Houston Nutt thinks winning Saturday’s Egg Bowl game is “always big” in terms of how it molds in-state recruits’ thinking heading into the final two months before signing day. But a two-touchdown loss in Starkville didn’t adversely affect the Rebels last year, Nutt said. “We had our best year recruiting in Mississippi,” the Ole Miss coach said, “and I think it’s because they saw the success of two back-to-back bowl games, Jan. 1 (games), two Cotton Bowls. They felt the energy of our players. … I was concerned a little bit from losing that ballgame last year, but by the end of signing day, by that first Wednesday in February, I was excited because that was our best year of recruting in Mississippi.” As of last week, Nutt’s 2011 class is ranked 12th in the nation by Rivals.com and 24th by Scout.com. — Clarion-Ledger

Ole Miss’ November math is simple: Win at least three of its last four games to get to at least 6-6, which would make the Rebels eligible for a third straight bowl game. But what about 5-7? The NCAA’s approval in April of 35 bowls and the possibility of a dearth of teams to fill the 70 slots at the end of this season are making some observers wonder if the NCAA will relax its six-win requirement for bowl eligibility. At 3-5 entering Saturday’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette (2-6, 2-3 Sun Belt), the Rebels would need to win just twice to meet that hypothetical bar, a task that seems simpler considering two of their four remaining games are against ranked teams. “The committee is looking at options and should there not be enough bowl-eligible teams available,” said Nick Carparelli, an associate commissioner at the Big East who chairs the committee that would make the decision. “We’re not prepared to announce a solution just yet, but one thing is for sure, that we are committed that the games do get played.” — Clarion-Ledger

Ole Miss football coach Houston Nutt’s notion of playing two quarterbacks by design probably ended Saturday night in the Louisiana Superdome. Partially because last week’s starting quarterback Nathan Stanley had a sore shoulder and partially because of an offensive line shaken with various problems, Oregon transfer Jeremiah Masoli started and made more than enough plays in the Rebels’ 27-13 victory at Tulane to convince Nutt that he’ll start again in Ole Miss’ Southeastern Conference opener at home on Saturday against Vanderbilt. — Memphis Commercial Appeal

University of Mississippi football coach Houston Nutt said Wednesday he is optimistic his quarterback will win his appeal because other players have been granted waivers after being dismissed from teams. The NCAA on Tuesday ruled Jeremiah Masoli ineligible for the season because he had been kicked off the team at the University of Oregon. “I have seen 12 different cases that are very similar,” Nutt said after practice. — Clarion-Ledger

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt says he has no doubt Jeremiah Masoli is in the right place. “We’re in the people-helping business,” he said, making a plea for the NCAA to reconsider its stance. — Mobile Press-Register

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said he has a plan for his quarterbacks, but doesn’t want to reveal it until senior Jeremiah Masoli is cleared by the NCAA. “We’re still going to go a few days until we see where we are with that ruling with the waiver,” Nutt said. Ole Miss is asking the NCAA to waive a one-year eligibility requirement for transfer students. Usually, such a request is granted if the athlete is entering a graduate program not offered at the previous school. Nutt said he wasn’t worried about the ruling, but was glad he has plenty of depth at quarterback with sophomore Nathan Stanley and junior Randall Mackey. “I’m just glad we’ve got three and all three can play,” Nutt said. — Clarion-Ledger

With only 11 days remaining before Ole Miss faces Jacksonville State in the football season opener, transfer quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has not yet been cleared by the NCAA for competition. Masoli is seeking a waiver to bypass the NCAA’s one-year residency requirement for transfer students. Since Masoli is entering graduate school and the program he’s chosen is not available at his previous school, his request is expected to be granted. Still, anything is possible. So coach Houston Nutt, are you nervous? “Not yet,” he said. Masoli is allowed to practice while the request is being processed. Even if denied, he could take a redshirt season, continue to practice and play next year. — Clarion-Ledger

Jeremiah Masoli, a San Francisco native who accounted for 51 touchdowns the last two seasons at Oregon, started preseason camp second on the depth chart, behind starter Nathan Stanley and ahead of junior college transfer Randall Mackey. But few expect Masoli to remain the backup all season. The 5-11, 220-pound senior led Oregon to the Rose Bowl last season and is widely considered one of the country’s best dual-threat quarterbacks. “He commands respect in the huddle,” Nutt said. “He talks with authority. You could see how smooth he was with ballhandling skills and how he jumped right in. You can tell he’s played football. … I’m just glad he’s on our team.” While checking Masoli’s background, Nutt said almost everyone he came across mentioned the quarterback was bright and engaging. Masoli said he looked forward to proving he was not the same guy who pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary in March and was cited for marijuana possession in June. “That’s all I can do,” he said. “I come from a great home with a great family. My parents instilled some great values in me. I just look to live like that.”  — USA Today

As expected during his first practice in an Ole Miss jersey, quarterback Jeremiah Masoli had his uncertain moments, checking plays constantly, fumbling a handoff or two and throwing a couple footballs to empty spots on the field. But then there was a long 40-yard pass completion, the product of some nifty improvisation. There was a rollout for several yards. Then a pretty pass to a running back in the flat. There’s a reason this guy has helped carry a team to the Rose Bowl. “That’s the thing that’s very impressive,” UM coach Houston Nutt said. “He stepped right in and has huddle presence. You don’t even know the plays. You’re kind of reading them off the wristband. And then you take the snap and are very natural.” He added: “Everything is kind of Chinese to him right now. But I thought he did really well.” — Clarion-Ledger

Ole Miss running back Rodney Scott isn’t likely to miss any playing time this season despite his upcoming court date on a disturbing the peace charge after an on-campus fight in July. Scott pleaded not guilty during a preliminary hearing on July 30. His court date is set for Oct. 4 according to the Oxford Eagle. Scott initially thought that Elmer L. Johnson, who was also charged in the fight, had damaged his car on July 8, which resulted in the fight later that morning. But later, UM coach Houston Nutt said Scott was mistaken and apologized to Johnson. Nutt said he was handling Scott’s discipline internally. “(The discipline has) been pretty much ongoing with him,” Nutt said. “He’s been worn out pretty good. It’s still going. But as far as missing a game, probably not.” — Clarion-Ledger

Houston Nutt may have his issues winning all the games he’s supposed to win, but there are few better at sounding exactly like a Southern football coach is supposed to sound. He raises his voice at exactly the right moments. He blends patriotism and religion and love of Ole Miss and 40-yard dash times. “When I first got here, I had some players who asked, can I have another bed? Mine is too hard,’” Nutt said. “I said to them, have you ever been in Baghdad? Have you ever been in Kuwait? Have you ever been somewhere you can’t see because the sand is blowing in your eyes? Then don’t complain about your bed.” — Memphis Commercial Appeal

Ole Miss running back Rodney Scott, who last month won the Southeastern Conference’s top honor for sportsmanship, was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace after a fistfight on campus Thursday morning. At just after 10 a.m., university police officers found Scott and Elmer L. Johnson, 21, rolling around on the ground in front of the Turner Center throwing punches at each other, according to a police report. Scott, 19, told police Johnson vandalized his car, instigating the fight. Johnson denied Scott’s accusation. In the report, he also said Scott attacked him from behind. Johnson, also a student at Ole Miss according to the report, has home addresses listed in Oxford and Canton. UM coach Houston Nutt said Scott’s car was “keyed,” an act where a key is used to scratch the paint on a vehicle. – Clarion-Ledger

After losing the vast majority of the offense that won 18 games and two Cotton Bowls over the past two seasons, this year’s team figures to rely heavily on its experienced defense. UM coach Houston Nutt spent several minutes talking about the defense, happily introducing the five players and even letting Jerrell Powe say a few words to the adoring crowd. “They’ve played a lot of snaps,” the third-year UM coach said. “I’m really excited about that side of the ball.” As for the new offense? Nutt breezed quickly through that part. “I don’t want to bore you,” he explained. “because you’re not going to know a lot of these names.” – CLARION-LEDGER