Ole Miss Football: 3 takeaways from tough Sugar Bowl loss to Baylor

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Jan 1, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Matt Corral (2) reacts after an apparent injury while being sacked by Baylor Bears defensive tackle Cole Maxwell (not pictured) during the first half in the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Matt Corral became prime example of why top players should sit out

When Matt Corral went down with a leg injury in the first half against Baylor and had to be helped off the field and eventually carted into the locker room, everyone who opposed players sitting out bowl games outside of the playoff let out a collective “oh, so that’s why they do it” response.

There have been many old-school fans who have opposed the sitting out bowl games trend, but Corral’s injury was proof that it just makes sense for top NFL draft prospects to sit out.

No one is knocking Corral for playing either. It was his decision to go out with his teammates one last time, but if he were to sit out, no one would have blamed him — and his injury is exactly why.

Corral is likely a Day 2 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and unless his injury affects him long-term, he’s going to be selected early on, but this could have been much worse and career-threatening like Jake Butt’s was a few years back with Michigan.

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