Montrell Johnson Jr.’s five-yard touchdown run. with 7:40 left in the fourth quarter, Florida delivered a 24-17 victory over No. 9 Ole Miss on Saturday in Gainesville.

Ole Miss had a chance to tie the game with less than two minutes left, but quarterback Jaxson Dart made a terrible decision and threw into triple coverage. The 39-yard pass attempt was picked off in the end zone by Bryce Thornton with 1:32 remaining in regulation.

After a defensive stand, the Rebels got the ball back with plenty of time to score, but Dart made another bad throw and Thornton came down with another interception.

The Rebels got an earlier chance on an earlier possession after a 35-yard run by Dart put them at the Florida 40-yard line. However, Dart overthrew Watkins with a 40-yard pass that would have been a touchdown. Caleb Banks and Tyreak Sapp then broke through on the next play to sack Dart and knock Ole Miss out of field goal range.

The loss drops Ole Miss out of a fourth-place tie in the SEC and almost certainly eliminates the Rebels from College Football Playoff consideration at 4-3 in the conference and 8-3 overall.

Dart finished with two interceptions and two touchdowns and threw for 323 yards on 24-for-41 passing. He also led the Rebels with 71 yards rushing on 14 carries. Cayden Lee had six receptions for 94 yards and a score, followed by Jordan Watkins who caught eight balls for 70 yards.

Micah Davis’ muffed punt return for the Rebels early in the third quarter gave Florida the ball at the Ole Miss 37-yard line. The Gators couldn’t get a first down, but were close enough for a 53-yard field goal by Trey Smack and a 17–14 lead.

Ole Miss receiver Tre Harris left the game in the second quarter after apparently aggravating a groin injury. Before he was hurt, he caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Jaxson Dart that tied the score at 7-7.

Florida’s defense also came up big earlier in the game, stopping Ole Miss on a 4th-and-1 at the Gators’ 10-yard line. Instead of kicking the tying field goal, Lane Kiffin opted to go for it, but JJ Pegues was stopped for no gain.

However, the Gators went three-and-out on their next drive, giving Ole Miss the ball at midfield. The drive stalled at the 25-yard line, but on fourth-and-7, Kiffin opted for a tying field goal attempt and Caden Davis converted from 42 yards.

The difference in this game may have been the efficiency of the red zone. Ole Miss went 0-for-3 inside the 20-yard line, while Florida went 2-for-2.