vols fourth down attempt failed. But I feel it was justified decision. If you punt it from the Ole Miss 45 yard line, theres a pretty good chance it goes in the end zone for a touchback (making it, literally, a 25-yard punt). The risky call is a good break from old traditions - not pointing fingers or naming names.

2:16 p.m. - The first major mistake of the game has been made. Wes Brown intercepted Jevan Snead, the first turnover of the game for either team. Tennessee must get points off of the turnover.

One of the small things, especially today, that people don't take into account is how well this team has protected the ball. Against UCLA the offense looked one-dimensional (and, not to mention, terrible), now this offense is methodical and effective. A day-and-night difference from the quarterback battle struggles of 2008.

2:08 p.m. - Tennessee drove methodically to open the second half, but the drive stalled inside the red zone and the Vols settled for a 27-yard field goal. The Ole Miss lead is cut to 21-17. The Vols used a steady mix of play-action pass and Montario Hardesty runs to take the ball down the field. Key to the recent success of Crompton has been the number of targets he throws to. It seems like he never throws to the same receiver twice. Ole Miss 21, Tennessee 17.

1:44 p.m. - Tennessee should feel great to trail by only seven points after what has to be the worst defensive performance of the year for the Vols. Ole Miss goes as Dexter McCluster goes. Stop McCluster and Tennessee can win this game. Continue to let him dominate and he will rush for over 300 yards in this game. Let's see what kind of adjustments Monte Kiffin can make at half time.

1:39 p.m. - After Ole Miss dropped a touchdown pass, the Rebels failed to convert a 28-yard field goal attempt (sound familiar Vol fans?). Ole Miss leads 21-14 with less than a minute remaining before halftime. Dexter McCluster has 162 yards on 13 carries and 26 receiving yards on three catches. Two quarters, one player, 188 total yards. Tennessee has 125 total yards - as a team.

1:33 p.m. - Suddenly the officials are hold happy. After trading three-and-outs between the two teams, Tennessee buried itself in holding penalties, flipping the field position in favor of Ole Miss. McCluster is back at it again for the Rebels. Ole Miss driving...

1:15 p.m. - Make the score Dexter McCluster 21, Tennessee 14. McCluster just scored his third touchdown of the first half, this time a 32-yard rush, on the exact same play the Rebels used for the second McCluster touchdown. The Vols don't seem to have any problems stopping the other 10 Rebels, but McCluster can't be tackled. Ole Miss 21, Tennessee 14.

1:04 p.m. - The Crompton Train keeps rolling. Crompton marched the Vols down the field and capped the drive with a play-action touchdown pass (that couldn't have been thrown any better) to Denarius Moore to tie the score at 14-14. That makes 23 touchdowns on the year, and a 16-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in the last six games.

12:49 p.m. - Tennessee didn't, looks more like can't, stop Dexter McCluster. McCluster just scored from 23-yards out to give Ole Miss a 14-7 lead. McCluster scored on a 15-yard run on the Rebels' initial possession.

12:42 p.m. - Jonathan Crompton hit Brad Cottam on 16-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 7-7. Tennessee started the drive with good field position and a lengthy run by Montario Hardesty (and a personal foul penalty against Ole Miss) moved the Vols into the red zone. Hardesty's ability to run effectively will open the passing game for a currently confident Crompton. Tennessee has to contain the Rebels' running back Dexter McCluster.

12:30 p.m. - There's some much needed help. After giving up a third-and-10 conversion, the Vols stiffened up and stopped the Rebels. Ben Martin sacked Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Sneed to end the Rebels drive and force a punt. If the offense could put some first downs together on this drive, it would flip the field position advantage in favor of the Vols. And slow the game down to Tennessee's pace.

12:20 p.m. - The Vols go three-and-out on their first possession. This young linebacker unit will have to step up and play much better than it did on the first Ole Miss possession if Tennessee wants to stay in this game. The injuries to the linebackers (Nick Reveiz and Savion Frazier) and the loss of Janzen Jackson are certainly hard to overcome, but the defense should still perform better than it showed to open the game.

12:14 p.m. - That didn't take long. After Chad Cunningham's opening kickoff bounced out of bounds, giving the Rebels the ball at the 40, the Rebels went 60 yards in four plays. Yikes. Needless to say, a terrible start for the Vols defense. That was far too easy for the Rebels against what has been a solid Tennessee defense. Ole Miss leads 7-0.

11:56 a.m. - Welcome to my in-game blog for today's SEC clash between Tennessee and Ole Miss. This is, to date, the biggest game in the Lane Kiffin Era, in my opinion. The Vols are playing better football right now than they have all year. Jonathan Crompton leads the SEC in touchdown passes with 21 (ranking him 4th overall in the nation) and the Vols have been rolling since routing Georgia 45-19 at home - with the exception of a near miss on the road against then-No. 1 Alabama, and the mountain of a man known as Terrance Cody.

Today's game, on national television, will be a huge statement (for better or for worse) as to where this football program is headed after the attempted robbery arrest of freshmen Janzen Jackson, Mike Edwards and Nu'Keese Richardson. The three have since been released from jail, but did not travel to Oxford, Miss. with the Vols.

With the distractions hopefully behind them, the Vols seek their first road win of the season. Their two previous road trips included losses at Florida and Alabama. Both times the Vols have hit the road, they have faced the then-top ranked team in the country. Not quite the same opponent today. It will be interesting to see how this team responds to some major adversity.