Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Matt Corral leaves Sugar Bowl vs. Baylor Bears with injury

Ole Miss quarterback Matt Coral left the field and didn't return after a late injury in the first quarter of his 21-7 loss to Baylor at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Saturday night.

On third and 20 with 2 minutes, 13 seconds into the quarter, Coral was sacked for a 6-yard loss by a Baylor defensive tackle Cole Maxwell and was in immediate pain, clutching his lower leg.

When Coral was helped off the field by Ole Miss staff, he was not putting weight on his right leg. He was eventually taken to the locker room, but later returned to shore on crutches.

After the game, head coach Len Kiffin stated that Coral's X-rays were negative, although he did not specify what Coral had injured.

When asked about his feelings seeing Coral get hurt, Kiffin said, "It's obviously a difficult situation, especially when a kid is playing in a game, you know, so my mind is filled with a lot of thoughts." Ran along, you know, and just my love for him, just like I would have been my own son in that situation. So you know, maybe I didn't do a great job with the team, because you know, I Was really hurting for him in that situation. Because I know how much he's invested in it, how much it means to him. And to take him away like that, you know, it really sucks Is."

Coral was replaced by Luke Altmaier, a freshman this season with only nine pass attempts. Altmyer finished 15-in-28 for 174 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Coral went just 2-of-6 for 10 yards with an interception.

Coming to the Sugar Bowl, Coral completed 68.3% of his passes for 3,333 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. He was also a major contributor to the ground game with 597 yards and 11 touchdowns. He led Ole Miss to a 10–2 regular season record, the first 10-win regular season in the school's history.

"He's been unbelievable and things you don't see playing except what it's like," Kiffin said. "And I had a great moment this morning, the team meeting, just listening to him talk. And I said to my own coaches and players, 'You can be a freshman and you should listen to the leaders; you're the one. Maybe a 50-year-old coach, and you should listen to this guy.'"

Kiffin said: "He's going to be a great NFL player and doing great for a franchise."

In November, the Corals announced that the Rebels' final home game this season would be their last, but announced that he would enter the NFL draft.

Corral is currently the No. 23 overall prospect in ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest draft rankings, while ESPN's Todd McShahe ranks him No. 16.