OXFORD, Miss. - Hugh Freeze said he felt anxious about Saturday's season opener with UT Martin compared to 2014, when his Rebels opened up against Boise State. He was unsure of how focused his players would be, or how serious they would take the Skyhawks. It turns out that Freeze stayed up at night, worrying for nothing.

Freeze's No. 17 Rebels easily took care of business, smashing UT Martin 76-3 before a crowd of 60,186 that looked more like a spring game at the end. Even without All-America offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil in the lineup - he was held out as a precaution as the school dealt with any NCAA entanglements - the Rebels were crisp on offense from the start.

Quarterback Chad Kelly sizzled in his first action since transferring in from the junior college ranks in January. Kelly threw two touchdowns and for 178 yards in the first half, while the Rebels jumped out to a 27-0 lead after one quarter. It was the most points the team scored in an opening stanza during the school's modern football history and the 76 points were the most Ole Miss has scored since 1935.

Kelly finished 9-of-15 for 211 yards. He also rushed for a touchdown just minutes after throwing an interception - the lone turnover for the Rebels.

"I thought Chad Kelly's performance was really solid," Freeze said. "Kelly did miss a touchdown throw, and probably could have thrown one a little bit better on the fade to (wide receiver) Laquon Treadwell early in the game. But outside of that, I think he had a solid day. We will get back to watching film, but I felt pretty good about him out there."

Kelly added that the competition to name a starter helped him stay focus, and ready for the moment when it came.

"We have weapons all over the field, and I feel like we have a great team," Kelly said. "We just have to make sure we're hitting on all cylinders and that all 11 of us are doing their job so we can have a great season."

And it wasn't only Kelly on offense. Several skill players shined as 10 different players crossed into the end zone. Running back Jaylon Walton scored the first two times he touched the ball, while Treadwell returned from a season-ending injury in 2014 in seamless fashion. The Rebels had 367 yards on 33 plays in the first half, while four wide receivers caught at least two passes. The Rebels were so efficient and explosive on offense, they only had possession for 9 minutes in the first half en route to a 41-0 lead at the break.

Quarterback Ryan Buchanan also had some impressive moments as he completed 4-of-6 passes for 58 yards. He also had two touchdowns in the first half, with his second toss going to defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche early in the second quarter. Nkemdiche snuck out of a loaded backfield and was wide open when he caught the pass down the home sideline and was untouched all the way into the end zone for a 31-yard score.

All of the offensive fireworks came without the services of Tunsil, who was held out of the game as a precaution, according to Ole Miss officials, for an ongoing investigation by the NCAA.

In 2014, the Rebels led the nation in scoring defense, and were formidable on that side in the opener as they never made it easy on UT Martin starter Jarod Neal or his teammates. Trae Elston returned a Neal interception 93 yards for a touchdown, while the Rebels only allowed the Skyhawks to convert on 2-of-17 third down chances.

"There are not a whole lot of positives to say about it, I'll be honest with you," UT Martin coach Jason Simpson said. "That's the worst resemblance of a defense that we have put out on the field in 10 years. It's embarrassing."

NOTES: The Rebels' 76 points were the most since scoring 92 against West Tennessee Teachers College (now Union University) in 1935. ... Elston's touchdown return was the longest for a defender since Charles Sawyer returned one 96 yards in the 2011 opener against BYU. ... Nkemdiche not only caught a touchdown, but blocked his first career field goal.