Ole Miss Pulls Away Late in Win Over Mississippi State

© Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Running back Ulysses Bentley IV totaled 136 yards rushing on 20 carries and a touchdown as No. 14 Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) defeated Mississippi State (2-9, 0-7) 26-14 to win the Egg Bowl rivalry game on Nov. 29 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart had 143 yards passing and added a TD himself.

This was a close game for three-and-a-half quarters. Mississippi State led 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. But Ole Miss, now ahead 26-14 in the middle of the fourth quarter, made a goal-line stand to keep the Bulldogs out of the end zone. Mississippi State had the ball on the Rebels' 1-yard line after a 44-yard pass completion from quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. to Kevin Coleman Jr. Ole Miss got tough and turned Mississippi State away and took over on downs. The Rebels ran out the clock, taking up nearly 6 minutes, to get the victory.

Mississippi State, Ole Miss Key Plays

Ole Miss and Mississippi State traded blows in the first quarter with the Bulldogs going up 17-14. The Rebels, though, got tough on defense and kept Mississippi State off the scoreboard for the rest of the game. In the second half, defenses took over as Ole Miss only got 9 points.

Dart utilized his legs, rushing 13 times for 77 yards. He also completed 14 of 24 pass attempts. Bentley had a big game, going over the 100-yard rushing mark. His TD run was for 89 yards.

Van Buren Jr. put up a valiant effort, completing 17 of his 32 attempts for 280 yards, 1 TD and 2 interceptions. Fortunately for Van Buren, neither of his INTs led to points. Coleman Jr. was Van Buren's favorite target, catching 6 passes for 118 yards and a TD.

Turning Point

With 8:12 left in the game, Van Buren completed a pass to Coleman for 44 yards to set up a first-and-goal on the Rebels' 1-yard line. This gave Mississippi State a chance to bring the game within 5 points.

Ole Miss' defense kept the Bulldogs from scoring and forced them to turn the ball over on downs. This pivotal moment in the game allowed the Rebels to run out the clock to secure victory.

What it Means

This victory for head coach Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels means they still have a slim chance to make the College Football Playoff. Even if they don't secure a CFP berth, the Rebels will be invited to a top-tier bowl game. While the season may not have gone as they wished, the Rebels finished the regular season strong and have momentum going into the offseason.

Losing the game was just another disappointment in a season full of them for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Mississippi State finished the season with just 2 overall wins and none over SEC opponents. Head coach Jeff Lebby and his staff have a lot of work to do this offseason to get this team in a position to be competitive again.