Matt Luke Fired as Head Football Coach at Mississippi

Mississippi head football coach Matt Luke was fired earlier today.  Luke was the head football coach at Mississippi (Ole Miss) for three seasons where the Mississippi Rebels were 15-21 during that time period.  Here is a look at the Mississippi Rebels football team since 2008; under three different head coaches - Nutt, Freeze and Luke.  As you will notice, Mississippi had a few good years under Freeze, but under Luke, the Rebels have hovered in the slightly below average range of FBS production.

Below is the Mississippi Rebels production rank (total, offense, defense, and the average and worst teams) since 2008 using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com, as well as lines for head coaching firing/resigning.  More details about the program under Luke is provided below, including a link to his contract information.

Matt Luke [2017-2019]

2017
At the end of head football coach Luke's first season the Rebels were 6-6, but due to a self-imposed bowl ban the Rebels did not participate in the FBS post-season. The Rebels played against an “average” strength of schedule (SOS), meaning that Mississippi's SOS was plus or minus one  standard deviation of the "league" average SOS.  Mississippi's best regular season victory against in-state rival #21 ranked Mississippi State by a score of (31-28) and Mississippi's worst loss was to #92 ranked Arkansas by a score of (37-38).  The Rebels finished the season as the #79 ranked team overall, with the #48 ranked offense and the #96 ranked defense using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com.

2018
Mississippi finished the regular season at 5-7, while playing against an “average” strength of schedule and were bowl ineligible.  Mississippi would not have participated in the post-season due to an NCAA bowl ban.  Mississippi's best regular season victory against #64 ranked Texas Tech by a score of (47-27) and their worst loss was to #79 ranked South Carolina by a score of (44-48).  Mississippi finished the season as the #69 ranked team overall, with the #28 ranked offense and the #102 ranked defense using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com.

2019*
At the conclusion of the regular season, Mississippi fired head football coach Matt Luke after going 4-8 (and bowl ineligible).  Mississippi played against an “average” strength of schedule.  Mississippi's best victory was against currently ranked #122 Arkansas by a score of (31-17) and their worst loss was to currently ranked #81 California by a score of (20-28).  Mississippi's current production rankings are:  #75 team overall, with the #70 offense and the #75 defense using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model from the data provided from www.cfbstats.com.

Previous FBS Head Coaching Changes in 2019
Rutgers and Chris Ash
Florida State and Willie Taggart
Arkansas and Chad Morris
UNLV and Tony Sanchez
New Mexico and Bob Davie
Missouri and Barry Odom
UTSA and Frank Wilson
South Florida and Charlie Strong
Boston College and Steve Addazio