Billy Napier is pleased with his team’s turnaround but far from satisfied to merely scratch his first winning season at UF.

The Rebels nearly found points on its second drive with a eight-play, 69-yard drive that found itself on the Gators' 11-yard line for a fourth-and-one. Rather than kick the field goal, Ole Miss elected to use its short-yardage package with defensive tackle JJ Pegues, who has six rushing touchdowns on the season.

Those complementary elements conspired to create a seismic shakeup of the playoff landscape. Florida’s 24-17 upset of No. 9 Ole Miss clinched a bowl berth for the hosts (6-5, 4-4 SEC) and knocked the Rebels (8-3, 4-3) from playoff contention.