OXFORD — The No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels posted the biggest win of coach Lane Kiffin and quarterback Jaxson Dart’s careers Saturday when they defeated the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs 28-10 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, but that wasn’t the case . the offense that produced this historic victory.

Instead it was the front seven.

The defense was led by a dominant performance in the trenches behind the Rebels’ linemen and linebackers on Saturday. Ole Miss’ defensive line came away with all five of the team’s sacks and six of its nine recorded tackles for loss.

Ole Miss came into this game knowing it would be a tough game plan for the Bulldogs in a rainy environment, and the defense seemed to execute almost flawlessly. The Rebels held the Bulldogs’ No. 1 and 2 backs to 71 yards on 18 carries, and they held everyone else to negative yards, bringing Georgia’s total rushing yards to 59.

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The Rebels had several guys in the trenches recording big plays, including Princely Umanmielen and Jared Ivey who each recorded two sacks and Suntarine Perkins who added one.

The defensive line was not alone, as the linebackers also joined the party, most notably TJ Dottery and Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr. who led the team in tackles, totaling 19.

“I think Pooh makes me better,” Dottery said after the game. “The tenacity he brings, I have no choice but to emulate that.”

Part of this duo’s “tenacity” was fueled by a record crowd at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday night, a crowd that gave the Rebels home field advantage in a much-needed win.

“With that crowd behind us it provides an adrenaline rush that is second to none,” said Paul. “I really mean it from the bottom of my heart; We thank you very much for your support.”

With this win, the Rebels’ chances of reaching the College Football Playoff skyrocket. Ole Miss is off next week, but travels to Florida on Nov. 23, followed by a home date against Mississippi State. If the Rebels’ front seven can appear in those matches as they did on Saturday, a play-off ticket could be punched in Oxford.