Sports

Ole Miss looking to cap dramatic turnaround with Hugh Freeze in BBVA Compass Bowl against Pitt

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze directs his players during NCAA college football practice at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. Mississippi plays Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Saturday. (AP Photo/AL.com, Mark Almond) MAGS OUT (The Associated Press)

Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst watches his team during a practice at Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013. Pittsburgh plays Mississippi Saturday in the BBVA Compass Bowl NCAA college football game on Saturday in Birmingham. (AP Photo/ AL.com, Mark Almond) MAGS OUT (The Associated Press)

Mississippi quarterback Bo Wallace says first-year coach Hugh Freeze has pulled off a total makeover of the team's culture.

Freeze needs a win in Saturday's BBVA Compass Bowl against Pittsburgh and its first-year coach, Paul Chryst, to cap an unlikely turnaround from last season's 2-10 finish.

Ole Miss and Pitt bring 6-6 records into the game. Each team had important final regular-season wins to become bowl-eligible.

The Rebels beat in-state rival Mississippi State for their first Egg Bowl win in four years. The Panthers closed with back-to-back wins over No. 21 Rutgers and South Florida.

Pitt is playing in its third straight BBVA Compass Bowl. The Panthers beat Kentucky two years ago and lost to SMU last season.